Conduit, a blockchain infrastructure firm, has launched a revolutionary platform that allows users to easily build and deploy a layer-3 rollup on Ethereum or other networks. This can be done in as little as 15 minutes and for as low as $50 per month. The company believes that these “ultra high-throughput” layer 3s will significantly reduce transaction costs.
In a blog post, Conduit explained that while general-purpose L2 networks like Base and OP Mainnet are already cheap and fast, some applications require even cheaper compute and dedicated blockspace. Layer 3s address this need by allowing apps to scale into their demand without competing with others for blockspace.
This new platform follows Conduit’s recent launch of a similar solution for layer-2 rollups. The $50 monthly plan enables users to build rollups on Ethereum’s Sepolia testnet, while the $3,000 monthly plan allows deployment on the mainnet.
Conduit’s deployment app offers users the choice between Optimism’s OP Stack or Arbitrum Orbit as a rollup framework. The settlement layer, where rollup transactions are verified, can be Ethereum, Base, Zora, or Mode. Users also have the option to post rollup transaction data to either Ethereum or Celestia.
Industry experts have praised Conduit’s rollup deployment platform. David Hoffman, a host on the crypto-focused podcast Bankless, called it a “big day for the +1M rollups believers,” while Nick Martitsch, head of market development at Paradigm, said it’s the easiest way to launch a rollup.
However, some observers have raised concerns about the ease of launching rollups. Psuedononmous DefiLlama developer 0xngmi questioned whether every “shitcoin” will now create its own rollup. Another commentator, “h wonder,” highlighted potential issues if users stop paying the monthly bill or request to cancel.
While the testnet plan doesn’t have a deployment cost, the mainnet plan requires a gas fee for deployment, currently valued at $8,150. The deployment process takes approximately 15 minutes.
Conduit will receive 7.5% of revenue from the layer-3 rollup, and the company claims that these solutions will significantly reduce Ethereum and layer-2 transaction fees by over 100 and 10 times, respectively.
Conduit has not yet responded to Cointelegraph’s request for comment. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has previously discussed the potential of layer 3s to provide customized functionality to users’ on-chain needs. However, he emphasized the importance of a three-layer architecture with distinct purposes for each layer.