ChainSafe
Multi-chain open-source infrastructure and node R&D company
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About ChainSafe
ChainSafe is a blockchain R&D company focused on decentralized network infrastructure. Its core business includes multi-chain client implementations (Ethereum consensus client Lodestar, Filecoin node Forest, Polkadot host Gossamer), cross-chain bridge ChainBridge, and infrastructure services such as enterprise-grade RPCs, validators, managed testnets, and snapshot services. It also develops developer tools like zapi (a Zig N-API wrapper for Node.js native addons) and the x402 payment middleware for Canton network.
Market pain points addressed: high node operation costs and performance bottlenecks, complex cross-chain interoperability, and fragmented developer tooling. For example, Forest v0.33.6 reduced snapshot export time to 34 minutes on 32 GiB RAM, versus Lotus's 450 minutes on 128 GiB RAM, significantly lowering hardware and maintenance overhead. Lodestar introduced Fast Confirmation based on Ethereum consensus spec PR #4747, providing a third chain view that balances safety and latency for bridges, exchanges, and custodians.
In the past six months (March to September 2026), ChainSafe released Forest v0.33.7/v0.33.6 with major performance improvements, launched zapi's high-level DSL that automatically converts Zig functions into JavaScript APIs (already powering production bindings in lodestar-z migration), and announced the x402 Facilitator for machine-to-machine API monetization on Canton. No significant negative events were reported in the past two years.
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 the past six months, ChainSafe made notable progress on the Canton Network ecosystem. First, it launched the x402 Facilitator: built on the HTTP 402 payment standard, it enables account-free, per-call API data monetization for AI agents and machine traffic, and supports predicate-logic True/False queries so raw data never leaves the institution—only cryptographic verification results are returned. Packaged as a Docker container deployed behind institutional firewalls, it connects directly to Canton nodes for automated ledger settlement . Second, it released the ERC-20/CIP-56 middleware: a translation layer between EVM and Canton that lets institutions use existing EVM workflows such as MetaMask signatures to mirror Ethereum ERC-20 assets (e.g. USDC, tokenized treasuries) 1:1 as Canton CIP-56 assets, with a dedicated relayer locking original assets, potentially skipping months of development .
Future development focus: continue building institutional-grade infrastructure around Canton, including DAML Autopilot (3,600+ compiler-validated patterns) for smart contract development, expanding x402 as a micro-billing channel for data and API monetization, and bridging EVM liquidity into Canton’s private settlement network, while maintaining open-source, protocol-agnostic R&D .
Co-founder & CEO Aidan Hyman, an open-source advocate, co-founded ChainSafe in 2017 and leads Web3 infrastructure R&D.
Co-founder & Board Director Priom Chowdhury, formerly CTO/CPO/CSO, now focuses on strategy and governance; previously taught blockchain courses.
Co-founder Greg Markou, formerly CTO/CPO, remains a co-founder; studied at the University of Toronto.
CTO David Ansermino oversees engineering and protocol R&D.
VP of Product Alexander Müller is responsible for product strategy and management.