What is Eclipse (ES)?

Quick Facts

• Type: Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain using the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM)
• Native Token: ES — used for gas, governance, and staking
• Architecture: Modular — SVM execution, Ethereum settlement, Celestia data availability
• Fraud Proofs: Powered by RISC Zero zero-knowledge technology
• Mainnet Beta: Launched in November 2024
• Funding: Raised $50 million at a $1 billion valuation
• Backers: Tribe Capital, Mirana, Portal Ventures; angel support from Anatoly Yakovenko

Introduction

Eclipse (ES) is a modular Layer 2 blockchain that brings together two of the most powerful ecosystems in crypto. It runs the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) for high-speed execution while settling on Ethereum for security and finality.

The result is a chain that feels like Solana to developers and users — fast, cheap, and parallelized — but inherits Ethereum's deep liquidity and battle-tested settlement layer.

History & Background

Eclipse was founded by Neel Somani and built by Eclipse Laboratories. The project launched its Mainnet Beta in late 2024 after years of research and development into modular blockchain architecture.

The ES token launched in July 2025 through a community airdrop rewarding early users who stress-tested the network. The project raised $50 million at a $1 billion valuation, attracting prominent investors and angel backers from both the Solana and Ethereum communities.

How Eclipse Works

Eclipse uses a four-layer modular stack:

• Execution: The Solana Virtual Machine processes transactions in parallel, enabling extremely high throughput.
• Settlement: All transactions are finalized on Ethereum mainnet, inheriting its security guarantees.
• Data Availability: Eclipse posts transaction data to Celestia, a modular blockchain optimized for low-cost data storage.
• Fraud Proofs: RISC Zero provides zero-knowledge fraud proofs to verify the correctness of execution.

This design allows Eclipse to scale toward 65,000 TPS theoretically, while keeping transaction fees as low as $0.0002.

Tokenomics

The ES token is the economic backbone of the Eclipse ecosystem. It serves three primary roles:

• Gas: ES is used to pay for transactions on the network.
• Governance: Token holders can vote on protocol upgrades and parameter changes.
• Staking: Users can stake ES to help secure the network and earn rewards.

Tokens were distributed to early users, investors, the team, and the broader ecosystem through a structured allocation designed to align long-term participation.

Ecosystem & Use Cases

Eclipse supports Solana-compatible dApps that benefit from Ethereum's liquidity. The ecosystem includes decentralized exchanges, on-chain games, and DeFi protocols.

Developers can deploy Solana programs on Eclipse with minimal changes, making it attractive for teams who want Solana's performance without leaving Ethereum's security umbrella.

Team, Governance & Community

Eclipse is led by founder Neel Somani and the Eclipse Laboratories team. The project has backing from institutional investors and influential figures in crypto, including Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko as an angel investor.

Governance is token-driven, with ES holders participating in decisions about the protocol's future direction through on-chain voting.

Advantages

• Parallel execution via SVM enables far higher throughput than standard EVM-based L2s.
• Ultra-low fees make Eclipse accessible for everyday transactions and gaming.
• Ethereum security provides trust and finality without sacrificing speed.
• Modular design keeps the architecture flexible and upgradeable.
• Developer-friendly — existing Solana programs can be deployed with minimal changes.

Risks & Challenges

• L2 competition is fierce; Eclipse competes with well-funded EVM-based rollups that have large existing user bases.
• Execution complexity — combining four distinct technology layers introduces potential failure points.
• Ecosystem maturity — the ecosystem is still young and dependent on continued developer adoption.
• Token volatility is expected as a newly launched asset in a competitive market.

Long-Term Vision

Eclipse aims to become the go-to execution environment for high-performance decentralized applications on Ethereum. By proving that SVM execution can thrive within Ethereum's security model, Eclipse is positioning itself as a bridge between the two largest smart contract ecosystems.

The long-term goal is a fully decentralized, permissionless Layer 2 where ES token holders govern the protocol, developers build scalable apps without compromise, and users transact at speeds and costs previously only seen on Solana.