What is Solayer (LAYER)?

Deep Dive

1. Purpose: A Hardware-Accelerated Execution Layer

Solayer's core mission is to solve blockchain scalability by moving beyond software limits. Its InfiniSVM architecture uses Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) – specialized programmable hardware – to offload intensive tasks like state reads and signature verification (Binance News). This approach, combined with high-speed networking like InfiniBand, aims for sustained throughput above 330,000 TPS, with a roadmap to 1 million+ TPS and sub-400 millisecond finality. The goal is to create an "execution layer" where Web3 applications can match Web2 speeds.

2. Evolution: From Solana Restaking to Standalone Chain

Solayer originated in 2024 as the first restaking protocol on Solana. Users could stake SOL or Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) to secure modular infrastructure and Actively Validated Services (AVS), earning multiple layers of yield. This established a user base and shared security model. The project then pivoted to build InfiniSVM, a standalone, SVM-compatible Layer 1 that maintains this ethos while offering radically higher performance for demanding use cases like real-time finance and AI.

3. The LAYER Token: Ecosystem Alignment

LAYER is the native token of the Solayer ecosystem with a maximum supply of 1 billion (Solayer Foundation). Its primary current utility is governance, allowing holders to vote on protocol upgrades and treasury initiatives. Future utilities, subject to design, are planned to include using LAYER for gas fees on the network and for staking in a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism to secure the chain and earn rewards.

Conclusion

Solayer is fundamentally an infrastructure project building an ultra-fast, hardware-optimized blockchain to enable real-time applications, evolving from its roots in Solana restaking. How will developers leverage its sub-second finality to build new classes of on-chain products?