Lighter has launched Lighter EVM, adding Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) support to let developers build and run smart contracts on its platform, marking a shift from a pure trading engine to a broader blockchain and DeFi ecosystem. The upgrade will support DeFi apps like Uniswap and Aave, integrating trading, lending, and shared liquidity pools for better efficiency and reduced manipulation risks. Lighter is also researching ways to cut latency and exploring advanced execution models for complex DeFi use cases.