Starkware, the Israel-based blockchain startup behind Starknet, has announced a strategic partnership with blockchain infrastructure provider Alchemy. The integration allows developers to use Alchemy’s node and API services together with Starknet, Starkware’s Ethereum Layer 2 network built around zero-knowledge rollup technology.
The move is aimed at making it easier for developers to build decentralized finance and broader Web3 applications on Starknet. Alchemy is already known for providing infrastructure services across multiple blockchain ecosystems, and the addition of Starknet expands its support for Ethereum scaling solutions at a time when demand for lower-cost execution environments remains high.
Infrastructure Meets ZK-Rollup Scaling
Alchemy’s business centers on delivering blockchain APIs and node services that developers rely on to build and operate applications. Its Supernode product provides API access for networks including Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Flow. By integrating Starknet, Alchemy adds another major scaling environment to its toolkit, this time one based on ZK-rollups and validity proofs.
According to Starkware, the goal of the collaboration is to make Starknet more accessible to a growing developer base. In practical terms, this means developers can work with Alchemy’s infrastructure stack while leveraging Starknet’s off-chain transaction aggregation and on-chain proof verification model. For teams building in Web3, that combination could simplify deployment and reduce operational friction.
Why Starknet’s Model Stands Out
Starknet uses validity-proof-based rollups, a design that Starkware says delivers significantly lower transaction costs than Ethereum mainnet. The company claims Starknet fees are 100 times lower than Layer 1 Ethereum fees. That cost advantage is one of the central selling points of Layer 2 networks, especially for applications that require frequent user interactions or more complex on-chain activity.
Alchemy said its support for Starknet reflects a belief that validity proofs and ZK-rollups address some of Web3’s core scaling constraints. By bundling transactions off-chain and verifying them on-chain with cryptographic proofs, these systems are designed to increase throughput while reducing costs for users and developers.
The company also drew a distinction between validity rollups and other scaling approaches such as optimistic rollups. In Alchemy’s view, validity rollups can offer faster confirmation characteristics because they rely on proofs that immediately establish whether transactions are valid, rather than depending on longer challenge periods. That difference has become a major point of discussion in the broader Layer 2 landscape, where developers often weigh trade-offs between cost, speed, tooling, and security assumptions.
Timing Follows Starknet Alpha Mainnet Deployment
The partnership comes shortly after Starkware said that Starknet Alpha had been deployed on mainnet at the end of February. The timing is notable because infrastructure support is often a key step in turning a technically promising network into a platform developers can actually adopt at scale. Mainnet availability alone does not guarantee ecosystem growth; developer tooling, API support, and reliable node access typically play a major role in determining whether new networks gain traction.
For that reason, Alchemy’s integration may be seen as an important milestone for Starknet’s ecosystem development. Access to widely used infrastructure providers can reduce onboarding difficulty for teams already familiar with existing Web3 development workflows.
Starkware’s Growth and Valuation
The announcement also arrives as Starkware continues to attract investor attention. In November, the company raised $50 million in a Series C round led by Sequoia Capital. Starkware said its total capital raised had reached $173 million, giving the startup a valuation of $2 billion. Those figures place the company among the more highly valued infrastructure and scaling startups in the Ethereum ecosystem.
Eli Ben-Sasson, co-inventor of Starknet and co-founder and president of Starkware, described the partnership as a major step forward for adoption. He said the availability of Alchemy’s infrastructure will make it easier for developers to access Starknet and use what he characterized as a cutting-edge permissionless scaling platform powered by validity proofs.
What the Partnership Could Mean for Web3
At a broader industry level, the deal reflects an increasingly important trend: scaling networks are no longer competing on technical architecture alone. Developer experience, infrastructure availability, and ecosystem accessibility are becoming just as critical as raw performance claims. For Starknet, integration with a recognized infrastructure provider helps strengthen its case as a practical environment for building applications, not just an experimental Layer 2.
For Alchemy, the addition of Starknet broadens its relevance across the expanding Ethereum scaling stack. As more development shifts toward Layer 2 environments, infrastructure providers are under pressure to support the networks where builders want to deploy. Supporting Starknet positions Alchemy within the fast-growing market for ZK-based Ethereum scaling.
While the long-term impact will depend on developer adoption and ecosystem execution, the partnership clearly underscores how the Ethereum Layer 2 race is evolving. Lower fees, easier access, and better tooling remain central to onboarding the next wave of Web3 applications, and both companies are betting that Starknet’s validity-rollup model can play a meaningful role in that future.