Introduction

Sui, the object-centric Layer 1 blockchain, has set a new benchmark for verified transaction throughput, processing over 40 million transactions per second in a live mainnet stress test. The result far exceeds the network's previous milestones and signals a major step toward scaling blockchain for AI-driven commerce.

What Happened

During Sui Basecamp, the network's annual flagship conference held alongside Token2049 Singapore, Sui conducted a high-speed test using its tunnel infrastructure. The test achieved 40,614,180 transactions per second, settling each transaction on mainnet via mutually cosigned, independently verifiable tunnels. This marks a significant jump from the 6 million TPS record set in July 2026, and surpasses the network's own 20 million target. Participants, including AI agents and developers, opened more than 10,000 tunnels across categories such as chat, payments, and games, all operating gaslessly and offchain before settling to the blockchain.

Why This Matters

In an agentic economy, throughput alone isn't the goal; trust and efficiency are. Sui's tunnel design allows two transactions to open and close a payment channel, keeping intermediate costs near zero while maintaining cryptographic proof that no transaction can be tampered with. Unlike traditional offchain solutions, Sui tunnels are programmable, enabling a broader range of use cases beyond simple payments. The test demonstrated that millions of AI agents can transact privately and quickly, with Sui serving as the trust layer that resolves disputes automatically and transparently when needed.

Key Takeaways

  • Sui achieved 40.6 million TPS, setting a new verified record for blockchain throughput.
  • Tunnels settle to mainnet with only two transactions, keeping costs minimal and enabling offline use.
  • the infrastructure is programmable, supporting everything from chat to machine commerce, not just payments.
  • CertiK, an independent web3 security firm, is auditing the test data and will publish a full report.
  • Sui positions itself as the trust layer for AI agents, handling massive transaction volumes without congesting the base layer.

Conclusion

Sui's latest test proves that a blockchain can handle millions of transactions per second while keeping costs low, privacy intact, and verifiability intact. As AI agents and machine commerce grow, the network's tunnel architecture offers a blueprint for scalable, trustless infrastructure. The coming weeks will bring CertiK's audit report, which will provide further transparency into the test's results and implications for the broader crypto ecosystem.