New Creator-Focused Blockchain
The Sandbox, the Ethereum-based gaming metaverse, is launching its own layer-2 blockchain called SANDChain. Built using the ZK Stack, this new network aims specifically to serve creators within the platform’s ecosystem. The announcement came directly from The Sandbox co-founder Sébastian Borget, who described the move as laying the foundation for what they’re calling the “Creator Nation.”
I think this represents a significant shift in how gaming platforms approach creator economics. Rather than just providing tools, they’re building an entire financial infrastructure around content creation. The timing feels right, especially with the growing interest in creator economies across both Web2 and Web3 spaces.
Three-Tier Value System
SANDChain will operate with three distinct value layers that work together. SANDpoints will track network reputation and loyalty, which seems like a gamification approach to user engagement. Creator Points will support individual creators and provide access to their specific tokens. Then there are Creator Tokens themselves – tradable assets directly tied to creators’ personal brands.
This structure appears designed to address a common complaint among digital creators: the platform takes too large a cut while creators struggle to monetize their following effectively. The Sandbox CEO Robby Yung emphasized that SANDChain is about “giving creators a financial foundation, not just a following.”
Technical and Economic Implications
From a technical perspective, the network will use The Sandbox’s existing SAND token as its native gas token. This decision makes sense from an ecosystem perspective, though it’s worth noting that SAND’s price actually dipped about 2% following the announcement. The token currently trades around $0.26, which is nearly 97% below its all-time high from 2021.
The layer-2 approach should help with transaction speeds, which has been a persistent issue for Ethereum-based games. Borget mentioned that creators will be able to launch loyalty points, quests, and game tokens without worrying about “seconds-to-minute-long transaction validations.” That’s a real pain point they’re trying to solve.
Launch Timeline and Partners
The rollout appears well-planned. Early access signups begin October 1, with the testnet expected to launch on October 14. They’ve already secured some notable launch partners including Animoca Brands, Cool Cats NFT collection, ZKSync, and Pucca, a popular Korean cartoon series.
Borget made an interesting observation about the current state of blockchain development. He noted that “launching a blockchain has never been more accessible, thanks to the rise of zk-rollups and Ethereum sidechains.” This suggests they’re building on established infrastructure rather than creating everything from scratch.
What strikes me as particularly thoughtful is their recognition that “the real value no longer lies in the base infrastructure, which is increasingly commoditized, but in how we differentiate, whom we serve, and how we enable meaningful use cases.” That’s a mature perspective in an industry that sometimes gets caught up in technical specifications over actual user benefits.
The Sandbox already boasts over 8 million users and 400+ brand partnerships, including notable names like Snoop Dogg, The Walking Dead, and Warner Music Group. This existing ecosystem gives SANDChain a significant head start compared to starting from zero. Still, the success will ultimately depend on whether creators actually find the tools useful and the economics fair.
