Alisa Davidson April 28, 2025 The SXT Chain has been launched on a testnet, designed specifically to provide zero-knowledge (ZK)-validated data to smart contracts. This project is in partnership with organizations like ZKsync, Chainlink, and Microsoft, aiming to bolster the decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape by equipping developers with essential tools, data, and infrastructure needed to create robust data-driven smart contracts.

Nate Holiday, Co-Founder and CEO of Space and Time, expressed his excitement about the launch of the SXT Chain testnet, which aims to enable developers to craft more advanced applications on the blockchain. He noted, 'Both ZKsync and Chainlink have been trailblazers in the evolution of blockchain technology, and we are eager to collaborate on the future of DeFi using our decentralized, ZK-validated database technology.'

The SXT Chain represents a blockchain network that aggregates data from major blockchains like Ethereum, ZKsync, and different chains utilizing the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and Move, distributing it across a decentralized network of database nodes. With SXT's Proof of SQL—a rapid ZK coprocessor for SQL queries—developers can efficiently access, query, validate using ZK, and link this data back to their smart contracts.

The fundamental beauty of blockchain technology lies in its ability to give individuals secure ownership of their assets, fostering a vision of financial independence that stands apart from traditional centralized financial systems. Yet, even with the notable progress seen since the advent of Ethereum and smart contracts, many blockchain systems struggle with issues related to scaling access to data and processing it effectively.

For example, traditional lending platforms set their interest rates based on a borrower's credit score, whereas on-chain lending protocols often apply a one-size-fits-all interest rate due to smart contracts' inability to reliably access crucial on-chain information, like a wallet's borrowing history. However, SXT bridges this gap by allowing lending protocols to compile an on-chain loan history for a wallet into a form of 'credit score' through a standardized SQL interface. This utilizes ZK proofs to guarantee the correctness of the score, which is derived from verified, unaltered data, and forwards it directly to the smart contract to enable more tailored lending solutions.

Several initiatives focusing on data-centric DeFi applications, including Lendvest—an on-chain credit scoring solution participating in the Chainlink BUILD initiative—are already tapping into SXT for their operational needs.

Space And Time is harnessing both ZKsync and Chainlink innovations to enhance the SXT Chain, creating advanced on-chain functionalities.

by Alisa Davidson In this effort, they are implementing ZKsync technology to create a ZK Chain within the Elastic Chain framework. This ZK rollup will act as the smart contract execution layer for the SXT Chain, simplifying the deployment of Solidity-based smart contracts for developers. Additionally, this rollup will support native DeFi applications for customer payments, staking activities, and coordinating node operators, while also accommodating third-party DeFi platforms focused on liquid staking, derivatives, and other data-heavy functionalities.

The SXT network will also utilize the established Chainlink ecosystem, giving developers a more economical avenue to ZK-verify results derived from queries processed on SXT, particularly in contrast to the gas-heavy verification on Ethereum. Thanks to seamless integration with Chainlink Functions, developers can directly deliver ZK-verified results to their smart contracts originating from SXT. This significantly broadens the capabilities available to developers working with SXT. April 28, 2025 Services provided by SXT include a ZK-validated database, which acts as a secure and reliable data source for smart contracts, accessed through Chainlink oracles.

Space and Time Labs, a leading force in the decentralized data and ZK tech sphere, is credited as the original developer of the SXT Chain. Their team blends expertise in AI and cryptography, contributing to advancements across various sectors including AI, blockchain, and zero-knowledge technologies. Know More According to a recent blog update, this company, part of the M12 portfolio, has been collaborating closely with the Microsoft AI Co-Innovation Lab to speed up the development of its generative AI tools and streamline the process for developers creating blockchain applications.

The SXT Chain testnet is officially operational now, providing developers with the opportunity to enhance their applications and smart contracts with a ZK-validated database. Community members can engage with the testnet by completing SXT quests on Galxe.