On January 30, Lighter announced a partnership with Axiom to build Lighter EVM, an Ethereum-compatible package. The platform will enable developers to create general-purpose apps that leverage the benefits of Lighter and can detect market liquidity with ZK-verified security.
According to Lighter, the system will function like Lighter’s current custom circuit system without any changes, allowing the platform to add additional customization capabilities while maintaining high-quality trade verification.
In contrast, Axiom revealed that OpenVM 2.0, which offers real-time performance and proven robustness, will be used to authenticate the Lighter EVM and help consumers achieve lower costs without sacrificing security. The verification allows the Lighter EVM to provide real-time performance and proven robustness, allowing users to pay low costs without compromising security.
Lighter EVM enables a fast, configurable DeFi trading ecosystem
https://t.co/QuvFKuTrG2
— Lighter (@Lighter_xyz) January 30, 2026
Axiom explained that the Lighter EVM provides a smart contract environment compatible with the optimized Lighter system. Recursive aggregation of Lighter proofs will be enabled via custom OpenVM additions aligned with the Plonky2 proofing system, allowing combined zero-knowledge verification of Lighter EVM and Lighter state transitions.
According to Axiom, the system would provide real-time authentication on the Ethereum mainnet using the powerful SWIRL-proof method. Axiom further claimed that this strategy aims to provide customers with native composability with perps and spot trading on the Lighter platform, while providing low-cost, high-throughput EVM execution.
However, these verification and fulfillment features will enable interoperability between Lighter EVM and Lighter’s core markets.
Lighter outlined that the system will enable rapid interoperability with its markets by co-locating with Lighter on the Ethereum mainnet. Users can transfer assets, place orders, and manage Lighter positions from Lighter EVM.
Crucially, users can switch between execution environments in seconds without waiting for L1 finality. At launch, Lighter stated that the system will provide fast asynchronous reads of tasks such as staking, order placement and asset transfers.
“We are actively researching methods to reduce write latency and potentially offer a synchronous option,” the company says wrote on X.
The company also said the system will enable an ecosystem of Lighter co-located EVM applications that can leverage the power of the Ethereum DeFi community.
According to the trading platform, Lighter EVM would provide stablecoins created natively on the platform, fast deposit bridges, and collateral sharing between loans on the system and perpetrators on Lighter. The system would also enable new applications such as tokenization.
Axiom expands fiat-to-crypto access through strategic partnerships
The collaboration between Axiom and Lighter to launch Lighter EVM follows a series of recent initiatives from Axiom, including a partnership with Onramper to simplify crypto on- and off-ramps for DeFi users worldwide.
On December 4 last year, Onramper announced partnered with Axiom to deliver one of DeFi’s fastest and smoothest trading experiences. Under the partnership, Axiom customers would be able to get instant top-ups in BNB and SOL using more than 130 payment methods, including debit and credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Venmo and localized options in 190 countries.
“Our job is to simplify the way users move from fiat to crypto. By offering a wide range of trusted, localized payment options, we ensure users can onboard quickly and compliantly. We are excited to support Axiom as it scales next-generation DeFi on Solana.”
-Thijs Maas, CEO of Onramper.
Axiom CEO and co-founder Henry Zhang also commented on the partnership. He stated that the company offers a fast, international and user-friendly on-chain trading experience. He also noted that Onramper’s integration provides users with a reliable option to convert fiat to crypto and access on-chain liquidity.
In addition to its work with Onramper, Axiom has continued to expand fiat-to-crypto access through partnerships, including its integration with MoonPay.
On October 8, 2025, MoonPay, a financial technology company, announced integrating with Axio to provide Axiom users with a seamless way to instantly purchase crypto using well-known payment methods, creating a frictionless bridge between fiat and DeFi.