Web3 isn't one-size-fits-all. A trading app, a mobile game, and a social platform each have different needs. Yet most chains force them onto the same layer, leading to congestion, poor UX, and high costs. zkSync is approaching the problem differently, by letting developers build application-specific blockchains called hyperchains.

Unlike general-purpose chains that try to serve everyone, hyperchains are modular chains designed for one thing and built to do it well. They all share zkSync's zero-knowledge security model, can interoperate seamlessly through a unified router (the Elastic Chain), and are built using the open-source ZK Stack.

Rather than fragmenting the ecosystem, zkSync’s strategy is to specialize it.

What Are Hyperchains?

Hyperchains are sovereign blockchains that inherit Ethereum-level security by using zkSync’s prover system. Instead of congesting the main zkSync Layer 2, they operate independently while remaining interoperable via shared infrastructure.

This setup enables custom gas models, use-case specific compliance settings, and even performance tuning for niche needs (like gaming or financial regulation). Importantly, these hyperchains aren't isolated. Through zkSync’s Elastic Chain architecture, they stay connected and composable.

Real-World Use Cases

The zkSync hyperchain vision isn’t just theoretical. It’s already being built. Union Chain, developed in partnership with Coins.ph, focuses on remittances and retail payments across Southeast Asia. The chain is designed for scale, affordability, and fast confirmations, essential for users in emerging markets.

Memento, a zk-powered financial chain co-developed with Deutsche Bank, explores institutional-grade finance use cases. From tokenized assets to digital compliance rails, it signals growing institutional trust in zk-based infrastructure.

ZK Candy targets the gaming space. With a chain optimized for throughput and ultra-low fees, it aims to bring millions of players on-chain without compromising performance.

Abstract, a project by the Pudgy Penguins team, is building a user-friendly chain focused on social applications and NFTs—a clear nod to consumer-level adoption.

Together, these examples show how hyperchains let Web3 infrastructure adapt to vertical needs without losing cohesion.

Why This Architecture Matters

In traditional Layer 1 and Layer 2 models, scaling often means tradeoffs: sacrificing decentralization, duplicating security models, or isolating liquidity. Hyperchains flip that logic.

With zkSync, all hyperchains anchor to Ethereum and share proofs through the same zk-prover system. This keeps them: secure (backed by Ethereum), interoperable (via the Elastic Chain router), and efficient (only one proof needed per batch of transactions)

By enabling modular, purpose-built chains under a shared architecture, zkSync creates a Web3 environment that can scale to real-world use cases, without breaking composability.

The long-term vision is a modular Web3 where infrastructure adapts to users, not the other way around. zkSync’s approach shows that scalability doesn’t need to come at the cost of fragmentation. Instead, with hyperchains, developers get flexibility; users get better UX; and Ethereum remains the trust anchor.

As more sectors come on-chain—from finance to gaming to social—hyperchains could offer the blueprint for how Web3 infrastructure evolves: not by building a bigger single chain, but by building many smaller, smarter ones that work together by default.

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