Blockchain infrastructure provider Alchemy has integrated Starknet, the Ethereum layer-2 network developed by Starkware, in a move aimed at making Web3 development more scalable and accessible. With the integration, developers can combine Alchemy’s node services and blockchain APIs with Starknet’s zero-knowledge rollup technology to build decentralized finance applications and broader Web3 products on Ethereum’s scaling layer.
The announcement marks a strategic partnership between Alchemy and the Israel-based startup Starkware. For developers, the practical significance is straightforward: teams that already rely on Alchemy’s infrastructure stack can now use those tools while deploying on Starknet, potentially simplifying the path to building applications that require lower fees and higher throughput than Ethereum layer 1 can typically offer.
Infrastructure Meets Layer-2 Scaling
Alchemy is known for providing blockchain APIs and node infrastructure to developers across multiple networks. Its product suite, including services such as Supernode, supports ecosystems like Ethereum, Polygon, Arbitrum, Optimism, and Flow. By adding Starknet to that infrastructure environment, Alchemy expands its support for Ethereum scaling solutions at a time when developers continue to search for more efficient ways to deploy user-facing applications.
According to Starkware, the partnership is intended to make it easier for a growing number of developers to build on Starknet. Rather than forcing teams to assemble separate infrastructure components on their own, the integration allows them to work with an established provider while also tapping into a layer-2 network designed specifically for scalability.
This kind of support can be important for developer adoption. Reliable node access, API tooling, and production-grade infrastructure are often just as critical as the underlying blockchain design. Even when a scaling network offers compelling technical advantages, broader usage can depend heavily on whether developers have mature tooling and service providers available from day one.
Starknet’s ZK-Rollup Model and Cost Claims
Starknet is built around ZK-rollup technology that uses validity proofs. In simplified terms, transactions are processed in batches off-chain and then verified on-chain through cryptographic proofs. The model is designed to reduce the burden on Ethereum mainnet while preserving a high degree of security through proof-based verification.
Starkware claims that Starknet gas fees are 100x lower than layer-1 Ethereum fees. That figure, if reflected in real usage conditions, would make Starknet especially appealing for DeFi applications and other Web3 services where transaction cost is a major constraint on user growth. Lower fees can improve on-chain usability, particularly for products that depend on frequent interactions.
Alchemy, in its statement, emphasized that Starknet’s use of validity proofs and ZK-rollups addresses core Web3 bottlenecks by improving scalability and reducing costs. The company noted that transactions can be bundled off-chain and later verified on-chain at only a fraction of the cost associated with direct layer-1 execution.
Alchemy also contrasted validity rollups with other layer-2 scaling approaches such as optimistic rollups, which may require longer confirmation periods. In its view, validity proofs can demonstrate whether transactions are correct more immediately, which gives Starknet a distinct technical proposition in the crowded Ethereum scaling landscape.
Positioning in the Expanding Ethereum L2 Ecosystem
The integration comes shortly after Starkware announced that Starknet Alpha had been deployed on mainnet. That timing is notable because infrastructure support often becomes a key factor once a network moves from early-stage development toward broader public usage. Mainnet deployment can attract experimentation, but ecosystem growth usually depends on whether developers can access dependable tooling, documentation, and service layers.
In that sense, Alchemy’s support may help Starknet strengthen its position among Ethereum’s competing layer-2 solutions. The Ethereum scaling sector includes multiple architectures, each with trade-offs involving cost, finality, security assumptions, and developer experience. By working with a well-known infrastructure provider, Starknet may improve its visibility among teams already building in the Ethereum ecosystem.
The news also reflects a broader industry trend: layer-2 competition is no longer based solely on theoretical throughput or technical design. Increasingly, market traction depends on ecosystem support, partnerships, and the availability of tools that reduce friction for application builders. For many developers, the best scaling solution is not just the cheapest or fastest one, but the one that is easiest to integrate into an existing workflow.
Starkware’s Funding and Valuation
The partnership arrives against the backdrop of growing investor interest in Starkware. The company previously announced a $50 million Series C led by Sequoia Capital in November, and said total capital raised had reached $173 million. Those funding rounds pushed the startup’s valuation to $2 billion, underscoring market confidence in the potential of zero-knowledge-based scaling technologies.
That valuation places Starkware among the more prominent infrastructure-focused blockchain startups. Investor backing has become an important signal in the race to build the next generation of Ethereum scaling platforms, particularly in areas such as cryptographic research, protocol development, and ecosystem expansion, where technical execution requires significant long-term resources.
Eli Ben-Sasson, Starkware co-founder, president, and a co-inventor of Starknet, described the Alchemy partnership as a major step forward. He said that with Alchemy’s infrastructure, the developer community can more easily access Starknet as a permissionless scaling platform and make use of validity proofs in practical application development.
What the Integration Means for Developers
For developers, the immediate takeaway is that Starknet becomes easier to access through a familiar infrastructure layer. This could be particularly valuable for teams building DeFi protocols, NFT applications, gaming platforms, and other Web3 services that need to keep transaction costs manageable while preserving a connection to Ethereum’s security model.
While the announcement does not provide fresh usage metrics or direct adoption figures, it does suggest that both companies see growing demand for production-ready scaling options. Ethereum’s continued popularity has also kept pressure on the network’s cost structure, creating incentives for developers to migrate portions of their activity to layer 2. Integrations like this are therefore less about a single technical milestone and more about building the operational foundation for wider ecosystem adoption.
More broadly, the partnership highlights the increasing maturity of the Ethereum L2 market. A successful scaling solution today must offer more than cryptographic elegance; it must also deliver ecosystem accessibility, tooling, and compatibility with the workflows developers already use. By joining forces, Alchemy and Starkware are signaling that infrastructure and protocol innovation need to advance together if Web3 is to scale meaningfully.