Self Chain Q1 2025 Unwrapped
Self Chain entered 2025 with clear momentum, driven by product evolution, network progress, and a growing ecosystem of builders and partners aligned around one vision: seamless, AI-powered Web3 access.
From launching a major testnet upgrade and refreshing our product stack, to onboarding new AI-native partners and scaling global engagement, Q1 brought focused execution across every layer of the network.
Let’s rewind the biggest milestones that shaped the start of the year.
Here's the TL;DR:
• Testnet Phase 2 launched with CosmWasm smart contract support and so far we’ve achieved 1M+ transactions, and 150+ validators onboarded.
• Rolled out 500K $SLF in testnet rewards to support CosmWasm developers and node operators.
• Rebranded Self Chain website spotlighted new product and use cases: AI Agents, Chain Abstraction AgentFi, and PayFi.
• Onboarded key ecosystem partners like Mind AI, Script Network, Dormint, Plena Finance, and Phron AI.
• Surpassed 300K followers on X and launched official Korean and Chinese language accounts.
• Introduced Self Academy, the Self Chain Forum, and a new wave of community-driven campaigns.
• Was a part of Binance Earn Lunar New Year Campaign with up to 20% APR on $SLF flexible product.
Testnet Phase 2: Live with CosmWasm Support
Q1 marked a critical leap for developer access with the launch of Incentivized Testnet Phase 2, introducing CosmWasm smart contract support for modular, performant application deployment.
The results came quickly. Two weeks after launch, our testnet boasted of:
- Over 1M+ transactions within two weeks
- 150+ validators were live and actively securing the network
- 5.33s Block Time and growing ecosystem participation
To back builders meaningfully, we announced 500K $SLF in rewards, split across:
- 400K $SLF Developer Grants for those deploying and optimizing with CosmWasm smart contracts.
- 100K $SLF Node Incentives for operators contributing to performance and decentralization.
This phase of our testnet is a proving ground for the next wave of applications that will define the Self Chain ecosystem.
Explore Testnet: testnet.selfchain.xyz
Track progress: mintscan.io/selfchain-testnet
Website Revamp: Product, Positioning, and Purpose
In March, we launched our new website which is beyond a visual revamp, but a recalibration of how we present Self Chain’s stack and mission.
This update introduces a clearer narrative around our intent-centric approach and expanding our product suite with two key use-cases: AgentFi and PayFi.
The revamped site now highlights the full range of what Self Chain enables:
- AI Agents: Fully autonomous execution tools that manage liquidity, optimize DeFi strategies, and interact across protocols using natural language.
- Keyless Wallets: Seedless, MPC-TSS and AA-powered self-custody built for seamless onboarding and secure access.
- Chain Abstraction: Cross-chain execution without manual bridges, wrapping, or token movement.
- Intent-Centric Execution: Natural language interpreted by AI to automate precise blockchain actions.
- AgentFi: A use case bringing AI-driven liquidity optimization and autonomous strategy execution to DeFi.
- PayFi: A decentralized payment layer that enables real-time, gasless, and cross-chain settlements through keyless, AI-powered execution.
For developers, this update also introduces a clearer view of Self Chain’s modular toolkit from the Intent SDK to Keyless Wallet SDK, AI plugins, and a flexible execution layer.
This revamp is a blueprint for where we’re headed, and a more intuitive starting point for anyone ready to build what comes next.
Partnerships, Integrations & Ecosystem Growth
As Self Chain continued to evolve technically, Q1 also marked a significant expansion of our ecosystem, bringing in teams building across AI automation, DeFi, infrastructure, gaming, and wellness.
We kicked off the year with a key integration: Unmarshal, a powerful blockchain data infrastructure provider, will support developers building on Self Chain through its robust APIs and no-code parser. This unlocks easier access to on-chain data and enables more intelligent, data-driven applications to be built on top of Self Chain’s modular architecture.
Other recently announced partnerships include Mind AI, Script Network, Phron AI, Dormint, PathPulse AI, Plena Finance, and Aspis Protocol.
Mintscan officially integrated our Testnet Phase 2, providing real-time block explorer access for developers, validators, and anyone building or testing within our environment.
As our ecosystem grows, these partnerships reflect how Self Chain is powering frictionless execution across narratives.
Binance Earn Campaign
As part of our broader exposure push, $SLF was part of Binance’s Lunar New Year Campaign, offering up to 20% APR through SLF flexible products and a share in the $150K red packet pool.
CedeHub Trading Competition
In March, we kicked off the Self Chain x CedeHub Trading Competiton for our trading community. This initiative gives traders the opportunity to engage directly with Self Chain through CedeHub's trading platform, with rewards up for grabs for daily top performers.
Community Growth & Regional Expansion
Self Chain surpassed 300K followers on X, continuing steady community momentum. But more importantly, we invested in localization and regional engagement:
Launched official handles:
→ @SelfChain_KR for Korea
→ @SelfChain_CN for China
These channels support local initiatives, updates, and direct engagement with regional builders, creators, and users.
We also launched the Self Chain Community Forum, a dedicated space for governance discussions, technical proposals, and ecosystem insights:
Community Engagement
We introduced Self Academy, a growing knowledge hub designed to simplify the Self Chain stack and educate users and builders on core Web3 topics. From MPC-TSS and AA to chain abstraction and AI agents, the academy aims to offer bite-sized explainers for both beginners and power users.
We also hosted multiple AMA sessions:
- With partners: Arcana Network, Script Network, Mind AI, & Phron AI.
- With the community: Our first Fireside Chat with Founder Ravindra where we discussed Self Chain’s latest milestones and vision.
Missed it? Listen here: https://x.com/i/spaces/1YpKkBaERDjxj
In addition to these, our regional leaders/ambassadors took things a step further by engaging the community with insightful AMA sessions since the start of the year.
Community Campaigns
To keep the community engaged, we launched two major design initiatives:
• The Merch design contest which kicked off the year with many eye-catching submissions.
• In February, we launched the Mascot Design Contest, which opened up creative contributions for a long-term character aligned with the brand.
We also teamed up with Mind AI for a community sprint on Galxe, offering $20K in $MAI rewards to drive engagement around their launch.
Looking Ahead
Q1 was a builder’s quarter: testnet growth, product expansion, deeper integrations, and meaningful community interaction.
The next chapter? As we head into Q2, we’re doubling down on scaling what’s working, expanding what’s live, and pushing our AI powered intent-centric and keyless infrastructure into more blockchain categories.
Stay close.
About Self Chain
Self Chain is the AI-powered intent layer for Web3, and a Modular L1 simplifying blockchain interactions. By combining keyless wallets (MPC-TSS/AA), intent-driven automation, and seamless multi-chain access, Self Chain eliminates complexity, making Web3 more intuitive, autonomous, and secure.
With Keyless Wallets and AI-powered intent execution, users can seamlessly onboard, manage assets, and interact with dApps without handling private keys or complex transactions. Self Chain’s AgentFi Infra enables autonomous on-chain AI agents to execute transactions, optimize DeFi strategies, and interact across ecosystems, while PayFi powers seamless, real-time blockchain payment systems, aligning with the evolving demands of the emerging global economy. Developers benefit from tools like the Intent SDK, Keyless Wallet SDK, and Account Abstraction Plugins, enabling the next generation of AI-driven applications with enhanced security and efficiency.