Author: YBB Capital Researcher Ac-Core
1. Overview of Metis Hyperion
Metis is an Ethereum L2 ecosystem based on Optimistic Rollup. It launched the Andromeda mainnet early on, and its biggest feature compared to other L2 networks is its decentralized orderers, which grant transaction sorting rights to community participants. In March 2025, Metis announced a dual-chain strategy: launching the high-performance Hyperion chain based on the existing general-purpose chain Andromeda. The former is positioned as a secure and reliable general L2, while the latter focuses on high-frequency, high-throughput, and AI-driven application scenarios. The Hyperion architecture is built on Metis SDK, with the core being the new MetisVM virtual machine (compatible with EVM to support AI-optimized instructions), aiming to optimize scalability and decentralization while significantly improving transaction efficiency.
According to official Metis information, Hyperion is committed to creating a 'high-performance, AI-native' L2 network that can achieve near millisecond transaction confirmation and ultra-high transaction throughput, thus making AI-native applications (such as on-chain LLM inference, decentralized AI agents) possible. Overall, Metis provides complementary support for different application scenarios through a dual-chain architecture, with Andromeda emphasizing security and decentralization, and Hyperion emphasizing high performance and AI applications.
Overall, Metis's development route can be summarized in two points: first, continuously improving core L2 infrastructure, such as adding real-time data availability migration and fraud-proof mechanisms in the Andromeda upgrade in May 2025, making it the first 'truly decentralized' Layer 2 in the industry; second, moving towards modularity and multi-chain interoperability, reducing development thresholds through Metis SDK, and promoting multi-chain ecological development. The launch of Hyperion has, to some extent, reshaped the value logic of the METIS token: making Metis no longer just an L2, but transforming into a 'multi-chain infrastructure + AI-specific chain' platform.
2. On-chain LLM? What is the logic implemented by Metis?
Image source: Metis
2.1 The three-piece set of AI ecological closed loop: SDK, Hyperion, LazAI
Hyperion, as an Optimistic Rollup, inherits the security model of both Metis and Optimism, mainly updating aspects of parallel computing, data availability, and decentralization degree, with the main optimization direction towards AI and high-frequency application scenarios. Specifically, Metis promotes ecological construction through the three systems of Metis SDK + Hyperion + LazAI.
Parallel execution engine: Traditional blockchains usually execute transactions in order, while Hyperion introduces parallel execution technologies like Block-STM, allowing independent transactions in a block to run together. By adopting optimistic concurrency control and dynamic DAG scheduling algorithms, independent transactions in the same block can run simultaneously, significantly enhancing throughput.
Decentralized orderers: The transaction sorting rights of Hyperion are shared among a multi-node network, rather than controlled by a single node or a few operators. Specific mechanisms include leader rotation and encrypted memory pools combined with proposer-builder separation (PBS) to prevent front-running and centralized interference.
Data availability: Hyperion plans to fully utilize Ethereum's new features and external DA services to ensure data availability. With the advancement of Ethereum EIP-4844, Hyperion (and Andromeda) will directly publish transaction data to L1 through blob transactions to inherit Ethereum's security and reduce costs. According to official statements, Metis is also preparing to integrate EigenDA.
Fraud proof mechanism: Hyperion continues to adopt an optimistic model but has upgraded its fraud proof. Metis promised early on to introduce a complete fraud proof mechanism and a data availability plan; its ReGenesis roadmap also proposed 'executions from the latest fault proof system from OP Stack.' In other words, Hyperion will employ an interactive error correction mechanism: when the orderer publishes a new block, 'observers' in the network have a window period to submit challenges (such as a 7-day period) to prove the block invalid. If this challenge succeeds, the malicious block will be rolled back, and the responsible party will be punished.
In terms of AI-native infrastructure, the Metis SDK allows users to build their own L2 or L3 blockchain. It has already integrated an upgraded version of EVM (called MetisVM) and parallel processing capabilities, along with a decentralized sorting mechanism. Hyperion is a high-performance AI-specific Layer 2 built using this SDK, combining Optimistic Rollup, parallel execution, and distributed sorting to achieve almost real-time transaction confirmation and on-chain AI inference. According to official statements, MetisVM improves transaction efficiency by approximately 30% through dynamic optimization of opcodes and parallel execution mechanisms. Meanwhile, MetisDB uses memory-mapped Merkle trees and concurrency control, achieving nanosecond-level state access, effectively eliminating storage bottlenecks. These technologies combined enable Hyperion to run on-chain AI inference tasks like large language models (LLM), laying a strong foundation for AI contracts.
In terms of incubating AI narrative projects: Metis is also actively incubating AI-related projects, such as the LazAI protocol. This is an open network focused on 'trusted AI data assets', aimed at solving the problems of data opacity and inconsistency in AI usage. LazAI leverages blockchain's verifiable computing and standardized mechanisms to create an open and transparent data market, ensuring that AI models utilize high-quality data and can support cross-chain usage. Based on this protocol, Metis also launched the Alith framework, a development tool specifically tailored for AI agents on the blockchain. Developers can quickly write AI Agents on Metis using the Alith SDK and deploy them online. The official example given is quite relatable: users can simply issue commands in natural language through a Telegram chatbot to complete DeFi operations like lending, without needing to write smart contracts themselves. This design significantly lowers the threshold for ordinary people to use AI applications and also makes developers' work much easier.
2.2 Compared to other L2s, what capabilities does Hyperion enhance for Metis?
Hyperion is still based on Optimistic Rollup, and Metis has built differentiated competitiveness through forward-looking technology and strategic layout: Hyperion and other technologies meet the performance needs of AI applications, while the dual-chain and SDK model balances general and specialized needs, and decentralized ordering enhances ecological trust. The differentiation in competition with other L2s mainly lies in aspects such as Hyperion architecture, dual-chain strategy, Metis SDK, and decentralized orderers.
High-performance execution layer: Metis Hyperion is a high-performance Layer 2 for AI, which the official claims achieves near real-time settlement and Web2-level response speed through Optimistic Rollup, parallel execution, and distributed sorting technologies. Hyperion introduces MetisVM—a virtual machine tailored for high-frequency trading and AI tasks, featuring dynamic opcode optimization, parallel execution, and caching mechanisms that significantly enhance smart contract execution efficiency. Additionally, Hyperion has designed on-chain inference support for AI, including dedicated precompiled contracts and execution engine optimizations.
Dual-chain strategy (Andromeda + Hyperion): Metis retains the original Andromeda chain as a general-purpose L2, continuing to provide stable infrastructure for applications such as DeFi; at the same time, it launches Hyperion specifically for AI scenarios. This 'dual network' architecture solves the trade-off between generality and specialization: it avoids a stalemate in homogeneous competition with other L2s, while also finding dedicated space for AI applications.
Metis SDK and developer ecology: The Metis SDK is a modular toolkit for developers, integrating blueprints, building tools, and standard interfaces, allowing developers to quickly build custom execution layers or applications. The Metis SDK allows developers to deploy Layer 2/Layer 3 quickly using mature modules, and also facilitates smooth migration or interaction between projects on Andromeda and Hyperion, significantly improving ecological construction efficiency and interoperability.
Decentralized orderers: In 2024, Metis successfully launched the industry's first fully decentralized orderer, giving the transaction sorting rights to community nodes and staking mechanisms. This mechanism achieves fault tolerance and anti-censorship capabilities through rotating consensus nodes and incentive token governance, completely eliminating the risk of single points of failure.
3. If Ethereum focuses on L1, how will Metis respond?
Image source: investx.fr
3.1 If the main chain does not distribute rewards, Metis will build its own candy factory.
Assuming Ethereum will next focus on its L1 development (such as underlying consensus, sharding upgrades), and not continue to directly expand L2, how can L2 platforms like Metis maintain and expand their influence? According to Metis's All in AI strategic roadmap, the current strategy appears to be a modular, multi-chain approach.
First of all, Metis's dual-chain architecture and MetisSDK provide the ability to build multiple dedicated chains. The launch of Hyperion signifies Metis's transformation from a 'single L2' to a 'modular multi-chain infrastructure.' Through MetisSDK, any team can quickly create customized blockchains like building blocks—configuring parallel execution consensus, EVM compatibility layers, AI-optimized VMs, on-chain storage, and other components. This means that Metis not only operates two chains but can also support more 'industry-specific chains': such as AI computation chains, DePIN infrastructure chains, gaming chains, each meeting different scene requirements.
Secondly, Metis values cross-chain interoperability and collaborative ecology. The official roadmap and community communications have repeatedly mentioned the introduction of cross-chain bridging and data/computation aggregation mechanisms. It is not difficult to find that Metis will integrate Chainlink CCIP, allowing assets and smart contracts to flow freely between Metis and other public chains. The Hyperion architecture also emphasizes 'shared bridges + cross-chain interconnection' and proposes 'decentralized data and computation aggregation', connecting AI applications with various data networks and computing resources. The community is not only users but also direct participants and beneficiaries of the network's operation. By opening up the role of orderers, anyone can become a block proposer through staking and receive sorting rewards. At the same time, Metis is planning to introduce AI node operation incentive mechanisms to encourage more developers to deploy inference services and provide on-chain AI capabilities.
3.2 Metis All in AI strategy, how to drive ecological development through AI
To look directly at the issue: currently, using AI services on-chain, such as transmitting results through oracles, presents obvious centralization risks and performance bottlenecks. To solve these issues, Hyperion and LazAI have collaborated to introduce an AI agent framework called Alith. Developers can use the Alith SDK to write 'AI agents' and deploy them as contract modules on Hyperion. These agents can handle model selection, inference logic, fault response, and other functions, and other contracts on-chain can call them directly, such as implementing chatbot, prediction tools, or DAO assistants. Through mechanisms like precompiled contracts, Hyperion incorporates AI inference into the on-chain execution process, and inference results can also be fixed on-chain through logs, reproducible operations, or trusted execution environments, achieving verifiable credibility. This retains the transparency of blockchain while meeting the computational needs of AI, truly promoting 'AI on-chain.'
Additionally, Hyperion's parallel processing and low latency are particularly suitable for AI tasks. As long as there are no conflicts between requests, they can run simultaneously, making it much more efficient than traditional L2 sequential execution. MetisVM has also been specifically optimized for AI, for instance, using Rust/WASM to enhance performance and support various inputs like text and images, allowing AI models to run directly on-chain. This entire design aims to realize what Metis calls 'the first Layer 2 protocol that can run large language models locally on-chain.'
4. ETH Hyperion vs. Solana AI
Image source: homemade
4.1 The AI competition arena
The market enthusiasm for Crypto + AI has undoubtedly achieved great success on Solana, and the Solana community is also promoting open protocols such as Model Context Protocol (MCP), attempting to allow off-chain AI models to query on-chain data through standardized interfaces. QuickNode demonstrated how to set up a Solana MCP server so that 'orthodox' AI like Claude can access Solana blockchain information directly via RPC. However, most AI solutions on Solana run AI models off-chain, calling results on-chain.
As pointed out in (Which ecosystem is more suitable for AI Agent: Solana or Base?): 'Currently, all models including all agents run off-chain, with input data, training, and output information not on-chain; neither EVM chains nor Solana/BASE support the integration of AI and contracts.' Solutions like Solana + MCP have not truly put AI models 'on-chain', but only allow AI models to safely access on-chain data.
However, the interesting aspect of Hyperion is that it attempts to execute AI inference on-chain as well, which Solana has not achieved. If Hyperion realizes the first Layer-2 protocol that supports native execution of LLM on-chain, it means that Hyperion not only provides a data interface but also directly offers on-chain computing power for AI models to run in MetisVM, with each step of computation completed within the blockchain execution environment. This design decentralizes AI more thoroughly than Solana's solution, as AI inference results on Hyperion can be verified and traced on-chain, thereby naturally resisting tampering and censorship; while Solana's MPC relies more on trust in external models and only ensures the security of the data pathway.
Of course, Solana has a natural advantage in basic performance due to its high concurrency processing capabilities and mature GPU chip support architecture. Hyperion focuses on compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem and ecological interaction: EVM compatibility, MetisSDK ecosystem, and METIS token liquidity.
Overall, Hyperion and Solana are not in a direct replacement relationship but provide another approach to blockchain + AI: Solana relies on its network performance + traditional LLM interfaces (MCP); Metis relies on its smart contract platform as a base to launch native on-chain inference capabilities.
4.2 Is Hyperion the universal key to open Ethereum's AI?
To put it directly, Hyperion is not the universal key at present. Most of the currently claimed 'AI + chain' projects are still at the conceptual level, with very few cases that can be verified as productivity applications. Issues of model ownership and trust have also not yet been resolved: how to trace the source of models trained off-chain and how to prove the correctness of their execution results on-chain? These are fundamental questions that need to be answered at the infrastructure level.
The system design of Hyperion addresses the aforementioned pain points to some extent, providing support for AI inference at the protocol layer and solving some computing power issues: parallel execution and optimization of MetisVM greatly exceed the computational capabilities of traditional L2s, but this does not imply that Hyperion solves all problems at once.
However, it can be confirmed that Hyperion brings new possibilities for Web3 AI and provides the Ethereum camp with chips to participate in AI narratives. It mainly addresses issues of computational architecture and trust foundations: a large amount of parallel computing power, on-chain verifiable execution processes, modular toolchains, and native support for AI's special needs. These efforts create the potential for truly practical blockchain + AI applications (such as on-chain autonomous agents, high-frequency data analysis) to emerge, adding substantial content to the AI narrative in the crypto space.
Reference content:
https://blockchain-today.medium.com/ai-chains-exploring-mode-solana-base-and-ethereum-in-cryptocurrency-innovation-ee7e2a1d8585
https://docs.metis.io/hyperion
https://www.gate.io/zh-tw/learn/articles/the-layer2-breakout-battle-metis-ai-infrastructure-odyssey/8584
https://www.bitget.com/zh-CN/news/detail/12560604756547
