Metis

What Metis does

Metis is an Ethereum Layer 2 Optimistic Rollup platform built on the Optimism codebase and operated by Switcheo Labs as the core development team, founded in 2018. The platform's principal technical differentiator is its decentralized sequencer architecture — claimed as the first of its kind among L2 networks — which combines L2Geth, OP-node, batch submitter, MPC node, and Tendermint P2P consensus to eliminate single points of failure and distribute block production across community-operated nodes. Metis targets Web3 developers and DeFi builders with low gas fees, fast transaction processing, and decentralized governance through its Community Ecosystem Governance (CEG) voting framework, serving a horizontal segment of builders across DeFi, GameFi, Infrastructure, NFT, DEX, and Wallet categories.

The business model centers on transaction fees accruing to the L2 network and revenue sharing with decentralized sequencer node operators, with monetization streams including sequencer revenue, network transaction fees, and METIS-denominated sequencer mining rewards. Go-to-market is community-led and product-led, leveraging hackathons, grants, developer documentation, and self-serve deployment, supplemented by regional advocate networks across LATAM, Africa, CIS, the Middle East, and South Asia. Notable integrations include Chainlink oracles, LayerZero and Stargate cross-chain messaging, Synapse interoperability, and MetaMask/Trust Wallet support. Metis has cultivated an ecosystem of 100+ dApps and lists the METIS token on eight major centralized exchanges including Binance, OKX, Gate.io, KuCoin, Crypto.com, Bitget, and MEXC. The 4.6 million METIS Ecosystem Development Fund supports ecosystem growth through sequencer mining allocations (3M METIS) and grants (1.6M METIS).

In 2024 the company accelerated product expansion with the launch of Hyperion, an AI-aligned Layer 2 positioned as 'Instant L2 | AI Aligned, Human Defined'; the Liquid Staking Blitz initiative targeting the ~38% of staked ETH held as liquid staking derivatives; the Metis Accelerate Program ($250,000 grant budget); and the GameFi Quantum Leap Accelerator in partnership with ABGA and Google Cloud. Metis employs 11-50 people, is led by CEO Tom.N and co-founders Elena.S (Decentralization Coordinator, People & Education), Kevin.L (Strategy), and Yuan.S (Innovation), and is governed through a Metis Foundation structure. The company has received investment support from eighteen crypto-focused venture capital firms including Waterdrip Capital, Chain Capital, Genblock Capital, AU21 Capital, Gate.io Labs, Master Ventures, Block Dream Fund, DFG, Kernel Ventures, and others, though specific funding round amounts are not disclosed.

Name

Metis

Legal name

Metis

Website

https://metis.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Metis is an Ethereum Layer 2 Optimistic Rollup platform operating the first decentralized sequencer among L2 networks, serving Web3 developers and DeFi builders with low gas fees, CEG community governance, and a 100+ dApp ecosystem across DeFi, GameFi, NFT, and Infrastructure.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Layer 2 Infrastructure

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Layer-2 (L2) / Rollup Sequencer & Validator Operations (FSADAKAB), Interoperability & Cross-Chain Infrastructure (Bridges, Messaging, Atomic Swaps) (FSAGAMAI), Deployment, Automation & DevOps (build pipelines, contract deployment tools) (FSAPABAH)

Keywords

• Layer 2 scaling
• Blockchain infrastructure
• Optimistic rollup platform
• Decentralized sequencer protocol
• Web3 developer tooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sequencer Revenue: As the first L2 with a decentralized sequencer, Metis shares sequencer revenue with community participants who operate sequencer nodes and lock governance tokens.
2. Network Transaction Fees: Users pay transaction fees for processing on the Layer 2 network, which are submitted to Ethereum mainnet.
3. Sequencer Mining Rewards: Participants earn METIS tokens as rewards for block production and transaction processing within the network through the sequencer mining program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Metis operates an Ethereum Layer 2 Optimistic Rollup platform that provides scalable, low-cost, decentralized blockchain infrastructure for Web3 applications. Its core product includes Hyperion (an AI-aligned L2 mainnet), the first decentralized sequencer among L2 Optimistic Rollups, and Community Ecosystem Governance (CEG), supported by a 4.6M METIS Ecosystem Development Fund for builder grants and sequencer mining incentives.

Product overview

Metis is a Layer 2 Optimistic Rollup platform built on Ethereum, offering a unified platform-plus-ecosystem architecture. The core product is the Metis L2 platform itself, which provides decentralized, scalable blockchain infrastructure. Key supporting products and programs include Hyperion (an AI-aligned L2 infrastructure sub-product for instant deployment), the Decentralized Sequencer (the first decentralized sequencer for an Optimistic Rollup, enabling community-shared revenue), Community Ecosystem Governance (CEG, a governance framework), the Community Verified Project (CVP) status program, the Metis Ecosystem Development Fund (4.6M METIS supporting sequencer mining and ecosystem grants), Metis Accelerate grants, and HyperHack hackathons. Together these components form an integrated Web3 acceleration platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hyperion: AI-aligned Layer 2 platform and mainnet for Metis
• CEG (Community Ecosystem Governance)
• Metis Sequencer
• Metis EDF (Ecosystem Development Fund)

Products and services

• Metis (Core Layer 2 Platform) An Ethereum Layer 2 Optimistic Rollup platform providing scalable, low-cost, decentralized blockchain infrastructure for Web3 developers building dApps across DeFi, GameFi, NFT, and infrastructure categories.
• Hyperion An AI-aligned Layer 2 infrastructure platform launched by Metis, designed as the ideal home for AI applications with instant L2 deployment capabilities.
• Decentralized Sequencer The first decentralized sequencer for a Layer 2 Optimistic Rollup, eliminating single points of failure and sharing sequencer revenue with the community through a permissionless, decentralized architecture.
• Community Ecosystem Governance (CEG) A decentralized voting framework enabling the Metis community to govern the ecosystem, verify projects, and make governance decisions on marketing support, funding, and network parameters.
• Liquid Staking Blitz (LSB) An initiative for accelerating growth of Liquid Staking Derivatives (LSDs) on the Metis Layer 2 network, leveraging the 4.6M METIS Ecosystem Development Fund with up to 100,000 METIS tokens per sequencer node.
• Metis Explorer The blockchain explorer for the Metis network, enabling users to view transactions, blocks, wallet addresses, and network statistics.
• Metis Accelerate Program A milestone-based grants initiative with a $250,000 budget offering up to $25,000 per project to Web3 projects focused on rapid user growth and transaction activity on Metis.
• HyperHack A hackathon event associated with the Hyperion launch, providing a forum category for developers to build on the Metis Hyperion platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• Low gas fees compared to Ethereum mainnet
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Switcheo LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore development team behind Metis platform, recognized for strong teamwork and achievement of roadmap milestones
• ThrivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStrategic partnership to reward builders and creators contributing value to the Metis ecosystem through Season 1 running through December 2024
• ABGAmoderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the GameFi Quantum Leap Accelerator Program for Web2 to Web3 game developer transition
• Google CloudcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCloud services partner in GameFi Quantum Leap Accelerator Program supporting Web3 gaming projects on Metis
• BinancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorld's leading cryptocurrency exchange with Metis token deployed, providing broad accessibility for METIS trading
• OKXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor crypto exchange with Metis integration for token trading
• Gate.iocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrypto exchange supporting 1,400+ cryptocurrencies including METIS
• KuCoinmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSecure cryptocurrency exchange with Metis token trading available
• Crypto.commoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor crypto exchange and payment platform with Metis integration
• BitgetmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrypto derivative exchange platform supporting METIS
• MEXC GlobalmoderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital asset trading platform with METIS available
• CoinstoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigital asset trading platform focused on emerging markets with Metis listing
• ChainlinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationDecentralized oracle networks providing tamper-proof inputs for smart contracts, deployed on Metis
• LayerZerocoreTechnology or IntegrationOmnichain interoperability protocol for cross-chain messaging deployed on Metis
• StargatecoreTechnology or IntegrationCross-chain asset transfer protocol enabling native asset transfers with unified liquidity
• Synapse ProtocolmoderateTechnology or IntegrationUniversal interoperability protocol enabling secure cross-chain communication on Metis
• BanxamoderateTechnology or IntegrationFiat-to-crypto on-ramp service enabling purchase of METIS with traditional currencies
• MetaMaskcoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading self-custodial wallet with native Metis network support for user access
• Trust WalletcoreTechnology or IntegrationNon-custodial wallet trusted by millions with Metis blockchain support

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Polygon zkEVM: Polygon zkEVM is a ZK-rollup Ethereum L2 from Polygon Labs competing for the same dApp and DeFi migrations as Metis. It benefits from Polygon's broader ecosystem and brand recognition.
• Arbitrum: Arbitrum is the largest Ethereum L2 by TVL and developer activity, operating an Optimistic Rollup with similar value proposition to Metis (low fees, Ethereum security). It is the most direct head-to-head competitor for DeFi and dApp migrations.
• Optimism: Optimism is the OP Stack L2 that Metis is built on and most directly competes with. Both target Ethereum developers with low-fee optimistic rollup infrastructure and compete for the same dApp and liquidity mindshare.
• Linea: Linea is ConsenSys's ZK-rollup L2 with MetaMask integration, offering Ethereum scaling with strong developer tooling. It competes with Metis for the same Web3 developer audience with the advantage of ConsenSys distribution.
• Base: Base is Coinbase's OP Stack L2 offering low-fee Ethereum scaling with strong distribution through Coinbase's retail base. It competes with Metis for the same developer audience with the advantage of institutional backing and fiat on-ramps.
• Scroll: Scroll is a ZK-rollup L2 focused on bytecode-level EVM equivalence, competing with Metis for developers seeking native Ethereum compatibility with stronger finality guarantees.
• zkSync: zkSync is a leading ZK-rollup L2 offering Ethereum scaling with validity proofs. It is a direct competitor to Metis for the next-generation L2 narrative, though with a different technical architecture (ZK vs. Optimistic).
• Mantle: Mantle is an OP Stack-based L2 with a modular architecture and significant treasury backing from BitDAO. It competes directly with Metis for EVM-compatible dApp developers and DeFi protocols.

Emerging players

• Manta Network: Manta Network is a modular L2 focused on zero-knowledge applications and programmable identity, offering competing infrastructure for dApps that require privacy features which Metis does not natively provide.

Broad incumbents

• Polygon Labs: Polygon Labs operates a broader portfolio of Ethereum scaling solutions (Polygon PoS, Polygon zkEVM, Polygon Miden) plus the POL token ecosystem. While Metis is a direct L2 competitor, Polygon represents a broader incumbent with significantly more resources and developer mindshare.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/MetisL2
• GitHubgithub.com/MetisProtocol
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@Metis_L2
• Facebookweb.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075992201830
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metisl2
• Instagraminstagram.com/metisl2
• TikToktiktok.com/@metisl2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors10 records

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Metis