What is Altlayer (ALT)?

TLDR AltLayer (ALT) is a decentralized protocol enhancing blockchain scalability through modular rollup solutions, combining restaking security with Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) infrastructure.

1. Restaked Rollups – Leverages EigenLayer’s restaking to secure fast finality and interoperability for Layer 2 chains like Optimism and Arbitrum.
2. RaaS Platform – Enables developers to deploy customizable, high-performance rollups in minutes across ecosystems like Polkadot and Ethereum.
3. Ecosystem Integrations – Powers infrastructure for projects like Astar Network’s Soneium rollup, focusing on latency-sensitive use cases like gaming.

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

AltLayer addresses scalability and fragmentation in blockchain by offering "Restaked Rollups"—optimistic or zero-knowledge (ZK) rollups secured via restaked assets. This model enhances security, reduces latency (e.g., sub-second pre-confirmations for gaming/SocialFi), and simplifies cross-chain communication. By integrating with EigenLayer, AltLayer provides crypto-economic guarantees for faster transaction finality, a common pain point in optimistic rollups.

2. Technology & Architecture

The protocol operates as a Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) provider, allowing developers to launch application-specific chains using stacks like OP Stack, Arbitrum Orbit, or Polygon CDK. Key features include:
- No-code deployment: Customize sequencers, oracles, and data availability layers via a dashboard.
- Modular security: Combines Ethereum’s decentralized validation with restaked ETH or ALT tokens for added guarantees.
- Cross-chain interoperability: Supports Polkadot’s appchains and Ethereum’s Layer 2 ecosystem, enabling seamless asset transfers.

3. Tokenomics & Governance

ALT tokens facilitate network participation:
- Staking: Secure rollups and earn rewards (e.g., Astar’s dApp staking program).
- Governance: Vote on protocol upgrades, fee structures, and resource allocation.
- Gas fees: Potential future use for rollup transactions, depending on chain configurations.

Conclusion

AltLayer positions itself as a backbone for modular blockchain ecosystems, merging restaking’s security with RaaS flexibility. Its partnerships with major chains (Polkadot, Ethereum) and focus on developer tooling highlight its role in scaling decentralized applications. As rollups evolve, can AltLayer balance customization with standardization to become the default infra layer for Web3?