ACH as Gas Token and Cross-Chain Asset

Introduction

Alchemy Chain uses a single token (ACH) fee settlement model so users do not need a separate native coin to pay for gas. It also provides a bi-directional bridge between Ethereum and Alchemy Chain to move ACH back and forth securely.

ACH-Based Gas Fee Payment

Alchemy Chain uses ACH tokens as the sole asset for gas fee payment. Users pay network fees directly from their ACH token balance on Alchemy Chain, including ACH bridged from Ethereum.

During transaction execution, validator nodes deduct gas fees from the sender’s ACH token balance on Alchemy Chain. The deducted ACH is transferred to a designated fee-collection address for network operations and fee recycling.

Gas fees are denominated in ACH according to the Global Gas Fee Schedule (CGFS), which provides fixed and predictable fee parameters. The chain’s native coin exists only for internal protocol accounting and is not exposed as a user-facing or circulating asset.

To preserve compatibility with standard EVM wallets and transaction flows, Alchemy Chain adapts EVM gas accounting. Runtime balance operations are redirected from the native coin ledger to the canonical ACH token ledger. As a result, wallets continue to operate normally while gas fees are settled in ACH.

Cross-Chain ACH Bridge with Ethereum

Alchemy Chain provides a bi-directional cross-chain ACH bridge between Ethereum and Alchemy Chain. This bridge allows users to move ACH tokens freely between the two networks.

The canonical ACH contract on Ethereum is:0xEd04915c23f00A313a544955524EB7DBD823143d

The bridge follows a custody + mint / burn + release model to ensure that ACH circulating on Alchemy Chain is fully backed 1:1 by ACH held in custody on Ethereum.

Ethereum → Alchemy Chain

Users transfer ACH on Ethereum from the canonical ACH contract (0xEd04915c23f00A313a544955524EB7DBD823143d) to a designated custody address using the official bridge interface. After confirmation, the bridge reconciles the deposited amount (ACH uses 8 decimals) and mints an equivalent amount of ACH on Alchemy Chain to the same user address.

The bridged ACH can immediately be used to pay gas fees and interact with smart contracts on Alchemy Chain.

Alchemy Chain → Ethereum

To bridge back, users send ACH on Alchemy Chain to the canonical ACH token contract and invoke the bridge burn function. The bridge monitors the burn event and releases the corresponding amount of ACH held in custody on Ethereum back to the user’s Ethereum address.

Strict reconciliation and monitoring ensure that the minted ACH supply on Alchemy Chain remains aligned with the Ethereum custody balance.