AltLayer (ALT)

Rollups and Scaling

AltLayer is a decentralized protocol that helps developers launch and manage rollups—special blockchains that run on top of Ethereum to improve speed and reduce costs. It supports both optimistic and zero-knowledge (zk) rollup types, allowing flexible and scalable blockchain applications.

Ephemeral and Persistent Rollups

It offers ephemeral rollups that can be quickly created for short-term use and then disposed of, ideal for apps expecting sudden demand spikes. Persistent rollups are for long-term, continuous use cases.

Developer Tools and No-Code Launchpad

AltLayer provides an easy-to-use dashboard and SDK so developers, even those with little coding experience, can quickly spin up customized rollups tailored to their needs.

Use Cases

• Gaming: Dedicated rollups for games that can be started and stopped as needed, with in-game assets settled on the main chain.
• NFT Mint Events: Efficient handling of large NFT drops.
• DeFi and Derivatives: Application-specific rollups for financial products like derivatives trading.
• AI and Web3 Apps: Supporting AI-native apps and social Layer 2 solutions with fast finality and security.

Token Utility

The ALT token acts as an economic bond, governance token, and fee medium within the ecosystem. It is used alongside restaked assets to secure the network and incentivize operators.

AltLayer simplifies blockchain scaling by offering customizable, secure, and efficient rollup solutions for a wide range of decentralized applications.

Pros

• AltLayer is a decentralized protocol that supports launching native and restaked rollups, improving security and decentralization.
• It uses a novel restaking mechanism that enhances interoperability and fast finality for transactions.
• The protocol eliminates issues common in single sequencer rollups, such as bad MEV and rent extraction.
• It has strong backing from well-known investors like Polychain Capital, Binance Labs, and Jump Crypto.
• AltLayer supports both optimistic and zk rollup stacks, offering flexibility for developers.
• The project has formed strategic partnerships to expand its ecosystem and improve scalability.
• It offers a Rollups-as-a-Service (RaaS) launchpad, making it easier to create customized rollups without deep coding knowledge.
• The token (ALT) can be staked to participate in network consensus and earn rewards.

Cons

• AltLayer’s price has shown volatility and has underperformed some other smart contract platform tokens recently.
• The market cap and trading volume are relatively small compared to major cryptocurrencies, which can affect liquidity.
• As a newer and specialized protocol, it may have a smaller user base and ecosystem compared to more established blockchains.
• The total token supply is large, which can put downward pressure on price if demand does not keep pace.
• The project’s success depends on adoption of modular rollups and restaking concepts, which are still emerging technologies.

Overall, AltLayer offers innovative technology and strong investor support but is still growing its market presence and ecosystem.

Founders

AltLayer was founded by Jia Yaoqi, who is the main founder and CEO. Other key founding team members include Dorothy Liu, Tan Jun Hao, and Aparna Narayanan.

About Jia Yaoqi

Jia Yaoqi is a blockchain and web security expert with experience as a former director at Parity Asia and co-founder/CTO of Zilliqa. He leads AltLayer’s vision and development.

Team Roles

• Jia Yaoqi: Founder and CEO
• Dorothy Liu: Head of Growth
• Tan Jun Hao and Aparna Narayanan: Founding team members contributing to technical and strategic development.

Investors in AltLayer

AltLayer has raised a total of about $21.6 million over multiple funding rounds. Key investors include:

• Polychain Capital – Lead investor in the latest $14.4M Series A round.
• Hack VC – Co-lead investor in the Series A round.
• Binance Labs – Strategic investor supporting the project.
• Jump Crypto – Active participant in funding rounds.
• Breyer Capital – Participated in multiple rounds.
• DAO5 – Early and repeat investor.
• Balaji Srinivasan – Former CTO of Coinbase and notable crypto investor.
• Gavin Wood – Co-founder of Ethereum and Parity.
• Sean Neville – Co-founder of Circle and architect of USDC.
• Ryan Selkis – Founder of Messari.

Other investors include HashKey Capital, OKX Ventures, Primitive Ventures, Bankless Ventures, SevenX, MASK, IOSG, TRGC, and more, totaling around 23 investors across rounds.

These investors back AltLayer’s work on scalable rollup infrastructure and modular blockchain solutions.

Halal Status of AltLayer

• Yes, AltLayer is considered halal based on available Shariah analysis sources.
• The reason is that AltLayer operates as a decentralized protocol focused on blockchain scaling and rollups without involving impermissible activities like interest (riba) or gambling (maysir).
• It uses technology and services that align with ethical and permissible financial practices under Islamic law, according to Shariah compliance reviews found online.

For detailed personal guidance, consulting a qualified Islamic finance scholar is recommended.