Solana the Ethereum Killer? Solana Founder Seeks Co-Existence, Even Collaboration

Key Takeaways

• Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko has denounced the Ethereum killer narrative.
• Yakovenko said he thinks Ethereum will eventually have enough bandwidth for all of Solana’s data.
• Solana-Ethereum interoperability has benefits for Web3 users and developers.

In recent years, the idea that upstart “Ethereum killer” blockchains will be able to replace the world’s most preeminent smart contract platform has faded away, replaced by new accounts of the technology emphasizing coexistence in place of cutthroat competition. 

Now, even the Solana founder Anatoly Yakovenko has denounced the ETH killer narrative as  “lame.” Stating that he doesn’t anticipate a future in which Solana thrives while Ethereum dies, Yakovenko pointed to technology upgrades that could enhance interoperability between the 2 platforms instead.

Advances in Blockchain Technology

In a post on X, Yakovenko suggested that Ethereum upgrades hold the key to bringing the 2 technologies closer. “I am certain that eventually danksharding will have enough bandwidth for all of Solana’s data,” he said.

Through protocol upgrades planned for the years ahead, “danksharding” refers to an emerging Ethereum technology designed to scale its capacity that could accelerate Web3 innovation in the months and years ahead.

If, as Yakovenko believes, Ethereum can one day house all of Solana’s data, what would be the point in doing so?

From DeFi to NFTs and beyond, the notion that Ethereum is here to stay has been vital for its success. Other blockchains may be more efficient, but none can compete with Ethereum’s network effect and expected staying power. Embracing Ethereum interoperability could therefore help Solana and others like it endure too.

Benefits Of Interoperability

With Solana’s founder even abandoning the Ethereum killer myth, Solana-Ethereum interoperability holds enormous promise for Web3 builders and developers.

Already, new platforms like NeonEVM are realizing the kind of  “overlapping features” described by Yakovenko. Launched this year to bring Solana’s superior processing power to Ethereum smart contracts, for decentralized app (dApp) developers, NeonEVM promises the best of both worlds.

To bridge assets between the two blockchains, NeonEVM utilizes the decentralized interoperability layer deBridge. As CEO Alex Smirnov explained to CCN, for users, blockchain interoperability means they can browse Web3  “without the need to think about the underlying infrastructure.”