SANDchain Launches to Power the Creator Economy

The SANDChain Foundation has unveiled SANDchain, a new blockchain built on ZKsync and Caldera using the ZK Stack. Announced at TOKEN2049 in Singapore, the network expands the role of $SAND beyond gaming and positions it as a programmable layer for the broader creator economy.

Good to Know

• The creator economy now counts more than 200 million people, valued at $250B+.
• SANDchain introduces Creator Tokens, Creator Points, and Patron Vaults.
• The $SAND token becomes both gas and governance across the new network.

SANDchain aims to fix common problems facing creators on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and The Sandbox. Revenue systems are often opaque, income streams unstable, and access to financing limited. The new network addresses these issues with:

1. SANDpoints to reflect loyalty and reputation.
2. Creator Points tied to fan support and token rewards.
3. Creator Tokens tradeable assets linked to brands and perks.

Patron Vaults allow fans to fund creators and earn yield, while Creator Vaults back loans with receivables from major platforms. Together, these tools offer an onchain financial base for creative work.

The Sandbox and Its New Direction

Alongside SANDchain, Sandbox CEO Robby Yung confirmed that the company is expanding into AI and mobile. The platform, once a simple 2D mobile game, has grown into a major web3 hub with 8 million users and 400 brand partners. Now, AI and financial infrastructure are set to drive the next phase.

AI tools are being developed for both backend efficiency and creator-facing content. Using its library of over 1.7 million 3D assets, The Sandbox is training models to speed up asset and experience creation. Partnerships, including one with Rosebud AI, will bring new “vibe-coded” game templates into the ecosystem.

Web3 and Mobile Strategy

SANDchain will also introduce an Internet Capital Market layer, giving creators new revenue models through token bonding curves. This aims to support both monetization and content discovery. The Sandbox is simultaneously testing fresh mobile concepts, with closed playtests planned soon.

The $SAND token, already listed on more than 80 exchanges, now underpins both The Sandbox and SANDchain. It functions as the primary gas and governance token, with new benefit programs for token holders expected to be announced.

Launch partners include Animoca Brands, Ready Player Me, Cool Cats, Mocaverse, Agoria, Pucca, and more. The SANDchain Testnet will go live on October 14, with early access available through the Creator Manifesto at sandchain.com.

Sébastien Borget, co-founder of The Sandbox, described the project as a way to help fans become “active participants in culture.” Animoca Brands chairman Yat Siu added that linking engagement to ownership and rewards could “redefine participation in culture.”