Stablecoin-focused blockchain Noble has announced plans to transition away from the Cosmos ecosystem and relaunch as a standalone Ethereum Virtual Machine–compatible layer 1 network. The migration is scheduled for March 18 and represents a significant architectural shift for the venture capital-backed project. According to the Noble team, the decision was driven by the need for a more advanced technology stack and access to a broader developer community.
Noble was originally built using the Cosmos SDK and positioned as a neutral liquidity hub for stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. Over time, however, the network has evolved beyond infrastructure-focused issuance into a platform supporting end-user stablecoin applications and decentralized finance use cases. Project leaders have indicated that this evolution exposed limitations in the original Cosmos-based design, prompting a reassessment of the underlying architecture.
Rationale Behind the Move to Ethereum Compatibility
The team behind Noble has explained that adopting an EVM-based layer 1 offers clear technical and ecosystem advantages. By moving to an Ethereum-compatible environment, Noble aims to leverage a more mature open-source stack, including Rust-based blockchain frameworks and the Reth Ethereum client. These components are expected to deliver stronger performance and greater flexibility compared with the project’s previous setup.
In addition to technical considerations, the migration is intended to improve accessibility for both users and developers. The EVM environment is where a large share of the global crypto developer community already operates, making it easier to attract talent, integrate existing tools, and accelerate application development. Noble’s leadership has suggested that remaining outside this ecosystem increasingly limited its ability to scale products and onboard partners efficiently.
Scaling constraints associated with Cosmos architecture were also cited as a factor. As Noble expanded into real-world payment flows and DeFi applications, these constraints reportedly began to slow innovation and complicate product roadmaps. Transitioning to an Ethereum-compatible layer 1 is viewed as a way to remove those bottlenecks.
Network Performance and Core Features
The new Noble chain is expected to introduce several performance-focused features aimed at supporting stablecoin and payment use cases. Planned capabilities include transaction finality of under 500 milliseconds, permissionless smart contract deployment, and dedicated payment lanes designed to prioritize real-world payment transactions. The network will also emphasize support for its native stablecoin infrastructure.
Since 2023, Noble has reported processing more than 22 billion dollars in transaction volume and serving approximately 30,000 monthly active users. The network has also positioned itself as a primary liquidity layer for more than 50 blockchains, underscoring its role in cross-chain stablecoin activity. Project leaders believe that the new architecture will allow Noble to build on this foundation more effectively.
— Noble (@noble_xyz) January 20, 2026
Native Stablecoin and Market Context
Noble issues its own stablecoin, Noble Dollar, also known as USDN. The stablecoin currently has a market capitalization of around 36 million dollars. Data from market trackers indicates that issuance peaked at roughly 128 million dollars in mid-2025 before declining significantly. The team has suggested that a stronger technical base and deeper integration with Ethereum’s ecosystem could help support future growth and utility for USDN.
The migration also reflects a broader industry pattern. An increasing number of blockchain projects have been choosing Ethereum or EVM-compatible chains as their core infrastructure. In recent years, several high-profile platforms have moved away from alternative architectures in favor of EVM environments to benefit from network effects, tooling, and liquidity.
Ethereum’s Dominance in Stablecoins and Tokenized Assets
Ethereum remains the dominant network for stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. When including layer 2 solutions and EVM-compatible chains, Ethereum accounts for roughly two-thirds of the market, according to industry data providers. This dominance has reinforced its position as the default settlement and execution layer for many crypto-native financial applications.
By migrating to an EVM-based layer 1, Noble is aligning itself more closely with this industry standard. The move signals confidence in Ethereum’s long-term role as the backbone of stablecoin and asset tokenization infrastructure. For Noble, the transition is intended to support its next phase of growth by combining performance improvements with broader ecosystem access and developer adoption.