Microsoft-backed company Space and Time Labs announced the launch of a blockchain built to deliver zero-knowledge (ZK)-proven data to smart contracts, SXT Chain, on a testnet. In collaboration with ZKsync, Chainlink, and Microsoft, SXT aims to support the future of decentralized finance (DeFi) by equipping developers with the necessary data, infrastructure, and resources to create advanced, data-driven smart contracts.
“We’re thrilled to launch SXT Chain on the testnet to empower developers to build more sophisticated applications on-chain,” said Nate Holiday, Co-Founder and CEO of Space and Time, in a written statement. “Both ZKsync and Chainlink have been pioneers in expanding the capabilities of blockchain technology, and we look forward to building the next generation of DeFi together with decentralized, ZK-proven database technology,” he added.
SXT Chain is a blockchain network that indexes data from major blockchains, including Ethereum, ZKsync, and various Ethereum virtual machine (EVM) and Move chains, distributing it across a decentralized network of database nodes. Through SXT’s Proof of SQL—a sub-second ZK coprocessor for SQL database queries—developers can access, query, ZK-prove, and link this data back to their smart contracts.
Blockchain technology enables individuals to securely own their assets, supporting a vision of financial freedom outside centralized institutions. However, despite advancements since Ethereum and smart contracts were introduced, blockchain systems still face challenges with scaling data access and processing.
For instance, while traditional lending platforms determine lending rates based on a borrower’s credit score, on-chain lending protocols apply a uniform lending rate to all borrowers because smart contracts cannot reliably access fundamental on-chain data, such as a wallet’s loan history. With SXT, a lending protocol can compile a wallet’s on-chain loan history into a “credit score” through a standard SQL interface, using ZK proof to ensure the score was computed accurately with verified, untampered data and send the score directly to the smart contract to facilitate more customized lending.
Several projects focused on the data-driven DeFi solutions, such as Lendvest—an on-chain credit scoring protocol in the Chainlink BUILD program—are already leveraging SXT for their platforms.
Space And Time Leverages ZKsync And Chainlink To Enhance SXT Chain For Advanced On-Chain Applications
In order to further support SXT Chain, Space and Time is utilizing ZKsync technology to launch a ZK Chain within the Elastic Chain ecosystem. This ZK rollup will serve as the smart contract execution layer for the SXT Chain, allowing developers to deploy Solidity-based smart contracts with ease. Additionally, the rollup will feature native DeFi applications for handling client payments, staking, and node operator coordination, along with third-party DeFi applications for liquid staking, derivatives, and other data-intensive applications.
SXT will also leverage the established Chainlink Network, offering developers a more cost-efficient method to ZK-verify query results processed on SXT, especially compared to Ethereum’s gas-intensive verification. Through native integration with Chainlink Functions, developers can directly deliver ZK-verified query results to their smart contracts from SXT. This expands the toolkit available to developers using Chainlink services by providing a ZK-proven database that serves as a secure, reliable data source for smart contracts facilitated by Chainlink oracles.
Space and Time Labs, a key innovator in decentralized data and ZK technology, is the original contributor to SXT Chain. Its team, composed of AI and cryptography researchers, has influenced advancements across AI, blockchain, and ZK fields. Microsoft has noted in a recent blog post that this M12 portfolio company has been working closely with the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab to accelerate its generative AI tools and make it easier for developers to build applications onchain.
The SXT Chain testnet is now live, enabling developers to enhance their applications and smart contracts with a ZK-proven database. Community members can participate in the testnet by completing SXT quests on Galxe.
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