New L2 SANDchain to synergize web2 creators and their fans onchain

Looking to build a wider ecosystem for creators, the newly-formed SANDChain Foundation has announced its SANDchain.

This is a new Ethereum-based L2 blockchain built on the ZK Stack from ZKsync, which will be formally announced on 1st October at the Token2049 conference in Singapore.

The SANDchain testnet will then launch on Tuesday 14th October, with its mainnet expected to go live sometime in 2026.

Of course, as the name suggests, the launch product for SANDchain will be Animoca Brands’ UGC game-making platform The Sandbox.

Although the two projects are legally independent, there remains a lot of overlap, most obviously the role of Sebastien Borget, who as well as being a co-founder of The Sandbox is the global ambassador for SANDchain.

However, as well as The Sandbox, the SANDChain Foundation says that many other brands and projects will also be launch partners, including Metalympics, Forge, LimeChain, HalbornTalentir, Web3 Honey, Jared Dilinger, KZ, BabyYors, Alex Florez, and Pandapops.

Technology providers including Sequence, EigenCloud, Caldera, Ready Player Me, Hashcase and Request Finance will also support, as will Animoca Brands’ IP such as Mocaverse and Cool Cats.

In terms of what SANDchain actually does, there will be three main layers.

• SANDpoints – these define the reputation and loyalty of users,
• Creator Points – these define support and token allocation for individual creators, and
• Creator Tokens – blockchain tokens paired with SAND which are issued by creators to their fans.

In addition, users will be able to invest SAND and USDC tokens in creators via Patron Vaults, through which creators can generate loans, which creators will be able to access as they accumulate web2 earnings into Creator Vaults, by connecting channels such as YouTube, Instagram, Twitch and TikTok. This will enable the calculation of predictable loan repayments.

In this manner, SANDchain hopes to solve issues such as inconsistent payouts, limited access to funding, and opaque revenue systems through its onchain platform which will better align the goals and synergies of creators and their fans.

“The Sandbox has empowered a global community of creators, and SANDchain builds on that foundation to create a dedicated economic and engagement layer for creators across any platform, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, AppStore, Google Play Store, Steam, Roblox, Fortnite and The Sandbox itself,” commented Borget.

“By rewarding loyalty, we’re transforming fans into active participants in culture and paving the way towards a Creator Nation that is built, owned, grown, and funded by its creators and supporters.”

You can find out more at the prelaunch SANDchain website or by reading the whitepaper.