Aurora Labs has demonstrated the power of its no-code blockchain development platform through the successful launch of its first batch of startups from the Aurora Blocks Incubator program. This six-week initiative was designed to showcase how developers can rapidly build dedicated, customizable blockchains—referred to as Virtual Chains—without writing complex code or managing traditional infrastructure.
The participating startups each deployed their own Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible chains via the Aurora Cloud Console. This tool, introduced earlier this year, enables developers to create tailored decentralized networks through a plug-and-play interface. Positioned as a simplified solution for decentralized application (dApp) builders, the Console eliminates the burden of designing entire blockchain architectures, allowing teams to concentrate entirely on the dApp functionality itself.
These Virtual Chains are deployed on NEAR Protocol’s high-performance infrastructure, combining enterprise-grade security with rapid transaction speeds. Developers can also enhance their chains by integrating a variety of Web3 tools available in the Cloud Console Marketplace, including decentralized identity solutions, compute services, and domain name protocols. These features can be added with minimal technical effort, making blockchain deployment more accessible than ever before.
New Ventures Reflect Broad Use Cases
The Aurora Blocks Incubator was launched to encourage innovation by providing access to Aurora’s technical stack, mentoring from partners, strategic support, and grants. At a recent Demo Day, five projects from the first cohort were presented, representing a diverse range of blockchain applications.
Among them, Optima Financial claimed to be the first tokenized investment platform in the European Union to operate under regulatory approval. The platform targets decentralized finance (DeFi) users who wish to access sophisticated hedge fund strategies. These strategies are packaged into unique tokens that are regularly rebalanced and traded as blockchain certificates. Optima Financial’s platform is built on its own Virtual Chain—Optima Chain—and uses its native OPTIMA token for governance purposes.
Sproutly introduced itself as the world’s first carbon credit platform verified by the United Nations. The startup focuses on tokenized carbon dioxide offsets and tree assets, allowing organizations to progress toward net-zero targets. It utilizes NFT-based representations of trees, referred to as NFTrees, which are backed by certified agroforestry systems. The company aims to create tangible climate impact through blockchain-based incentives.
EasyChain offered a solution designed to lower the barrier to entry for non-technical users in Web3. It simplifies the user experience through gamified tasks and social reward mechanisms, making it more approachable for those unfamiliar with blockchain environments. By removing complex technical elements, EasyChain hopes to onboard the next wave of Web3 users.
— Aurora (@auroraisnear) July 31, 2025
Two projects introduced entirely novel approaches. Tradable presented an AI-powered trading platform tailored to everyday crypto users. It operates on an Aurora-based Virtual Chain that conducts encrypted, on-chain queries processed privately off-chain. This architecture is designed to deliver actionable insights with built-in privacy and verifiability.
Omega Network revealed what it called a hybrid “Layer 1.5” solution. Designed as a high-performance sovereign network, Omega aims to unify scalability, composability, and liquidity while easing the integration of real-world assets. The platform was described as a response to persistent limitations seen in current networks, including transaction speed, interoperability, and governance control.
Scaling Towards a Thousand Virtual Chains
Aurora Labs sees these projects as early validation of its infrastructure’s capabilities. The firm believes the debut cohort illustrates that Aurora’s Virtual Chains can support highly complex applications, on par with what is achievable on mature platforms such as Ethereum, Solana, or Avalanche.
While preparations are underway to identify participants for the next round of the incubator, Aurora Labs also intends to continue supporting the original five startups. This aligns with the company’s larger goal of enabling the launch of up to 1,000 Virtual Chains before the end of the year, signaling a bold commitment to advancing scalable and user-friendly blockchain ecosystems.