Developers looking to build on Kaspa now have two promising Layer-2 ecosystems to explore: Kasplex and Igra Labs. Both are working to make application development as accessible as possible, but each offers distinct advantages depending on your timeline and goals.
Kasplex: Live and Ready for Development
Kasplex is currently the most accessible platform for developers building on Kaspa. It offers a full Ethereum-compatible zkEVM environment, enabling the reuse of Solidity smart contracts and standard Ethereum tooling. What makes Kasplex particularly attractive is its live testnet, where developers can already deploy KRC-20 and KRC-721 tokens, interact with an open API, and use a public indexer to query transactions, balances, and metadata.
The architecture avoids bloat in Kaspa’s UTXO set, ensuring long-term sustainability. Kasplex also supports a custom inscription method that enables asset creation, minting, and transfer within the Kaspa framework without compromising performance. The documentation is well-structured through GitBook, making it easier for developers familiar with Ethereum to get started quickly.
A faucet is available to obtain testnet tokens, and daily incentives are in place for early testers, adding practical value for developers who want to prototype or test applications on real infrastructure.
Igra Labs: EVM Rollup Focused on Composability and Throughput
Igra Labs is building Caravel, an EVM-compatible zk-rollup that is tightly integrated with Kaspa’s DAG-based infrastructure. Although not live yet, the testnet is scheduled to launch in July 2025. Igra Labs is targeting developers who want to deploy scalable, composable smart contracts with minimal friction.
Unlike typical zk-rollups, Caravel aims to provide atomic composability, enabling cross-contract execution without latency or bridging delays. The network is designed to support over 3,000 transactions per second, and will utilize Kaspa’s fast confirmation model as its sequencer layer for added finality and security.
Developers will be able to use Solidity and standard Ethereum tooling such as Hardhat and Truffle. The Caravel testnet will also include a faucet and developer resources, with plans for community grants, documentation, and public GitHub repositories.
Choosing Between Kasplex and Igra Labs
- Kasplex is ideal for developers who want to build today. It already offers a working testnet, public infrastructure, API access, and active documentation. Its KRC token standards and indexing tools make it easy to launch and manage custom assets and contracts.
- Igra Labs, while not live yet, is building toward long-term scalability and developer composability. Once its testnet goes live, it will be a powerful option for advanced applications needing higher throughput and modular architecture.
Both projects are committed to making development on Kaspa more practical, especially for teams with Ethereum experience. With familiar tools, accessible documentation, and growing community support, building on Kaspa’s ecosystem has never been more developer-friendly.
