The great appchain migration: Uniswap’s shift to custom infrastructure is part of a larger trend | Opinion

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Web3 is undergoing a seismic shift. Some of the industry’s biggest and most established players—including giants like Uniswap and Kraken—are beginning to outgrow general-purpose blockchains, like Base and Solana, that have long been considered central pillars of DeFi. They are part of an accelerating movement toward custom-built appchains that will pave the way for a more tailored and efficient era of blockchain infrastructure.

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The hard ceiling on general-purpose blockchains

General-purpose blockchains were instrumental in the rise of web3. Ethereum, Solana, and Base provided the liquidity of users and foundational ecosystems that allowed decentralized applications to flourish. These platforms connected developers and communities, creating the network effects necessary to bootstrap the early stages of web3 innovation.

However, as the industry matures, the inherent limitations of general-purpose chains become increasingly evident. Shared infrastructure, high fees, and rigid tokenomics often force large-scale projects to compromise on performance, costs, or user experience.

Uniswap’s recent launch of UniChain, a custom L2 designed for optimized functionality, is a clear example of this shift. Similarly, Kraken’s move to build an Ethereum L2 Superchain underscores the growing need for tailored infrastructure. These companies have reached a scale where the benefits of shared blockchains are increasingly not worth the costs.

This is not an isolated trend. Once projects hit a critical mass, the economics and control offered by custom appchains, or application-specific blockchains, become too compelling to ignore.

The appchain advantage

By designing their own appchain infrastructure, projects can optimize for performance, reduce costs, and align more effectively with their specific needs.

One of the most notable advantages of appchains is scalability. On general-purpose blockchains, applications must compete for blockspace and operate within predefined constraints, which can lead to congestion and unpredictable fees. Appchains remove these limitations by giving projects a dedicated environment where they can fine-tune performance, integrate custom features, and scale without external bottlenecks. A gaming studio, for example, could eliminate transaction delays by designing an appchain that prioritizes high-speed interactions and removes fees that disrupt player immersion, ensuring a more seamless and engaging gameplay experience.

Cost efficiency is another critical factor. Operating on a shared blockchain often means high gas fees, particularly during periods of network congestion. Appchains let projects control their own cost structures, optimizing for throughput while keeping transaction fees low—or even eliminating them entirely. This is particularly valuable for applications that require frequent on-chain interactions, such as automated trading platforms, NFT marketplaces, or play-to-earn games.

Appchains are also opening the door for web2 companies looking to integrate blockchain technology. Businesses accustomed to tightly controlled and highly optimized infrastructure often find general-purpose blockchains too restrictive. In web2, seamless user experience is paramount, and companies can’t afford to compromise performance for the sake of decentralization. Appchains allow them to adopt blockchain technology on their own terms, preserving the flexibility and reliability they need. A loyalty rewards program, for example, could build an appchain that allows users to seamlessly earn, trade, and redeem points while preserving the slick user experience their customers expect. This would be much more difficult to achieve on a congested general-purpose blockchain

Historically, one of the biggest concerns with appchains was the risk of ecosystem fragmentation. Critics argued that launching independent chains would lead to a balkanized project landscape, reducing accessibility and liquidity. However, advancements in interoperability solutions, such as LayerZero and Avalanche’s subnets, have eliminated this concern. Appchains can now seamlessly connect with broader blockchain ecosystems, enabling assets and data to move freely between networks. This means projects can enjoy the benefits of a dedicated chain without sacrificing cross-chain connectivity—making appchains a superior alternative to general-purpose blockchains for both startups and established enterprises.

Entering the L1 appchain era

As more projects join in the transition toward appchains, we will see a new era of purpose-built blockchains, each optimized for a unique set of goals and challenges.

Within this appchain revolution, projects will continue seeking more control over their infrastructure, communities, and tokenomics, ultimately gravitating toward L1 appchain solutions. Unlike general-purpose blockchains, which impose fixed incentive models, appchains allow projects to design custom tokenomic models tailored to their long-term goals. This flexibility enables them to align incentives across users, builders, and validators. In so doing, they foster community loyalty while minimizing fragmentation and creating a foundation for sustainable growth.

Embracing the appchain revolution

The migration from general-purpose blockchains to custom appchains is not just a trend—it’s an inevitability. And it’s a positive shift for the industry. By embracing appchains, projects can achieve a level of scalability, efficiency, and alignment that was previously out of reach.

For web3 builders, the time to act is now. Overreliance on shared infrastructure and general-purpose chains ultimately stands to limit growth potential, locking projects into inflexible ecosystems and capping their potential. By investing in custom appchain infrastructure now, projects can future-proof their tech stack and position themselves as leaders in the next era of blockchain innovation.

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