Solaxy is a crypto project that builds a Solana Layer-2 network with a bridge to Ethereum. According to updates from the anonymous development team, the Solaxy platform will also include a block explorer, a decentralized exchange (DEX), a token launchpad (Igniter), and wallet integration. The concept behind Solaxy is to execute transactions off the Solana mainnet, group them into batches, and finalize results on-chain to maintain security while lowering fees and improving network capacity.
But how is Solaxy planning to build this Layer-2? What technologies or ready-made frameworks are they using, and who are their partners for key components? With their crypto presale ending in five days and the SOLX launch scheduled for later this month, after raising nearly $50 million to date, we reviewed their technology stack. We examined developer updates, announcements, press releases, and other sources to see how Solaxy plans to implement its rollup, data availability layer, and cross-chain bridge. Let’s start.
SP1 zkVM: Running Solana Programs in a Zero-Knowledge Virtual Machine
SP1 zkVM is an open-source zero-knowledge virtual machine developed by Succinct Labs. It’s designed to execute arbitrary programs and generate succinct cryptographic proofs that the program ran correctly, without needing to reveal all inputs or re-execute the logic. This makes it ideal for Layer-2 networks that want to prove the correctness of off-chain transaction batches.
Solaxy uses SP1 zkVM to run the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) inside this zero-knowledge environment. This means that programs written for Solana can be executed off-chain in Solaxy’s rollup and wrapped with ZK validity proofs. Solaxy integrated the Solana VM into their rollup setup using SP1 zkVM and connected it with the Sovereign rollup framework. The team is testing proof generation and state transitions in collaboration with Sovereign Labs, laying the groundwork for a future zk-rollup architecture.
Sovereign SDK: Managing Rollup Sequencing and User Confirmations
The Sovereign SDK is an open-source toolkit by Sovereign Labs for building modular rollups. Solaxy adopted this SDK as a ready-made solution to manage how transactions are ordered and batched on its layer-2 blockchain. It takes many Solaxy transactions, groups them into a single batch, and settles that batch on the Solana mainnet. Using this SDK lets Solaxy focus on integration instead of writing core sequencing logic from scratch.
Solaxy’s engineers integrated the Sovereign SDK sequencer and added a custom module for soft confirmations that notify users their transaction is accepted on Layer-2 almost immediately. This required adapting the SDK’s API to Solana transaction formats and building a validator that cross-checks rollup state against the Solana consensus. By combining Sovereign SDK with Solaxy’s own code, the network delivers quick feedback without sacrificing security. Solaxy’s team has also developed a robust state transition function in-house, successfully implementing and testing it in their development rollup and benchmarking its performance to ensure it aligns with consensus rules.
Celestia: Modular Blockchain Network for Data Availability
Celestia is a modular blockchain network explicitly designed for data availability and consensus. Solaxy uses Celestia to store raw rollup transaction data off-chain so that the Solana mainnet does not get overloaded. In practice, each Solaxy batch of transaction data is posted to Celestia, and only a small state root or proof is recorded on Solana. This off-the-shelf solution lets Solaxy scale without building its own data layer.
Under the hood, Solaxy’s rollup software calls Celestia’s API to post block data using erasure coding and sampling. This makes the data verifiable by light clients, allowing any observer to download it and recreate the rollup state for fraud-proofing purposes. Solaxy’s node code integrates Celestia’s client libraries, adapting them into the rollup environment so that data availability and security checks happen automatically.
Hyperlane: Powering Cross-Chain Messaging Between Solana and Ethereum
Hyperlane is a cross-chain communication protocol that Solaxy selected to power its Ethereum bridge. It provides ready-made message passing and secure asset transfer tools between Solana, Ethereum, and other chains. By building on Hyperlane, Solaxy avoids writing a proprietary bridge and leverages Hyperlane’s validator network for security and reliability.
In Solaxy’s setup, Hyperlane’s on-chain “mailbox” contracts on Solana and Ethereum handle messages signed by Hyperlane validators. Solaxy deployed these contracts and configured relayer nodes run by Hyperlane partners. When a user sends SOLX tokens from Ethereum, Hyperlane validators observe the event, relay a proof, and trigger minting on the Solaxy Layer-2. Solaxy’s engineers wrote the integration scripts and web interfaces, reusing Hyperlane’s open-source client libraries for a smooth bridge experience.
Technology Blend: Solaxy’s In-House Engineering and Open-Source Components
Solaxy is using a mix of in-house engineering and open-source frameworks to build its Layer-2 network. Key execution and bridge components are based on well-known projects like Solana VM, Sovereign SDK, Celestia, and Hyperlane, with Solaxy’s team integrating and customizing these tools rather than building everything from scratch. Proprietary development is focused on tying these parts together, optimizing performance, and adding features like soft confirmations and the Igniter protocol for token launches.
This approach allows Solaxy to deliver advanced Layer-2 functionality with minimal proprietary code, leaning heavily on established solutions for sequencing, data availability, and cross-chain messaging. While this modular setup accelerates development and lowers technical risk, it also raises questions about the actual cost of building the platform and how nearly $50 million in presale funding has been allocated, given the extensive use of open-source components.
