Eclipse is an unusual Layer 2: it is Ethereum-secured but Solana-executed. Rather than running the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) like Arbitrum or Optimism, Eclipse uses the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) — the same execution environment that powers Solana’s 50,000+ TPS throughput. Transactions on Eclipse settle to Ethereum mainnet for security. The result is a chain with Solana’s performance characteristics, Ethereum’s security guarantees, and its own token economic system. Eclipse attracted attention in 2024 by demonstrating that SVM parallelism could run on Ethereum’s security layer — a hybrid approach no other major L2 had pursued.
The Architecture
The protocol is built around the following components.
Why SVM on Ethereum?
The tradeoff is specific:
- EVM chains (Arbitrum, OP, zkSync): High compatibility with existing Ethereum dApps; sequential execution limits throughput
- Solana: Parallel SVM execution; fast and cheap; no Ethereum security or liquidity access
- Eclipse: SVM execution speed + Ethereum security layer + access to ETH liquidity
Eclipse’s bet is that developer performance requirements will outpace EVM’s optimizations, and that Solana’s execution model is simply better for high-frequency applications.
Settlement Layer: Ethereum (Celestia for DA)
- Data availability is handled by Celestia (not Ethereum calldata), reducing costs
- Fraud proofs or validity proofs secure the settlement
- ETH is the gas token on Eclipse
Execution Layer: SVM (Solana Virtual Machine)
- Parallel processing via Solana’s Sealevel runtime
- Solana programs (BPF bytecode) run natively
- Rust-based programs from Solana ecosystem can potentially port to Eclipse
Why ETH as Gas?
- Reduces friction for Ethereum users (no new token needed to onboard)
- ETH bridged from Ethereum mainnet → Eclipse via native bridge
- ETH holds value from Ethereum’s security model
The ECLIPSE Token
Status: ECLIPSE token launched 2024
Token details:
- Used for governance and potential protocol fee distribution
- Airdrop to early testnet users and ecosystem participants
- Listed on major exchanges post-launch
Note: Gas fees are paid in ETH — ECLIPSE token is governance, not the gas currency.
Key Technical Advantages
The following sections cover this in detail.
Parallel Transaction Processing
- Two DeFi swaps that touch different pools: execute in parallel
- Two users sending ETH to different recipients: execute in parallel
- Only transactions that share state must be serialized
This yields practical TPS many multiples higher than EVM L2s, which process transactions sequentially.
Developer Target Audience
- Orderbook DEXs: High-frequency order matching
- Perpetuals: Real-time price updates and liquidations
- Gaming: Many small state updates per second
- DePIN: Reporting from thousands of devices per second
For typical DeFi applications, EVM L2 performance is usually sufficient. Eclipse’s value proposition is strongest where throughput limits genuinely exist.
Solana vs. Eclipse Comparison
| Aspect | Solana | Eclipse |
|---|---|---|
| Execution | SVM | SVM |
| Security | Own validator set | Ethereum L1 |
| ETH Liquidity | Via bridges | Native via L2 bridge |
| Gas Token | SOL | ETH |
| Data Availability | Solana | Celestia |
| Ecosystem | Mature (Solana apps) | New (building out) |
Eclipse is “Solana execution for people who want Ethereum security.”
Ecosystem Development
At launch, Eclipse focused on:
- DEXs: Bringing top-tier spot trading with SVM orderbook throughput
- Perpetuals: Hyperliquid-style perps built on Eclipse’s fast execution
- EVM portability: Eclipse does NOT run EVM natively — Solidity contracts cannot port directly. This is a significant ecosystem limitation
The lack of EVM compatibility means Eclipse cannot easily attract the existing 500K+ Solidity developer ecosystem. Applications must be built in Rust (Solana’s native language) or purpose-built for SVM.
How to Use Eclipse
- Get ETH via
- Bridge ETH to Eclipse using the official Eclipse bridge (usecannon.com or app.eclipse.xyz)
- Connect a Solana-compatible wallet (Backpack, Phantom with Eclipse support)
- Interact with Eclipse DEXs and dApps
Store ETH securely:
Social Media Sentiment
Eclipse is viewed as a technically interesting but early-stage experiment. The SVM-on-Ethereum concept is well-received intellectually — using ETH for gas is broadly liked as a design choice. The main criticism is the lack of EVM portability: without Solidity support, Eclipse cannot capture the existing Ethereum developer base and must build from scratch, which is a steep hill. The comparison often made: “Eclipse is what Solana would be if it had ETH security, but it’s missing Solana’s ecosystem.” The ECLIPSE airdrop in 2024 generated buzz and brought users on, but sustained DeFi volume has been more modest than initial hype suggested. Most observers see Eclipse as a proof-of-concept for SVM-on-Ethereum that will need a killer app to break into the L2 mainstream. Long-term bulls point to Solana’s performance advantages as genuinely superior and expect Eclipse to benefit if SVM performance becomes essential at scale.
Last updated: 2026-04
Related Terms
Sources
Buterin, V. (2021). An Incomplete Guide to Rollups. Vitalik.ca Blog.
Yakovenko, A. (2018). Solana: A New Architecture for a High Performance Blockchain. Solana Whitepaper.
Adlerjung, N., Al-Bassam, M., & Buterin, V. (2018). Fraud and Data Availability Proofs: Maximising Light Client Security. arXiv.
Al-Bassam, M., Sonnino, A., & Buterin, V. (2019). Fraud Proofs: Maximising Light Client Security Without Full Block Verification. arXiv.
Kwon, J., & Buchman, E. (2016). Cosmos: A Network of Distributed Ledgers. Cosmos Whitepaper.