How Eclipse is Bringing the Best of Solana to Ethereum
By Will McKinnon October 31, 2024
Introduction
Blockchain ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana each have their strengths—Ethereum offers robust security and liquidity, while Solana boasts fast & scalable transactions. But what if you could have the best of both? That’s the goal of Eclipse, a new Layer 2 solution that’s bridging the gap between the two networks by incorporating Solana’s high throughput into Ethereum’s decentralized infrastructure.
High-Speed Transactions & Low Costs
Solana’s claim to fame is its ability to process thousands of transactions per second at minimal cost, and Eclipse takes full advantage of this by using Solana’s SVM for transaction execution. This allows developers to build decentralized applications on Ethereum without the constraints of high fees and slow speeds. With this approach, Eclipse enables faster transaction finality and lower costs, making it an attractive option for projects that require scalability.
Eclipse also leverages Celestia for storing data on-chain rather than off-chain, which many Layer 2 solutions currently do due to cost concerns. This approach significantly enhances data accessibility and transaction speed, making it easier for developers and users alike.
Neon Stack: The Bridge Between Two Worlds
At the heart of this integration is the Neon Stack, a development framework that allows developers to deploy Ethereum-compatible smart contracts on Solana-based networks. This stack has been operational on Solana since July 2023 and has already facilitated the deployment of numerous Ethereum-native dApps, including those in DeFi, gaming and decentralized exchanges (DEXs). By leveraging Neon Stack, Eclipse aims to provide developers with an easy pathway to transition their existing projects from Ethereum to a more scalable environment without sacrificing compatibility.
As Eclipse gets ready to launch, it’s stepping into a competitive space where other Ethereum Layer 2s like Arbitrum One, Base, and Optimism are already dominating. For example, Arbitrum alone holds a massive $2.6 billion in total value locked (TVL). To stand out, Eclipse is planning to bring some well-known Solana dApps like Mango Markets and Orca into its ecosystem. Some of these apps might even be rebranded for Eclipse, allowing them to tap into their existing user bases while offering enhanced performance and new features.
Final Thoughts
Eclipse is poised to become a major player in the blockchain space by merging Ethereum's security and liquidity with Solana's speed and scalability. It offers developers the best of both worlds, unlocking new possibilities for scalable, high-performance decentralized applications. For both developers and end-users, Eclipse is definitely a project to keep on your radar as it gears up for the public mainnet launch in October 2024.
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