Metis Unveils New Era of Blockchain + AI: More Than Just an L2

[Toronto, ON] – Metis has entered a new chapter in its evolution, officially moving beyond the label of being “just an L2” to become a pioneering ecosystem at the intersection of blockchain and artificial intelligence.

From the very beginning, Metis has stood out for its willingness to experiment. While many Layer 2 solutions focused narrowly on scaling Ethereum, Metis took a bolder route: building not only infrastructure but also a proving ground for new ideas. 

That vision was reaffirmed at ETHDenver 2025, where Metis introduced its connected two infrastructure, plus one application/data layer. Together, these layers form a unified toolkit designed to power the digital economy of tomorrow.

• Andromeda – the network’s battle-tested settlement and trading layer, providing reliability and security.
• Hyperion – an AI-optimized infrastructure layer built for high-throughput, low-latency applications.
• LazAI – the application and data layer where playability, AI-driven value, and interactive community experiences converge.

“Traditional L2s need upgrading,” said Elena Sinelnikova, Co-Founder of Metis. “Metis is evolving beyond infrastructure. With Andromeda, Hyperion, and LazAI, we are delivering a connected toolkit under one economy—where users, builders, and communities can experiment, play, and co-create the future.”

Recent Milestones Driving Momentum

Metis’s progress has already been demonstrated through several important milestones:

• HyperHack brought together more than 100 builders working on Hyperion.
• LazAI Testnet launched with Lazbubu, an AI Companion DAT (Data Anchoring Token), showing the potential of real playability.
• The Lazbubu Whitelist Campaign drew over 90,000 participants, resulting in more than 10,000 DAT mints.

These milestones reveal a deliberate strategy: start with approachable entry points, then scale into richer, AI-driven applications. Lazbubu, for example, represents more than a digital collectible. Unlike static NFTs, it evolves with its community, setting the stage for dynamic, personalized digital companions.

A Better Version of Virtuals+

Community voices have framed LazAI in comparison to Virtuals+, an emerging framework for AI agents and data assets. Virtuals+ separates Premium Launch (officially vetted and supported projects) from a future Open Launch, where anyone can create AI agent–meme hybrids with price-unlock mechanics.

The “+” in Virtuals+ emphasizes its ambition to go beyond plain memes. AI agents combined with DATs can be farmed, accrued, and evolved—turning simple concepts into dynamic digital economies. From this angle, LazAI can be seen as a frontier for playful experimentation, where memes, AI, and data converge into assets that are alive, adaptive, and community-owned.

Looking Ahead

Through LazPad, Metis will incubate new AI agents and applications. Users will be able to mint, earn, and interact with data assets that mature into broader use cases on Andromeda. This ecosystem invites not just participation, but co-creation—making the community an integral part of shaping the next era of blockchain and AI.

“Our strength comes from trust, clarity, and experimentation,” Sinelnikova added. “Metis is not standing still. We are inviting the community to lean in, experiment, and co-create the proving ground where tomorrow’s breakthroughs are born.”

Recognition of Leadership

This period of growth coincides with a major personal milestone for the project’s co-founder. Elena Sinelnikova was recently awarded the North America Woman in Web3 Award—a recognition that highlights her leadership in advancing blockchain, AI, and Web3 innovation. It also reflects the broader community’s acknowledgment of Metis as a project willing to push boundaries and set new standards.

As Metis advances, it is becoming clear that it represents more than infrastructure. With Andromeda, Hyperion, and LazAI, the project is positioning itself as a frontier for technology, creativity, and community to converge—shaping the economy of tomorrow.