The ApeCoin DAO has officially launched ApeChain using Arbitrum’s Orbit technology, aiming to solve major scalability issues and create a more developer-friendly environment for the ApeCoin ecosystem.
Why ApeChain Was Needed
The push to build a dedicated chain came after the ApeCoin ecosystem faced serious challenges during periods of high activity. One of the most notable incidents was the Otherside NFT mint by Yuga Labs, which caused extreme congestion on Ethereum and led to over $157 million in gas fees. Many users lost money or failed to complete transactions, exposing the need for a scalable alternative.
Another key issue was fragmentation. $APE was spread across multiple chains with no single environment designed for developers. This made it harder to build and launch projects using the token. ApeChain addresses these problems by offering a purpose-built solution that supports high traffic, streamlines development, and keeps the community’s tools and liquidity in one place.
Why Arbitrum Orbit Was Chosen
The ApeCoin DAO considered several blockchain technologies, including Polygon, Optimism, and zkSync. Ultimately, Arbitrum Orbit was chosen after receiving 50% of the community vote. The deciding factors included Orbit’s compatibility with Ethereum, support for custom gas tokens, and robust developer tools.
With Orbit, ApeChain could directly integrate $APE as its gas token—something other platforms didn’t offer. The system also supports Stylus, a tool that allows developers to use familiar programming languages like Rust and C++, which is especially useful for building complex applications such as games.
Cross-chain functionality was another priority. ApeChain integrated LayerZero to enable smooth asset transfers between networks, enhancing both developer and user experience.
Ecosystem Growth and Performance
At launch, ApeChain was supported by a wide infrastructure stack. Alchemy and Nirvana powered RPC services, while oracle data came from Pyth Network. Etherscan was added for transaction tracking, and Goldsky and Covalent handled data indexing.
Adoption was quick. Within 24 hours of launching ApeExpress—a meme coin launchpad—55 new tokens were deployed, with several reaching market caps in the millions. Today, more than 60 applications run on ApeChain, ranging from games to trading platforms and community-driven reward systems.
Low latency, with block times as fast as 100 milliseconds, and shared costs with Arbitrum One contribute to its efficiency, allowing developers to operate with both speed and cost-effectiveness.