What ApeChain does

ApeChain is an Arbitrum Orbit Layer-3 blockchain operated under the Ape Foundation (Cayman Islands) that serves as the dedicated infrastructure layer for the ApeCoin and Yuga Labs ecosystem. The platform uses $APE as its native gas token and is built on Arbitrum Nitro with EVM compatibility and Stylus support, enabling smart contracts in Solidity as well as Rust, C, and C++. Distinctive technical components include NFT Shadows (a cross-chain ownership mechanism using Beacon and ShadowNFT contracts over LayerZero messaging), a native verified random number generator (vRNG), Timeboost priority gas auction with $APE burn mechanics, BoLD permissionless validation, and LayerZero OFT-based deployment of $APE across Ethereum, Arbitrum, Solana, HyperEVM, BSC, and Monad. The platform is governed under Cayman Islands law by the Ape Foundation and is governed in practice by the ApeCoin DAO community.

The product surface spans the core chain, the ApePortal bridge/swap/onramp gateway, ApeScan block explorer, NFT Shadows, Glyph onboarding widget, BuildKit templates, APE Builder/Sequence game dev tools, and integration infrastructure from Alchemy, Caldera, Tenderly, Goldsky, Espresso, Pyth, and Supra. The ecosystem hosts 46+ apps across Games (Otherside, Swords of Blood, ApeChurch, PogMan Battle, HEAD2HEAD, Serum City, Chimpers), Finance (Camelot, OpenOcean, gTrade, Ape Express, Cyan, Jones DAO), Collectibles (MintPad, Blever, OpenSea), and Infrastructure. Notable named customers/partners include Otherside (Yuga Labs metaverse), OpenSea, Camelot, gTrade, OpenOcean, Swords of Blood, and BAPE as a flagship brand partner.

ApeChain monetizes through transaction fees on ApePortal: 0.12% plus $0.20 per bridge transaction, 0.25% plus $0.20 per token swap, and 1.00% platform fee on top of Moonpay/Transak fiat on-ramp provider fees, with Timeboost directing a portion of priority gas fees to the DAO and burning the remainder. The go-to-market is product-led growth via self-serve developer onboarding with comprehensive documentation, no-code tools, and community-driven distribution through Discord, Telegram, X, and Yuga Labs-affiliated brand channels, targeting Web3 developers, crypto gamers/NFT enthusiasts, and brands/IP holders as primary customer segments.

Name

ApeChain

Legal name

Ape Foundation

Website

https://apechain.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ApeChain is an Arbitrum Orbit Layer-3 blockchain, operated under the Ape Foundation, that provides EVM-compatible infrastructure and developer tooling for the ApeCoin and Yuga Labs ecosystem, using $APE as native gas and serving Web3 developers, gamers, NFT users, and brand partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Blockchain Infrastructure

NAICS

Securities and Commodity Exchanges (523210)

SIC

Security & Commodity Brokers, Dealers, Exchanges & Services (6200)

akta.pro primary industry

Interoperability & Integration Middleware (ERP/core banking connectors, messaging, APIs, cross-chain to permissioned) (FSAPAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deployment, Automation & DevOps (build pipelines, contract deployment tools) (FSAPABAH), Account Abstraction & Smart Wallet Tooling (AA SDKs, paymasters, session keys) (FSAPABAK)

Keywords

• Blockchain infrastructure
• Layer 3 chain
• Web3 developer platform
• NFT marketplace ecosystem
• Decentralized finance protocols

Headquarters

HQ city

Not specified

HQ country

Cayman Islands

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bridge Transaction Fees: ApePortal charges 0.12% plus $0.20 per bridge transaction, with no fees for ApeChain canonical bridge routes. This is the primary transaction-based revenue stream.
2. Swap Transaction Fees: ApePortal charges 0.25% plus $0.20 per token swap on ApeChain. Users trade tokens within the same blockchain network.
3. Fiat Onramp Fees: 1.00% platform fee on top of Moonpay or Transak onramp provider fees for fiat-to-crypto conversion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ApeChain is an Arbitrum Orbit Layer 3 blockchain that serves as dedicated infrastructure for the ApeCoin ecosystem, using $APE as the native gas token. The platform provides EVM-compatible smart contract execution with Stylus support (Rust, C, C++ alongside Solidity), cross-chain NFT ownership via NFT Shadows, native verified randomness (vRNG), and bridges/swap via ApePortal. Developers access pre-built SDKs, no-code NFT deployment tools, block explorer, oracle/data integrations, and an ecosystem of 46+ apps spanning gaming, DeFi, NFTs, and infrastructure.

Product overview

ApeChain is a platform consisting of an Arbitrum Orbit L3 blockchain (the core infrastructure layer for the ApeCoin ecosystem) and a comprehensive ecosystem of interconnected applications and services. The core product is the ApeChain blockchain network, which uses $APE as native gas token. Key supporting products include ApePortal (bridge and swap gateway), ApeScan (block explorer), and the ApeChain Widget (onboarding solution). The ecosystem hosts over 46 applications across categories including Games (OTHERSIDE, Swords of Blood, PogMan Battle), Finance (Camelot DEX, gTrade, Ape Express), Collectibles (MintPad, Blever, OpenSea), Infrastructure (Goldsky, Alchemy, Tenderly, Safe, LayerZero, Supra, Pyth), and News. Developer tools include BuildKit/Scaffold-ETH, Foundry/Hardhat development frameworks, APE Builder by Sequence for no-code NFT deployment, and NFT Shadows for cross-chain NFT ownership. The platform integrates with Arbitrum's roadmap including Stylus (multi-language smart contracts), Timeboost (priority gas), BoLD (decentralized validation), and Cluster Chains (app-specific scaling).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ApeChain Arbitrum Orbit Layer 3 blockchain serving as the dedicated infrastructure layer for the ApeCoin ecosystem. Uses $APE as native gas token and provides EVM-compatible smart contract execution with Stylus support (Rust, C, C++ alongside Solidity) for DApps, NFT marketplaces, DeFi protocols, and games.
• ApePortal Gateway portal for bridging and swapping tokens to ApeChain. Supports bridging tokens from Ethereum Mainnet, cross-chain swaps, and fiat onramps via Moonpay and Transak. Fees: Bridge 0.12% + $0.20, Swap 0.25% + $0.20, Onramp 1.00%.
• ApeScan Primary block explorer for ApeChain, powered by Etherscan. Allows users to track transactions, view wallets, and interact with smart contracts on the network.
• NFT Shadows Cross-chain NFT ownership mechanism through Shadow NFTs that replicate ownership states across chains. Shadow NFTs maintain ownership consistency through Beacon contracts using LayerZero messaging.
• vRNG (Verified Random Number Generator) Native on-chain random number generator for developers requiring fair, unbiased, and cryptographically secure randomness for NFT minting, gaming, and lotteries.
• ApeChain Widget Onboarding widget integrating simplified bridging, account abstraction via Halliday, Decent, and Privy, and fiat onramps for streamlined user onboarding.
• APE Builder / Sequence Low-code Web3 game development platform with account abstraction, non-custodial wallets, in-app marketplaces, game SDKs, minting tools, payments, and analytics.
• Spotlight Contribution-to-earn program featuring a rotating spotlight on individual apps powered by ApeChain, enabling users to contribute and earn rewards.
• YugaID Account system required for certain features of the ApeChain interface, enabling user authentication and activity management.
• Points Program Incentives program allowing users to accrue points through interface activities, with points being non-transferable and entitling users to third-party entitlements.
• Ape Agent by Flow AI AI agent powered by Flow AI for interacting with the Ape ecosystem, providing market insights, NFT metrics, governance tracking, and community feeds through a conversational interface.

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration35 records

AI capability1 record

Feature8 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• AlchemycoreTechnology or IntegrationAlchemy is the leading Web3 developer platform providing infrastructure support for ApeChain, offering Supernode APIs and Rollup technology to help builders create and scale dApps on ultra-reliable, scalable infrastructure.
• CalderacoreTechnology or IntegrationCaldera provides Rollup-as-a-Service infrastructure including Guardian Nodes for network security, Block Explorer, and Bridge Interface. Hosts RPC endpoints for both mainnet and Curtis testnet.
• TenderlycoreTechnology or IntegrationTenderly provides managed RPC nodes, transaction simulation tools, and monitoring services. Developers can deploy nodes, simulate transactions, and test dApps efficiently.
• GoldskycoreTechnology or IntegrationGoldsky is the trusted partner for high-performance data indexing and streaming via Subgraphs and Turbo pipelines, making it easy for developers to power dApps, analytics, and AI agents with fast, reliable access to ApeChain data.
• Espresso SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationEspresso provides fast, deterministic finality for blockchain transactions, enabling applications to confirm transactions within seconds rather than waiting for parent chain batch posting. Enables cross-chain bridges, NFT platforms, oracles, and gaming use cases.
• LayerZerocoreTechnology or IntegrationLayerZero enables applications to move data across blockchain with censorship-resistant messaging and permissionless development through immutable smart contracts. Powers $APE OFT cross-chain transfers.
• PythcoreTechnology or IntegrationPyth acts as oracle for ApeChain providing real-time, reliable data feeds directly to the blockchain. Vital for gaming and DeFi dApps requiring accurate on-chain data.
• SupracoreTechnology or IntegrationSupra delivers distributed VRF (dVRF) for secure randomness and high-speed data feeds crucial for DeFi, NFTs, and gaming dApps on ApeChain.
• PrivycoreTechnology or IntegrationPrivy provides wallet connectors supporting all major wallets, optimized for mobile and web. Powers the Glyph onboarding widget with simplified bridging, account abstraction, and fiat onramps.
• HallidaycoreTechnology or IntegrationHalliday is a commerce automation network for modular chains, enabling simplified bridging and account abstraction to save users time on transaction management.
• Sequence (Yuga Labs)coreTechnology or IntegrationSequence provides APE Builder/Sequence, an all-in-one Web3 game dev platform with account abstraction, non-custodial wallets, in-app marketplaces, game SDKs, minting tools, payments, and analytics. Powers embedded wallets and ecosystem wallet solutions.
• RelaycoreTechnology or IntegrationRelay provides cross-chain payments enabling instant, low-cost bridging and cross-chain execution. Minimizes gas costs and execution latency for price-sensitive applications like payments, bridging, NFT minting, and gas abstraction.
• Den (Safe)coreTechnology or IntegrationDen provides battle-tested Safe multi-sig smart wallet accounts with enhanced security for NFTs and in-game items, integrated as Den Safe Wallet on ApeChain.
• BAPEflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerBAPE is a world-class brand partnership providing top-of-funnel distribution and helping developers reach new audiences. Represents major brand integration with the ApeChain ecosystem.
• TOKENPROOFcoreTechnology or IntegrationTOKENPROOF provides token-based access to exclusive online and IRL events, retail, and experiences through the tokenproof app.
• PythcoreTechnology or IntegrationPyth provides the permissionless data infrastructure empowering next generation financial applications with real-time price feeds.
• D3 (.APE Domain)coreTechnology or IntegrationD3 brings the .APE Top-Level Domain to the ApeChain ecosystem, letting users create memorable Web3 identities in Web2 and Web3 environments.
• DecentcoreTechnology or IntegrationDecent provides bridging infrastructure integrated into the ApePortal, enabling cross-chain token transfers with simplified UX.
• EtherscancoreTechnology or IntegrationEtherscan powers ApeScan, the primary block explorer for ApeChain, supporting contract verification and blockchain exploration for the L3 network.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Manta Network: Modular L2 with EVM and privacy/zk-rollup features and a gaming/NFT-friendly ecosystem. Comparable as a recent L2 targeting the same Web3 gaming and DeFi builder audience that ApeChain is courting.
• Immutable: Immutable zkEVM is a gaming-focused L2 with strong NFT tooling and an ecosystem of Web3 games (Gods Unchained, Illuvium). Closely mirrors ApeChain's gaming + NFT focus, developer tooling emphasis, and zk/stark-based scaling approach.
• Blast: Yield- and gaming-focused L2 with native yield mechanics (similar in spirit to Timeboost/BoLD). Comparable as a consumer-oriented L2 chasing attention via incentive programs and ecosystem airdrops in the same competitive set as ApeChain.
• Ronin Network: Gaming-focused Layer 1 / app-chain originally built by Sky Mavis for Axie Infinity. Most directly comparable to ApeChain as a chain whose primary demand engine is a single major gaming brand (BAYC for ApeChain, Axie for Ronin), with similar NFT-anchored economics.

Broad incumbents

• Polygon: Polygon PoS/Polygon CDK provides general-purpose EVM scaling with a deep gaming and NFT ecosystem (Sandbox, Aave, Uniswap). Comparable as an EVM-equivalent L2 with strong NFT tooling, but serves a much broader set of use cases than ApeChain's Yuga-anchored niche.
• zkSync: zk-rollup L2 with EVM compatibility and an emphasis on account abstraction (similar to ApeChain's Glyph/Privy integration). Comparable as a scaling solution targeting consumer-friendly Web3 onboarding.
• Base: Coinbase-incubated OP-Stack L2 with strong consumer onramps, low fees, and a fast-growing dApp ecosystem. Comparable as a low-cost EVM L2 attracting consumer-facing apps, but Base is a broad-purpose chain rather than gaming/NFT-specialized.
• Linea: ConsenSys-backed zkEVM L2 with MetaMask-native distribution and DeFi/NFT focus. Comparable as a well-funded L2 with strong wallet/onboarding distribution that competes for the same developer mindshare.
• OP Mainnet (Optimism): OP-Stack L2 and the parent stack on which many L3s (including ApeChain's sibling stacks) are built. Comparable as the underlying architecture and ecosystem that ApeChain indirectly competes with via Arbitrum Orbit.
• Arbitrum One: The parent L2 on which ApeChain is built as an Arbitrum Orbit L3. Comparable as the underlying chain providing the technology roadmap (Stylus, Timeboost, BoLD, Cluster Chains) that ApeChain inherits and productizes for the Yuga ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/apecoin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apechain

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 ApeChain