# Caldera Pioneers New Era in Rollup as a Service

Caldera emerges as a seminal Rollup as a Service (RaaS) platform, promising enterprise-grade reliability with 99.99% uptime. The platform boasts over $1 billion in Total Value Locked (TVL) and a user base exceeding 8 million. Caldera uniquely supports major rollup frameworks, including Arbitrum Nitro, Optimism Bedrock, zkSync, and Polygon CDK, offering optimized solutions tailored to specific projects. Additionally, it provides an array of one-stop blockchain infrastructure solutions such as block explorers, Alt-DA, bridged stablecoins, bridges, and guardian nodes.

Caldera’s introduction of a metaverse layer dovetails fragmented Layer 2 ecosystems, enabling direct rollup connections, efficient fund transfers, and support for multi-rollup application development, thus heralding a new paradigm in the blockchain ecosystem.

# Dawn of the RaaS Era

The web3 market sees continuous emergence of new projects, each striving to build their unique blockchain. While some opt for Layer 1 development, most choose to build on existing Layer 1 solutions like Ethereum, leveraging its robust security, established global consensus mechanism, and expansive user base, without the need for a separate validator network. Initial skepticism surrounded the necessity of Layer 2 chains due to their complex mechanisms and dependence on Ethereum’s security. However, the successful launch of several Layer 2 solutions and the advent of RaaS platforms like Caldera have changed this perception, reducing development time from months to weeks or even hours.

Notable NFT projects such as BAYC’s Apechain and RWA projects like Plume are adopting Layer 2 solutions, accelerating this transformation. RaaS platforms provide vital infrastructure maintenance, allowing project teams to focus on service development and user acquisition, effectively ushering in the ‘Great RaaS Era.’

In this dynamic environment, Caldera stands out with its SLA guaranteeing 99.99% uptime. It supports all major rollup frameworks and has secured over $1 billion in TVL and 8 million wallets. This report delves into Caldera’s RaaS infrastructure and its myriad advantages.

# Caldera’s Enterprise-Grade Reliability

System failures and chain errors can lead to staggering losses, making reliability the cornerstone of RaaS services. Blockchain services, by their nature, demand stability on par with or exceeding traditional cloud services to gain user trust. Reliability can be assessed via reference validation and scope of service support. Caldera boasts over 75 references, including Manta Network and ApeChain, and supports 8 million active wallets.

Caldera upholds enterprise-level support with an SLA ensuring 99.99% uptime. It employs the monitoring tool Betterstack to promptly detect system anomalies and notify the technical team, with a 24/7 tech team ready to address any issues. Caldera utilizes multiple AWS data centers worldwide, ensuring resilience akin to simultaneously operating multiple power plants. It also leverages proxy load balancing to maintain service continuity across multiple RPC providers, akin to automatic switching between telecom providers in case of service disruptions.

To expand beyond its current services, Caldera’s robust multi-layer reliability strategy will be pivotal in fostering broader Layer 2 adoption among enterprises.

# Tailored Rollup Framework: Optimized Solutions for Each Project

Each blockchain project has unique technical needs. For example, DeFi and RWA projects prioritize security and trustworthiness, whereas games focus on low-cost, high-volume transactions, and NFT marketplaces need efficient metadata processing. The choice of rollup framework significantly impacts costs and efficiency, necessitating thorough consideration.

No single rollup framework can cater to all requirements. Arbitrum Nitro excels in Ethereum compatibility and security, zkSync in transaction speed and fee reduction, Optimism in SuperChain-based ecosystem expansion, and Polygon CDK offers enhanced scalability and cost efficiency through zkValidium.

Caldera’s multi-framework RaaS solution addresses this diversity by offering all major rollup frameworks, allowing projects to select the most suitable framework for their needs. Even without in-depth knowledge, projects can collaborate with the Caldera team to identify the best approach.

# One-Stop Blockchain Infrastructure Solution

Building a rollup chain is just the starting point for blockchain projects. Establishing a fully operational blockchain ecosystem demands additional infrastructure, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive to build independently. Caldera offers turnkey solutions for essential infrastructure, facilitating faster market entry.

## Block Explorer

A block explorer is crucial for users to check transaction statuses and developers to verify smart contract interactions. While custom development typically takes 1-2 months, Caldera integrates with Blockscout to offer a customizable explorer, aligning with user preferences.

## Alt-DA (Alternative Data Availability)

Caldera’s Alt-DA revolutionizes blockchain transaction data storage. Traditional Ethereum rollups mandated storing all transaction records on the mainnet, with up to 95% of transaction costs attributed to data storage. Alt-DA leverages Celestia for more cost-efficient storage, reducing data storage costs by 75% while providing fallback to Ethereum storage in case of Celestia network issues. Options like EigenLayer further reduce barriers and promote blockchain service democratization.

## Bridged Stablecoin

Caldera’s bridged USDC offers groundbreaking advantages for projects based on OP Bedrock and Arbitrum Nitro, enabling immediate USDC utilization from the launch stage. The efficiency in converting bridged tokens to native tokens eliminates the need for extensive migration education and incentives, streamlining smart contract upgrades without address changes, enhancing project continuity and stability.

## Bridge

Caldera deploys a web-based Bridge UI across chains, facilitating seamless asset transfers for developers and users. The customizable Bridge UI allows for branding alignment, maintaining consistent user experience and enabling smooth asset movement between Caldera and public blockchains like Ethereum and Polygon. Its intuitive interface simplifies complex processes, making asset transfer accessible even to blockchain novices.

## Guardian Node

Caldera developed a specialized validation system for Arbitrum rollups – the Guardian Node, focused on transaction batch verification using the ‘Nitro’ tech stack. The system enables transaction validation without a full Arbitrum node, rewarding participants and exemplified by HYCHAIN’s rapid success, generating 2000 ETH in two weeks through 16,000 node key sales. The system enhances network security, increases project token demand, fosters community development from mere investors to network operators, and entrenches project loyalty.

# MetaLayer: A New Paradigm in Blockchain Ecosystems

Caldera’s innovative path, highlighted by a $15 million Series A round led by Founders Fund, ushers in a seminal phase for Layer 2 ecosystems, transcending mere capital acquisition to propose a transformative vision for the Layer 2 future. Current Layer 1 ecosystems suffer from fragmentation, necessitating Layer 1 routing for rollup fund transfers, resulting in inefficiencies and high costs. Individual chain operations of bridges and oracles further complicate network operator activities.

To tackle these issues, Caldera introduces the MetaLayer, merging fragmented Layer 2 ecosystems into a cohesive paradigm. The MetaLayer, embodying Caldera’s enterprise-grade stability, versatile framework support, and comprehensive infrastructure solutions, streamlines rollup direct connections, fund transfers, and multi-rollup application development.

MetaLayer simplifies the rollup ecosystem development, offering an integrated environment spanning ZK and Optimistic rollup stacks, significantly enhancing web3 usability.

Caldera is set on transcending its RaaS provider role to spearhead a new ‘great exploration’ era of Layer 2. Just as explorers carved new sea routes, Caldera’s MetaLayer is charting new horizons for Layer 2, transforming the blockchain ecosystem into one that is scalable, efficient, and interconnected. These endeavors are anticipated to be a milestone in the blockchain industry, encouraging more institutions and projects to develop their own chains, heralding a new chapter in the industry’s evolution.