Hot Labs and Near: Building the Future of Chain Abstraction
In 2024, Hot Labs set out with a bold idea: to make Web3 as seamless as the internet. What began as a chain-abstracted wallet quickly grew into a broader mission—building the infrastructure that removes barriers between blockchains and brings the next billion users into crypto.
In a recent discussion, Peter from Hot Labs explained how his team and the Near Protocol ecosystem are working side by side to turn the promise of chain abstraction into a reality.
From Wallet to Infrastructure
Hot Labs started by tackling one of crypto’s biggest challenges: managing assets across multiple blockchains. Anyone who has juggled gas fees, different multi-chain wallets, or clunky bridges knows the struggle.
Within just a year, Hot Labs’ wallet attracted more than 30 million users, giving the team priceless insights into the daily friction points of Web3. The takeaway was clear:
👉 For crypto to achieve mass adoption, a wallet alone is not enough. What is needed is a chain-abstracted Web3 infrastructure—where users do not think about gas, chains, or bridges at all.
Lesson for founders: Sometimes the real opportunity is bigger than the product you start with. Hot Labs pivoted from building a wallet to building the infrastructure layer that makes wallets (and all of Web3) actually usable.
Benefit for users: You no longer need to worry about whether your tokens live on Ethereum, Solana, or TON. A chain-abstracted future means your wallet just works.
Partnering with Near on Chain Abstraction
To achieve this vision, Hot Labs teamed up with Near, whose engineering-first ethos complements their rapid experimentation. Together, the two teams are tackling the core pillars of chain abstraction:
1. Chain Signatures
This allows one blockchain to securely control assets on another. Hot Labs and Near now share a common codebase and security audits for this core technology.
- For builders: Shared infrastructure reduces duplication and accelerates shipping.
- For users: Safer cross-chain transactions without relying on fragile middlemen.
2. Bridges
- Near’s light-client bridges → ultra-secure, cryptography-driven bridges for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Zcash. Ideal for institutions and large DeFi flows.
- Hot Labs’ Hot Bridge → a fast, flexible cross-chain bridge supporting more than 14 chains, including Polygon, Stellar, Solana, and TON. Perfect for NFT bridges, memecoins, and fast swaps.
Together, this dual approach balances trustless security with nimble connectivity.
- For founders: Pick your lane. Are you building for conservative, high-value transactions, or fast-moving consumer use cases? Both matter.
- For users: Whether you are moving Bitcoin or minting NFTs on Solana, the process will feel equally seamless.
3. Intents and Wallet Compatibility
One of the most powerful breakthroughs is Near Intents. This protocol allows you to use your existing wallets (MetaMask, Phantom, TON) to control your balances on Near without setting up anything new.
Hot Labs builds on top of this with gasless transactions, cross-chain deposits, and frictionless withdrawals.
- For founders: Do not force users into new behaviors. Build infrastructure that works with tools they already trust.
- For users: No more creating new wallets for every chain. Your current wallet becomes your universal passport to Web3.
Why It Matters
Web3’s biggest barrier is not a lack of blockchains—it is a lack of usability. Most people give up when they hit confusing gas fees, wallet setups, or risky bridges.
By combining forces:
- Near delivers conservative, security-heavy infrastructure.
- Hot Labs brings speed, flexibility, and a willingness to ride new crypto narratives.
The outcome? A decentralized infrastructure layer where users can:
- Send tokens across chains.
- Swap assets instantly.
- Mint and move NFTs.
- Interact with DeFi protocols—all as easily as sending an email.
Looking Ahead
The future is clear: chain abstraction is the next frontier for Web3 adoption. With Hot Labs and Near building in lockstep, we are moving toward a world where the blockchain itself fades into the background and only the user experience shines.
As Peter from Hot Labs put it:
“It is not only about the wallet. It is about building the infrastructure for how Web3 should look in two to three years.”
For founders, the lesson is to think infrastructure-first—solve for what slows down users today, and adoption will follow.
For everyday crypto users, it means one thing: the next time you send tokens, swap, or bridge assets, it may feel as effortless as clicking “send.”
At ComeUpStartup.com, we will continue tracking how Hot Labs, Near, and the rise of chain abstraction are shaping the next wave of crypto mass adoption.
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