Quick Take
- The Sandbox introduces SANDchain, a ZKsync-powered blockchain for creators and fans.
- $SAND becomes the gas and governance token for the new network.
- Testnet opens October 14 with partners including Animoca Brands and Ready Player Me.
The Sandbox is expanding its reach with the launch of SANDchain, a blockchain network built on ZKsync’s ZK Stack. Announced during TOKEN2049 in Singapore, the project is aimed at creators across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Roblox, and The Sandbox itself.
The global creator economy now counts more than 200 million participants and is valued at over $250 billion. Many creators still face uneven income and limited access to funding. SANDchain introduces tools designed to address those gaps, including creator tokens, loyalty systems, and fan-backed vaults that provide a more predictable financial base.
All activity on the network will run on $SAND, the native token of The Sandbox, which already trades widely on global exchanges. By making $SAND the gas and governance token for SANDchain, the company is expanding the token’s role beyond its gaming platform.
Artificial intelligence also plays a central role in the roadmap. The Sandbox is training models on more than 1.7 million 3D assets and working with Rosebud AI to deliver automated game templates. The goal is to lower barriers to content creation and support the platform’s no-code tools, while AI is also being applied internally to areas like cheat detection and customer support.
The Sandbox is returning to its mobile roots as part of the same strategy. New mobile gameplay is currently in testing, with details expected to follow later this year. More than a decade after its original mobile launch, the company says handheld access will be key to reaching wider audiences.
SANDchain will enter public testing on October 14, with early access available through the Creator Manifesto on sandchain.com. Partners already confirmed include Animoca Brands, ZKsync, Ready Player Me, Cool Cats, and Mocaverse.
Co-founder Sébastien Borget said the network is built to support creators across all digital ecosystems, while Animoca Brands chairman Yat Siu emphasized that the design links engagement with ownership and rewards. New CEO Robby Yung has also framed the launch as part of a broader shift into AI and Web3 infrastructure.
The Sandbox has grown from a 2012 mobile game into a 3D multiplayer Web3 platform with more than 8 million users and over 400 brand partnerships. With SANDchain, the company is positioning itself to play a larger role in digital creation and monetization.
