Treasure Launches New Ethereum Gaming Chain With ZKsync, Leaving Arbitrum

Crypto gaming ecosystem Treasure has launched its new Ethereum layer-2 scaling network, marking its departure from Arbitrum. This move will see the project build on a network tailor-fit to its gaming-specific needs, opening what it says are new possibilities for gamers.

Treasure’s newly launched Ethereum layer-2 network is part of ZKsync’s Elastic Chain—a network of interoperable zero-knowledge rollup chains—and will natively use the project’s MAGIC token. As a result, over 15 games, hundreds of thousands of NFTs, and tokens must be migrated from Arbitrum, with users able to do so using the Hyperlane bridge.

The project brands itself as a “decentralized game console,” as it powers video game titles using the blockchain. In February, Treasure doubled down on building on Arbitrum, announcing plans to launch a web of “Infinity Chains.” But Treasure shifted gears in recent months after reconsidering its priorities.

“We need gaming-specific features, and to cultivate a specific culture and distribution flywheel that general layer-2s don't prioritize,” Treasure co-founder Karel Vuong told Decrypt. “That requires a gaming-first approach from the bottom-up.”

Namely, the creation of the gaming-specific layer-2 network enables projects to utilize gasless transactions, social account creation, and introduces “specialized infrastructure for game economies,” Vuong said.

For example, the move will bolster Treasure’s Game Exchange system, which enables players to trade assets, provide liquidity, and earn rewards natively within a game client by lowering costs and improving general speed.

Also, the Treasure Development Kit is set to enable games to implement blockchain features more seamlessly, reducing direct smart contract information, as well as allow for AI agents to enter the gaming world. Players will be able to log in via email and social accounts too, alongside crypto wallets, via ZKsync’s native account abstraction features.

Interestingly, Treasure received a proposal from ZKsync back in February when it revealed plans to continue building on Arbitrum, but turned its nose up to the offer due to its perceived lack of traction with users.

Since then, Vuong said, the technical needs of Treasure have evolved. Now, ZKsync’s capabilities specifically regarding native account abstraction, ZK-based scalability, and Elastic Network interoperability have made it the right choice this time around.

“After extensive evaluation ahead of our layer-2 launch, we found ZKsync's technology aligns perfectly with our vision to fundamentally transform the gaming industry,” Vuong told Decrypt. “This shift isn’t about what was wrong before, but rather about what’s right for Treasure’s future as we scale.”

Fortunately, this move doesn’t see Treasure’s timelines pushed back, as the Wednesday mainnet launch is already ahead of schedule. With this, the project is expecting “several” games to launch on the new network by the end of the year, with more to come in Q1 2025.

Vuong confirmed that action roguelite game Wanderers is set to exclusively launch on Treasure, monkey-themed massively multiplayer online game Bitmates is working to go fully on-chain with the network, and role-playing game Zeeverse is already using the Game Exchange system.

“We’re already in talks with other games about a potential migration,” Vuong said, adding that action role-playing game Calamity is moving from Ethereum layer-2 network Base. “Our momentum is strong, with both existing partners and new games excited about building on Treasure's infrastructure.”

Marking its mainnet launch, Treasure is set to start a campaign called Decentralized Entertainment System: Cartridges. As a nod to retro cartridge-based gaming systems, daily free NFT mints will roll out based on games from the Treasure ecosystem, turning the assets into collector’s items.

Then in Q1 2025, staking using Ethereum protocol EigenLayer for Treasure’s MAGIC token is set to be unveiled, as well as “other use cases” that will level up the decentralized game console.

“The next few months are going to be very exciting,” Vuong finished.

Edited by Andrew Hayward