Kemal Çelik

Key Takeaways

Caldera is a Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) platform that helps developers launch custom, app-specific rollups with just a few clicks. 

The platform is built around two parts: the Rollup Engine (to create and manage rollups) and the Metalayer (to connect them for cross-chain communication). 

Rollups launched with Caldera are automatically connected and can communicate, share liquidity, and transfer assets with each other easily. 

Introduction

Building on Ethereum can be challenging when the network is busy. As more people use the network, transactions can take longer and cost more. Rollups help by moving activity off the main chain, but many still operate on their own like isolated islands, making it hard to move data or assets between different chains.

Caldera lets you launch your own rollup in minutes, designed specifically for your app and automatically connects it to other chains. That means faster transactions, lower costs, and a smoother experience for users and developers.

What Is Caldera?

Caldera is a Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) platform that lets developers launch rollups that are designed specifically for their app’s needs. Instead of starting from scratch, teams can use Caldera’s tools to quickly spin up fast, flexible rollups tailored for use cases like decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs), or social platforms.

The Rollup Engine

At the heart of Caldera is the Rollup Engine, a powerful deployment system that lets developers launch and manage custom rollups in just a few clicks or Application Programming Interface (API) calls. This is similar to how Amazon Web Services (AWS) makes it easy to run web applications in the cloud, the Rollup Engine takes care of the heavy lifting so developers do not need to stress over the technical details or be blockchain experts to get started.

Metalayer

The Metalayer is the invisible network that links all Caldera rollups together, allowing them to communicate, share liquidity, and pass messages securely. Instead of each rollup being an isolated island, apps can interact with each other across chains, and users can move assets like tokens or NFTs seamlessly between them.

Together, the Rollup Engine and Metalayer let developers build flexible, application-specific chains without giving up the benefits of a shared ecosystem.

How Does Caldera Work?

1. Launch a rollup 

Developers start by choosing their rollup settings using the Rollup Engine:

Execution layer: Choose from popular rollup frameworks such as Arbitrum Nitro and Optimism Bedrock for optimistic rollups or go with zero-knowledge (ZK) solutions like zkSync’s ZK Stack or Polygon CDK.

Data availability: Choose between options like Ethereum, Celestia, or Avail to store transaction data.

Customization: Adjust performance settings, roll out software upgrades, and scale computing resources on demand

2. Connect instantly with the Metalayer

Once deployed, your rollup is automatically plugged into the Metalayer, which enables:

Intent-based bridging: If you want to move stablecoins like USDC from one rollup to another, the system automatically finds the fastest and cheapest way to do it. This is powered by bridging partners like Across (a cross-chain bridge), Eco (a protocol for efficient transaction routing), and Hyperlane.

Fast settlement: With Hyperlane handling the messaging layer, transfers and cross-chain communication are completed in seconds.

Developer Tools:  Caldera provides APIs, SDKs, and ready-to-use UI components for developers to build cross-chain apps without writing custom bridging logic.

3. Scale on demand

Caldera’s modular architecture lets developers:

Launch new rollups: A DeFi app could spin up a separate rollup just for high-volume traders, while a gaming platform might launch dedicated rollups for different game worlds or regions.

Upgrade without downtime: Developers can roll out protocol upgrades like adding new features or integrating with different data availability layers without disrupting the user experience.

Scaling compute resources: If demand increases, like during an NFT drop or a major in-game event, teams can increase computing power to maintain performance.

Ecosystem Overview 

Caldera is powering an expanding network of over 50 active rollups across a wide range of use cases, including DeFi, gaming, social apps, and infrastructure protocols. 

Some of the notable chains built on Caldera include:

Manta Pacific: A modular Layer 2 focused on ZK applications.

ApeChain: Designed for the ApeCoin ecosystem, enabling fast and cheap transactions for NFTs and gaming.

Injective’s inEVM: A rollup that brings EVM compatibility to the Injective ecosystem.

ERA Token

The ERA token is the native utility token of the Caldera ecosystem. The token is used for a variety of purposes, including:

Gas fees: ERA is used to pay for transaction fees across the Metalayer, supporting interactions between rollups.

Staking & Network Security: Validators stake ERA to help secure the network, verify cross-rollup messages, and support future subnets like those involved in generating ZK proofs.

Governance: ERA holders can propose and vote on protocol changes, grant funding, and elect members to roles such as the security council. While initial governance is bootstrapped by the Caldera Foundation, long-term decision-making will move to on-chain community voting.

Caldera (ERA) on Binance HODLer Airdrops

On July 16, 2025, Binance announced ERA as the 27th project on the Binance HODLer Airdrops. Users who subscribed their BNB to Simple Earn and/or On-Chain Yields products from July 1 to 5 were eligible to receive ERA airdrops. A total of 20 million ERA tokens were allocated to the program, accounting for 2% of the total token supply.

ERA was listed with the Seed Tag applied, allowing for trading against the USDT, USDC, BNB, FDUSD, and TRY pairs.

Closing Thoughts

Caldera offers a modular way to build and scale blockchain apps by letting teams launch custom rollups with built-in connectivity across chains. With the Rollup Engine handling deployment and the Metalayer supporting cross-chain communication, Caldera aims to make building on-chain apps faster, smoother, and more flexible.

Further Reading

What Is Cross-Chain Interoperability?

Quantum Computers and Cryptocurrencies

What Are Bitcoin Layer 2 Networks?

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