MegaETH Mainnet Launch: The Revolutionary 35K TPS Ethereum Layer 2 Goes Live February 9

In a landmark development for blockchain scalability, the highly anticipated MegaETH mainnet is scheduled for public launch on February 9, 2026. This follows a conclusive global stress test where the Ethereum layer-2 solution demonstrated a staggering capacity of 35,000 transactions per second (TPS). The event, confirmed by the project’s leadership on January 28, 2026, marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing quest for a high-performance, user-friendly on-chain ecosystem. This launch could fundamentally alter the landscape for decentralized applications, particularly in latency-sensitive sectors like gaming and decentralized finance.

MegaETH Mainnet Launch Follows Record-Breaking Stress Test

The final step before the public launch involved a rigorous, seven-day global stress test. During this period, the MegaETH mainnet was opened to a select group of users and developers. The goal was to simulate real-world conditions and push the network’s infrastructure to its absolute limits. Consequently, the results were nothing short of extraordinary. The network successfully processed approximately 10.7 billion transactions. For context, this volume surpasses the total number of transactions processed on the Ethereum mainnet throughout its entire decade-long history. This achievement provides tangible evidence of the layer 2’s raw throughput capabilities.

Lei Yang, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of MegaETH, announced the launch date on social media platform X. The message was clear: “Get ready for the fastest* EVM chain ever.” The test involved popular Web3 gaming applications like Smasher, Crossy Fluffle, and Stomp.gg, which generated the massive transaction load. Significantly, users reported a seamless experience despite the extreme network demands. Simon Dedic, founder of Moonrock Capital and a participant in the test, noted the absence of latency, congestion, or degraded user experience—common pain points on other blockchain networks.

Understanding the 35K TPS Benchmark and Real-World Expectations

The headline figure of 35,000 TPS represents a peak performance metric achieved under controlled, stress-test conditions. It is crucial for readers to understand the distinction between theoretical maximums, testnet results, and sustainable real-world throughput. The MegaETH team has previously touted a theoretical capacity exceeding 100,000 TPS with sub-millisecond latency. Earlier developmental tests even reached peaks of 47,000 TPS. However, the blockchain industry has learned that production environments often yield lower, yet still impressive, figures.

For a relevant comparison, consider Solana, another chain renowned for its high speed. Its theoretical maximum is cited at 65,000 TPS. Nonetheless, data from analytics platforms like Token Terminal shows its consistent, real-world throughput typically ranges around 3,400 TPS. This disparity highlights the complex variables affecting live networks, including block propagation times, validator hardware diversity, and the nature of the transactions themselves. Therefore, while the 35K TPS stress test result is a powerful validation of MegaETH’s architecture, the industry will closely monitor its consistent performance post-launch.

The Backing and Vision Behind the High-Speed Chain

The project carries significant weight due to its backing from prominent figures and institutions within the Ethereum ecosystem. Notably, Ethereum co-founders Vitalik Buterin and Joe Lubin are among its supporters. Furthermore, venture capital firms such as Dragonfly Capital, Figment Capital, and Big Brain Holdings have invested in its development. This collective endorsement signals a strong belief in MegaETH’s technical approach to solving Ethereum’s scalability trilemma—balancing decentralization, security, and scalability. The vision is to create a “real-time blockchain” where applications function as smoothly as their web2 counterparts, removing technical friction for end-users.

A Bumpy Road: The Token Sale Setback and Recovery

The path to the MegaETH mainnet launch has not been without challenges. In November of the previous year, the project attempted a novel pre-deposit sale to bootstrap liquidity and allocate future tokens. The event successfully raised $500 million from interested parties. However, a series of operational and technical failures ensued. These issues included misconfigured systems, a mishandled multisignature transaction, and know-your-client (KYC) processing errors. In a decisive move to maintain trust and integrity, the MegaETH team made the uncommon decision to return all $500 million to depositors. This action, while delaying certain launch preparations, demonstrated a commitment to operational security and ethical practices before going live.

Conclusion

The imminent launch of the MegaETH mainnet on February 9, 2026, represents a critical experiment in blockchain scalability. Its demonstrated ability to handle 35,000 TPS in testing and process over 10 billion transactions in a week provides a compelling technical case. The backing of Ethereum pioneers adds considerable authority to its mission. However, the true test begins with the public launch, where sustainable throughput, security, and decentralization will be scrutinized. If successful, MegaETH could establish a new benchmark for performance within the Ethereum layer-2 landscape, accelerating the adoption of complex, user-facing decentralized applications and pushing the entire industry toward a real-time on-chain future.

FAQs

Q1: What is MegaETH and when does it launch?
MegaETH is a high-performance Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution. Its public mainnet is scheduled to launch on February 9, 2026, following extensive testing.

Q2: How fast is MegaETH compared to Ethereum?
In a recent stress test, MegaETH processed 35,000 transactions per second (TPS). For perspective, the Ethereum mainnet typically handles between 15 and 30 TPS, highlighting a potential scalability increase of over 1000x.

Q3: What was the result of the MegaETH stress test?
The week-long global stress test processed approximately 10.7 billion transactions using real Web3 gaming applications. This volume exceeded the total historical transactions on the Ethereum blockchain, all while users reported minimal latency.

Q4: Who is behind the development of MegaETH?
The project is backed by Ethereum co-founders Vitalik Buterin and Joe Lubin, along with several established crypto venture capital firms including Dragonfly Capital and Figment Capital.

Q5: Did MegaETH face any issues before this launch?
Yes. In late 2025, a $500 million pre-deposit sale was conducted but subsequently refunded in full due to technical and operational failures. The team cited this as a necessary step to ensure a secure and trustworthy launch.