ChainSafe
Multi-chain open-source infrastructure and node R&D company
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About ChainSafe
ChainSafe is a blockchain research and engineering firm that also maintains public-good clients: Lodestar, an Ethereum consensus client in TypeScript supporting light clients and validator signing, adding client diversity to the JavaScript ecosystem; Gossamer, a Go implementation of the Polkadot host tracking GRANDPA and BABE; and Forest, a Rust Filecoin node handling chain state sync and storage proof verification. It also maintains web3.js and Sygma, a cross-chain router for assets and arbitrary messages.
The business spans open-source clients, products and engineering services. Products include a gaming SDK covering wallets, NFT minting and an in-app marketplace, plus encrypted storage on Filecoin; services cover protocol implementation, audits and custom development. Clients are foundations, chain teams and enterprises needing cross-chain or storage capability. Against pure audit firms, it writes both clients and specification-level code.
ChainSafe was founded in 2017, initially exploring cryptocurrency cold storage before pivoting to blockchain infrastructure R&D. Early work included building decentralized applications for Polymath and Shyft, establishing its technical direction.
Subsequently, ChainSafe focused on multi-chain ecosystems, developing the Ethereum consensus client Lodestar, the Polkadot runtime Gossamer, and the Filecoin implementation Forest, with funding from the Ethereum Foundation and Protocol Labs, while also maintaining the Web3.js library.
In 2021, it completed an $18.75 million Series A round and acquired NodeFactory to expand its global team. In 2023, it released Lodestar v1.0.0, becoming an officially endorsed client on the Ethereum Launchpad, then supported the Capella upgrade and advanced Deneb, continuously strengthening consensus-layer diversity.
In 2026 ChainSafe's public progress centred on back-to-back releases of Lodestar, its Ethereum consensus client. Version 1.46.0, tagged on 12 August as a recommended upgrade for mainnet and testnet operators, removed Bun runtime support and bounded network-worker shutdown so that libp2p restarts no longer stalled finalised-state archiving; it also fixed optimistic head block production refusals and far-behind genesis sync failures.
ChainSafe's version 1.49.0 in September made the client ready for the Glamsterdam fork on Sepolia and enabled execution-payload de-duplication by default, cutting archive size by more than 99%. Version 1.50.0, released on 12 October, pinned the Hoodi Gloas fork epoch at 132352 for activation on 26 October and scheduled a 200 million gas limit; the tag is mandatory for Hoodi operators and only recommended for mainnet. ChainSafe also maintains the web3.unity game SDK plus multi-chain engineering and audit work.
The next phase for ChainSafe focuses on mainnet readiness for Glamsterdam, covering proposer preferences, in-protocol builder bids and execution-layer REST support, while the engineering organisation continues to serve Ethereum, Filecoin and gaming ecosystems and folds AI-assisted development into protocol work.
Aidan Hyman — Co-founder & CEO; founded and leads the Toronto-based Web3 infrastructure R&D firm.
Greg Markou — Co-founder & CTO; oversees technical direction and core engineering.
Priom Chowdhury — Co-founder & CPO; leads product strategy.
Hatcher Lipton — COO; responsible for operations and growth.