What is EigenCloud (EIGEN)?

Deep Dive

1. Purpose & Value Proposition

EigenCloud aims to solve the gap between traditional cloud services (e.g., AWS) and blockchain limitations by providing a “verifiable cloud.” It allows developers to build applications requiring offchain computation—like AI agents or prediction markets—while ensuring results are cryptoeconomically secured via Ethereum and EIGEN stakers. For example, AI models can run offchain but have their outputs verified onchain (EigenLayer).

2. Technology Stack

Built atop EigenLayer’s restaking protocol, EigenCloud integrates three core components:
- EigenDA: Decentralized data availability layer (live at 100MB/s).
- EigenVerify: Dispute resolution system for challenging invalid computations.
- EigenCompute: Offchain execution engine supporting Docker/Kubernetes and languages like Python or Rust.
This stack lets developers deploy apps with hybrid onchain-offchain logic, such as verifiable AI inference or dynamic incentive models tied to real-world data.

3. Tokenomics & Governance

The EIGEN token secures the network through:
- Staking: Operators stake EIGEN to participate in validating tasks.
- Slashing: Misbehavior (e.g., faulty computations) leads to token penalties.
- Redistribution: Fees from EigenCloud services fund staker rewards and token buybacks. A recent proposal (ELIP-12) aims to tie emissions to ecosystem growth, charging AVSs (Actively Validated Services) a 20% fee on rewards to boost EIGEN’s value accrual.

Conclusion

EigenCloud reimagines decentralized infrastructure by merging Ethereum’s security with scalable offchain computation, targeting use cases like AI and enterprise compliance. Its success hinges on attracting developers to build atop its hybrid model. Can EigenCloud become the default verifiability layer for Web3’s next generation of apps?