What QuarkChain does

QuarkChain is a blockchain infrastructure company building a Layer 2 network branded as the 'Super World Computer,' built on the OP Stack and targeting decentralized application developers and AI application builders. Founded in 2018, the Palo Alto-based organization (11-50 employees) is structured as a non-profit and combines four core technology pillars: (1) a Parallel EVM execution engine designed to overcome L2 TPS ceilings, (2) an Advanced Fault Proof Algorithm supported by Optimism that accelerates settlement and reduces validation cost, (3) the Web3 Access Protocol (ERC-4804/ERC-6860, the web3:// standard) that enables decentralized frontends immune to DNS-level censorship, and (4) an EthStorage-based Layer 3 integration that reduces on-chain storage cost to approximately 1/10,000th of mainnet levels and expands capacity to the petabyte range. The Soul Gas Token, a non-transferable gas mechanism, is intended to provide Web2-like onboarding by covering transaction fees for new users.

The company monetizes through usage-based transaction gas fees on its L2 network. Its go-to-market is developer-centric and self-serve: distribution runs through a documentation portal (docs.quarkchain.io), Telegram and Discord communities, GitHub repositories, and research publications rather than enterprise sales motions. Customer segments are horizontal — dApp developers and AI application builders — with primary pain points addressed including high onboarding friction from gas token acquisition, EVM throughput caps, expensive and capacity-limited storage, centralized frontend dependencies, and high validation costs on Ethereum. Strategic integrations include EthStorage (L3 storage), Optimism (fault proofs and grant-funded research), and alignment with Ethereum standards (ERC-4804, ERC-6860, OP Stack). The largest disclosed capital event was a $20 million raise in March 2018 led by Chain Capital, with subsequent smaller undisclosed rounds through 2021. The company is led by founder and CEO Qi Zhou.

Name

QuarkChain

Website

https://quarkchain.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

QuarkChain is a Palo Alto-based non-profit building the Super World Computer, an OP Stack Layer 2 blockchain featuring Parallel EVM execution, EthStorage L3 integration, the web3:// Web3 Access Protocol (ERC-4804/6860), and Soul Gas Tokens, serving dApp developers and AI application builders globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Infrastructure (Layer 2)

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210), Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Smart Contract Developer Platforms & Tooling (SDKs, APIs, frameworks, indexing) (FSAPAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Smart Contract Execution Environments (EVM/WASM, runtimes, precompiles) (FSAPABAA), Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps) (FSAGAMAI)

Keywords

• Layer 2 blockchain
• Parallel EVM execution
• Decentralized infrastructure
• Blockchain sharding technology
• Ethereum scaling platform

Headquarters

HQ city

Palo Alto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Transaction Gas Fees: Network generates revenue through gas fees for transaction processing on the L2 network, similar to typical blockchain fee structures.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

QuarkChain builds and operates the "Super World Computer," a fully decentralized Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain infrastructure platform that delivers high-throughput parallel EVM execution, low-cost settlement through an Optimism-supported Advanced Fault Proof Algorithm, petabyte-scale on-chain storage via EthStorage as a Layer 3, decentralized frontends via the Web3 Access Protocol (ERC-4804/6860), and gas-free user onboarding via the Soul Gas Token. The company sells access to this L2 infrastructure and developer tooling to teams building AI applications and decentralized applications (dApps).

Product overview

QuarkChain is building the 'Super World Computer' — a fully decentralized Layer 2 blockchain solution delivering unmatched scalability, security, and on-chain verifiable storage as the ultimate infrastructure for AI and dApps. The product portfolio consists of the Super World Computer as the core platform, with the Soul Gas Token (a non-transferable gas token for seamless Web2-like user onboarding) as a key feature. The architecture includes Parallel EVM for computation, Advanced Fault Proof Algorithm for security, Web3 Access Protocol (ERC-4804/6860) for decentralized access, and EthStorage as L3 for programmable large storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Super World Computer (QuarkChain Layer 2 Blockchain Platform) A fully decentralized Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain infrastructure platform targeted at developers and teams building decentralized applications and AI applications. Delivers parallelized EVM execution for high throughput, an Optimism-supported Advanced Fault Proof Algorithm for low-cost settlement, EthStorage as a Layer 3 for petabyte-scale on-chain storage, the Web3 Access Protocol (ERC-4804/6860) for decentralized frontends, and the Soul Gas Token for gas-free user onboarding.
• Soul Gas Token A non-transferable gas token mechanism on QuarkChain that covers transaction fees for new users, enabling Web2-like seamless onboarding without requiring users to acquire gas tokens upfront. Aimed at dApp and AI application developers seeking to reduce user friction.
• EthStorage L3 Programmable Storage Programmable large-storage Layer 3 solution integrated with QuarkChain via EthStorage, providing on-chain verifiable storage at roughly 1/10,000th of mainnet cost and petabyte-level capacity for dApps and AI workloads.

Quantifiable outcome

• Storage costs reduced to approximately 1/10,000th of mainnet costs
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• EthStoragecoreTechnology or IntegrationEthStorage serves as Layer 3 storage solution for QuarkChain's Super World Computer architecture, providing programmable large storage capabilities that reduce on-chain storage costs to approximately 1/10,000th of mainnet costs while enabling petabyte-level storage capacity.
• Optimism (OP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptimism provides support for QuarkChain's Advanced Fault Proof Algorithm, which accelerates settlement times and significantly reduces costs. OP has also granted funding for research on multi-section dispute games and alternative OP Stack zero-knowledge fault proof using WASM.
• EthereumcoreTechnology or IntegrationQuarkChain is built on Ethereum as an L2 solution, utilizing Ethereum staking for security and supporting Ethereum standards including ERC-4804 and ERC-6860 for the Web3 Access Protocol.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Optimism: QuarkChain is built on OP Stack and Optimism supports QuarkChain's fault-proof research with grants, making Optimism the closest architectural and ecosystem peer. Both target scalable L2 infrastructure for Ethereum.
• Arbitrum: Largest EVM-equivalent L2 by TVL; competes head-to-head with QuarkChain for dApp developers seeking low-cost, high-throughput execution on Ethereum.
• Base: Coinbase-incubated OP Stack L2 that similarly targets mainstream dApp and developer onboarding — overlapping with QuarkChain's mass-adoption thesis via low fees and easy UX.
• zkSync: ZK-rollup L2 focused on low-cost EVM-equivalent execution and developer onboarding — directly comparable scaling/UX narrative to QuarkChain's Super World Computer.
• StarkNet: Validity-proof L2 optimized for high-throughput computation; competes for the same AI/dApp developer mind-share that QuarkChain targets with its Parallel EVM and storage stack.
• Scroll: EVM-equivalent zk-rollup L2 competing for dApp developers on throughput and cost — directly comparable positioning to QuarkChain's performance-focused L2 narrative.
• Linea: Consensys-built zkEVM L2 with a developer-adoption focus — comparable to QuarkChain as an alternative L2 platform targeting Ethereum-native builders.
• Mantle: Modular L2 using OP Stack and EigenLayer for DA — overlapping with QuarkChain in the OP Stack-aligned L2 tier competing for high-throughput dApp workloads.

Broad incumbents

• Polygon: Established multi-chain scaling ecosystem (Polygon PoS, zkEVM, CDK) targeting dApp developers and enterprise — same broad category (L2/sidechain infrastructure) but much larger and broader portfolio.

Emerging players

• EthStorage: Core technology/integration partner providing the L3 programmable storage layer for QuarkChain; adjacent emerging player whose roadmap directly shapes QuarkChain's storage-cost advantage.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Quark_Chain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about QuarkChain