LightLink

Ethereum Layer 2 Optimium network featuring gasless enterprise transactions and Celestia data availability

Blockchain Founded 2017
Visit lightlink.io
Our score
Fair
Layer Layer 2
Consensus / design Optimistic rollup
Native token LL
Block time ~0.5s
Typical transaction fee $0.01
EVM compatible Yes

What is LightLink?

LightLink is an EVM-equivalent Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain designed to remove end-user transaction fees through a dedicated Enterprise Mode subscription model. Built using an Optimium architecture with Celestia for off-chain data availability, the network settles state updates to Ethereum while processing blocks at approximately 0.5-second intervals.

Founders and backing

The network was developed out of Pellar Technology, an enterprise blockchain development studio founded in 2017. Co-founder and CEO Roy Hui, a computer science graduate who has been active in cryptocurrency since 2012, leads the project. LightLink has raised $11.5 million in total funding, including an initial $4.5 million seed round announced in February 2024 led by APAC firms MQDC and T&B Media Global, with participation from Blue7, JellyC, and B3V.

Architecture and enterprise mechanics

LightLink operates Phoenix mainnet alongside its Pegasus testnet. Built on a modified Geth client, the chain allows developers to deploy standard Solidity smart contracts without code changes. Standard user transactions execute at roughly $0.01 per operation. To eliminate friction for consumer applications, businesses can activate Enterprise Mode by registering smart contracts and paying upfront subscriptions in stablecoins. The protocol converts these stablecoins into native LL tokens to subsidize gas, letting whitelisted end-user accounts send transactions with a gas price of zero. Users move assets onto the network via the official bridge or third-party liquidity routes like Stargate.

Milestones and track record

LightLink launched its Phoenix mainnet in 2023. The project partnered with Animoca Brands and powers Lamborghini's Fast ForWorld digital platform. In October 2025, the team deployed a Strategic Reserve treasury mechanism to channel enterprise fees into LL token acquisitions, followed by an early access beta of its chain-abstracted Stella Wallet in November 2025. By October 2026, the mainnet had processed over 94 million transactions across more than 5.9 million generated wallet addresses.

Risks and structural limits

Because LightLink uses an Optimium architecture relying on Celestia rather than posting all transaction call data directly to Ethereum Layer 1, users rely on external data availability committees. The network operates centralized sequencer infrastructure typical of early-stage Layer 2 rollups, creating potential single-point-of-failure risks. Additionally, secondary exchange liquidity experienced a setback when Bybit delisted the native LL token in January 2026, and total value locked in decentralized finance protocols stood under $25,000 as of October 2026.

Founders

Roy HuiFounder
Best for:Enterprises subsidizing consumer transactionsWeb3 games requiring gasless interactionsDevelopers seeking EVM compatibility with sub-cent fees

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Zero gas fees for end users when interacting with Enterprise Mode contracts
  • Standard transaction fees average roughly $0.01 outside enterprise allocations
  • Full EVM equivalence allows developers to deploy standard Solidity code unchanged
  • Fast execution with blocks landing approximately every 0.5 seconds

Cons

  • Uses Celestia data availability instead of direct Ethereum Layer 1 call data
  • Sequencing and network infrastructure remain centralized
  • Bybit delisted the native LL token in January 2026
  • DeFi liquidity remains low, with total value locked under $25,000 in October 2026

Our review

3.2/5
Fair

LightLink enables zero-fee end-user transactions through its enterprise gas subsidy model, but its on-chain liquidity remains low with about $22,000 in total value locked.

Performance4.0
Fees4.5
Ecosystem2.0
Decentralization2.5
Developer experience3.5

LightLink is an Ethereum Layer 2 network designed around Optimium architecture that uses Celestia for data availability and settles state to Ethereum. Founded out of Pellar Technology by CEO Roy Hui, who started purchasing Bitcoin in 2012, the project launched its Phoenix mainnet in 2023 after raising $11.5M from investors including MQDC and T&B Media Global. The chain operates with approximately 0.5-second block times and claims capacity exceeding 10,000 transactions per second, with standard user transactions costing around $0.01 in gas.

The network's primary differentiator is Enterprise Mode. Instead of forcing end users to manage native gas tokens, decentralized applications and commercial partners can pay an upfront subscription in stablecoins. This registers smart contracts to subsidize executions directly. Users can then interact on-chain with zero gas fees. While this model eliminates onboarding friction for consumer and enterprise integrations like Lamborghini's Fast ForWorld, it introduces distinct architectural trade-offs:

  • Gasless transactions rely on centralized quota whitelisting via enterprise smart contracts.
  • Offloading data availability to Celestia rather than Ethereum Layer 1 reduces costs but introduces separate trust assumptions.
  • Ecosystem decentralized finance adoption remains minimal, with TVL standing at about $22,015 in October 2026.
  • Liquidity access suffered friction following a centralized exchange delisting of the LL token by Bybit in January 2026.

LightLink suits enterprise developers and consumer-facing applications aiming to abstract away gas fees entirely for non-technical users. Traders and DeFi protocols requiring deep native liquidity or distributed sequencer redundancy should consider larger rollups such as Arbitrum or Optimism instead.

Listings are researched and drafted with AI assistance from public sources, then checked for accuracy and readability. Spot an error? Tell us. Editorial policy.
Sources (10)

Specs

Layer Layer 2 · unverified
Consensus / design Optimistic rollup · unverified
Native token LL · unverified
EVM compatible Yes
Smart contract languages Solidity · unverified
Block time ~0.5s · unverified
Typical transaction fee $0.01 · unverified
Finality 0.5s · unverified
Mainnet since 2,023 · unverified
Throughput (TPS) 10000+ · unverified
Data availability Celestia · unverified
Gas paid in ETH · unverified

Not disclosed by the provider: Validators / sequencer, Sequencer.

Data from the provider's website and public sources. Fees and availability change; confirm on the official site before you sign up.

Key features

Enterprise Mode fee abstraction

Applications pay a fixed monthly subscription in stablecoins so end users can execute on-chain transactions with zero gas fees.

Celestia data availability

The protocol implements an Optimium model that leverages Celestia for off-chain data availability while settling to Ethereum.

Standard EVM execution

Developers can deploy unmodified Solidity smart contracts using standard Ethereum tooling, RPC endpoints, and Geth-based architecture.

Sub-second block times

Phoenix mainnet produces blocks roughly every 0.5 seconds, delivering nominal transaction fees of approximately $0.01 for standard operations.

Native bridging infrastructure

Users move assets between Ethereum Layer 1 and LightLink using the official canonical bridge or integrated cross-chain protocols.

Stella Wallet integration

A native chain-abstracted wallet supports social logins via Apple, Google, and X without requiring users to store seed phrases.

Inside LightLink

Enterprise Mode

A gas-subsidy protocol feature where applications pay a fixed stablecoin subscription so registered users transact on-chain with zero gas fees.

Stella Wallet

A chain-abstracted account wallet that offers social logins through Google, Apple, or X and incorporates natural language AI agent execution.

LightLink Bridge

The native cross-chain portal that moves ETH and other digital assets between Ethereum Layer 1 and the LightLink network.

Phoenix Mainnet

The live production Layer 2 network operating with Chain ID 1890 and EVM execution settled to Ethereum.

Pegasus Testnet

The public developer testbed anchored to Ethereum test networks for testing contracts and Enterprise Mode parameters.

LightLink screenshots

The LightLink homepage displays navigation, a blockchain headline, descriptive text, and buttons for bridging and discovering Stella Wallet
The LightLink homepage displays navigation, a blockchain headline, descriptive text, and buttons for bridging and discovering Stella Wallet · Oct 21, 2026
Docs: The LightLink Docs page explains what LightLink is and lists documentation sections in a sidebar
Docs: The LightLink Docs page explains what LightLink is and lists documentation sections in a sidebar · Oct 21, 2026
Enterprise Mode: LightLink’s Enterprise Mode marketing page with an enterprise blockchain infrastructure headline and contact buttons
Enterprise Mode: LightLink’s Enterprise Mode marketing page with an enterprise blockchain infrastructure headline and contact buttons · Oct 21, 2026

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Funding and investors

$11.5MTotal raised
1Round
9Investors
  1. Seed Feb 2024 $4.5M
    Source

FAQ

Who founded LightLink?

LightLink was founded by CEO Roy Hui, who established Pellar Technology and has worked in the blockchain industry since 2017.

What are the transaction fees on LightLink?

Standard transactions cost approximately $0.01 on the Phoenix mainnet. Applications running Enterprise Mode can cover transaction costs upfront so end users pay $0 in gas.

Does LightLink have a native token?

Yes, LightLink's native token is LL. It is utilized within the ecosystem for governance, network incentives, and treasury reserves.

How does LightLink Enterprise Mode work?

Enterprises and dApps purchase gas quotas in stablecoins and whitelist specific smart contracts. Users interacting with those contracts send transactions with gas price set to zero without holding tokens.

Have there been any major security incidents or exchange actions on LightLink?

While no protocol smart contract exploits have occurred, the native LL token was delisted by the Bybit exchange in January 2026.

Is LightLink compatible with Ethereum smart contracts?

Yes, LightLink is fully EVM-equivalent. Developers can deploy unmodified Solidity smart contracts using standard tools like Geth, Hardhat, or Foundry.

Latest from LightLink on X

LightLink ⛓️
@lightlinkchain · 97.8K followers
Follow
Monday check-in from LightLink Mainnet:

→ 235.7M blocks
→ 94.6M txs
→ 6.0M addresses
→ 705.1K txs in the last 30 days

1.2M of those blocks landed this week alone, one every ~0.5s, nights and weekends included 🤠 https://t.co/7hs5ffowBs
Image attached to the post
0 1 2 879 View on X
Games and loyalty apps run on tiny txs: an item per quest, a point per purchase

With Enterprise Mode, the app whitelists its contract:
→ each claim is sent at gasPrice 0
→ the app's prepaid quota pays
→ players never buy ETH first

Gas is a budget line, not a toll per click https://t.co/b9vXSmDjNF
Image attached to the post
0 0 2 1.3K View on X
Why do blockchains charge fees at all?

→ Spam: free txs let anyone flood the chain
→ Costs: nodes, plus an L2 posting data and settling

Enterprise Mode covers both. The app prepays a gas quota that caps spam per app and still pays the nodes

User's fee: 0 😏 https://t.co/IyTVusQaT4
Image attached to the post
1 0 2 1.3K View on X
1/5 You hit send on LightLink and half a second later your tx is in a block

That's only the start of its trip

Here's where it goes next 👇 https://t.co/BXI9ybWB6f
Image attached to the post
1 0 1 1.2K View on X
Your Monday LightLink Mainnet numbers:

→ 234.5M blocks
→ 94.5M txs
→ 6.0M addresses
→ 793.8K txs in the last 30 days

~22.9K txs a day this week, each one in a block within about half a second 🤠 https://t.co/EAp3fvm0g9
Image attached to the post
0 0 3 1.2K View on X

Recent public posts from @lightlinkchain, shown as published. Not reviewed or endorsed by CryptoReview.

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