Lighter and Axiom opened an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) development network on Friday, Oct. 16, where developers can test contracts that read trading information and submit instructions to Lighter Core, Lighter’s order-matching system.
Core makes account balances, positions, order records and market data available to contracts. Contracts can also ask Core to place, modify or cancel orders. Processing is asynchronous and takes seconds. The EVM generates a block every second, but that schedule tracks block creation rather than order execution.
The devnet lets developers send assets from its privately operated Layer 1 (L1) into the EVM, move them across to Core or back, and withdraw them to the L1. Core has test markets configured. Potential applications include vaults, quicker ways for users to enter the system and services that request trade quotes.
The test setup has significant limits. A privately deployed L1 currently handles settlement and data availability, while mocked zero-knowledge proofs stand in for L1 finalization. The asset-recovery mechanism remains incomplete, and Core queries are restricted to the latest block.
The devnet has not demonstrated an end-to-end settlement route through Ethereum. Under the proposed design, proof information from the EVM and Core would be brought together in a single proof for Ethereum to verify.
Lighter is onboarding developers in batches and expects to widen access over the coming weeks.
