The blockchain project will close its native chain, citing high costs and pivot to consumer applications on Base.
Sophon, a zero-knowledge-powered Layer 2 project, will shut down its native blockchain after raising $60 million. The company stated maintaining its own chain costs millions annually with limited returns, signaling a strategic shift toward the application layer on Base.
Previously focused on infrastructure, Sophon argued the era of standalone crypto chains has ended. Its first consumer product, Pyre, an “Entertainment Finance” payments app, is set to launch in early July, offering spending, saving, and yield-earning features.
The move reflects broader industry trends as projects prioritize user-facing applications over foundational blockchain development.