SOON has officially launched its public testnet, marking a pivotal step in the evolution of scalable blockchain infrastructure. Developers can now build high-speed smart contracts on Solana’s powerful execution environment and seamlessly connect them to other Layer 1 networks like Ethereum. This breakthrough ushers in a new era of interoperability, performance, and cost efficiency across major blockchain ecosystems.
👉 Discover how next-gen Rollup technology is reshaping blockchain scalability.
What Is SOON (Solana Optimistic Network)?
SOON, short for Solana Optimistic Network, is a Layer 2 blockchain built on the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM). Leveraging optimistic Rollup technology, SOON enhances Solana’s already impressive speed and low transaction costs, delivering a highly scalable solution for decentralized applications.
Unlike traditional Layer 2 solutions confined to a single ecosystem, SOON functions as a cross-chain execution layer. While transactions are processed using SVM’s high-performance architecture, final settlement occurs on Ethereum. This hybrid approach allows Ethereum developers to harness the raw computational power of SVM while benefiting from Ethereum’s robust security and vast liquidity.
The long-term vision for SOON extends beyond Ethereum. The project aims to integrate with all major Layer 1 blockchains, enabling universal access to SVM across networks. By doing so, SOON seeks to eliminate ecosystem silos and create a truly interconnected blockchain landscape.
“We aim to make SOON the most efficient Rollup ever built—reducing costs and boosting performance by 100x compared to the best EVM chains—while welcoming developers from all ecosystems.”
— Joanna Zeng, CEO of SOON
At its core, SOON is more than a technical upgrade—it’s a foundational framework designed to unify fragmented blockchain communities and combine the strengths of different networks into one cohesive experience.
Exploring the SOON Devnet
The recently launched SOON Devnet provides developers with an early-access testing environment to experiment with the network’s capabilities. Although the full SOON stack is still under development, the Devnet offers a functional platform for innovation and exploration.
Developers can use this testnet to:
- Test cross-chain asset transfers: Move digital assets from external blockchains into the SOON environment for experimentation.
- Deploy and test smart contracts: Build and run dApps in a scalable SVM-powered setting.
- Monitor on-chain activity: Use the SOON block explorer to analyze transactions, track network behavior, and debug applications.
Currently, Backpack Wallet is the only wallet supporting SOON Devnet access. Interested developers can begin testing through the official portal.
This early-stage infrastructure empowers builders to get hands-on experience with SVM-based development before mainnet release, accelerating ecosystem growth.
How Does SOON Work?
SOON combines cutting-edge technologies to deliver a scalable, secure, and interoperable blockchain solution. At its foundation are three key components that enable seamless cross-chain functionality and high-throughput processing.
Decoupled Virtual Machine Architecture
The heart of SOON is the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), operating as a decoupled execution environment. This means that while smart contract logic runs on SVM for maximum speed and efficiency, transaction finality is anchored on external Layer 1 chains like Ethereum.
This architectural separation allows SOON to leverage Solana’s parallel processing engine—capable of handling thousands of transactions per second—while inheriting Ethereum’s battle-tested security model. The result is a best-of-both-worlds scenario: blazing-fast execution with strong data availability and trust guarantees.
Moreover, the decoupled design enhances cross-chain compatibility. A single SVM instance can serve multiple L1s, reducing redundancy and increasing overall network efficiency.
Optimistic Rollup Mechanism
SOON employs optimistic Rollup as its primary scaling mechanism. In this model, transactions are processed off-chain and assumed valid by default. Only compressed batched data is submitted to the base layer (e.g., Ethereum), significantly reducing congestion and gas fees.
If any participant detects fraudulent activity, a challenge period is triggered during which proofs are verified on-chain. This fraud-proof system ensures security without sacrificing scalability.
This approach enables SOON to maintain high throughput while keeping operational costs minimal—ideal for DeFi platforms, NFT marketplaces, and other transaction-heavy applications.
For deeper insights into rollup mechanics, refer to SOON’s official technical documentation.
👉 Learn how Rollups are revolutionizing blockchain efficiency and accessibility.
Key Use Cases for SOON
Though still in its early stages, SOON demonstrates strong potential across several high-demand sectors in the crypto ecosystem.
Scalable DeFi Applications
Decentralized finance remains one of the most active yet bottlenecked areas in blockchain. High gas fees and slow confirmation times on Ethereum often deter users and limit composability. With SOON, DeFi protocols can process trades, swaps, and lending operations at near-instant speeds and fractions of current costs.
Imagine executing complex yield strategies or flash loans with sub-second latency and negligible fees—all while maintaining compatibility with Ethereum’s vast user base and liquidity pools.
Seamless Cross-Chain Asset Management
Transferring assets between chains—especially NFTs or tokens—can be expensive and technically cumbersome. SOON simplifies this by enabling frictionless movement of value between Solana, Ethereum, and future supported networks.
Users gain access to Solana’s low-cost environment without leaving the security and liquidity of Ethereum. Applications built on SOON can offer unified experiences where users interact across chains without manual bridging or excessive fees.
Developer-Friendly Ecosystem Expansion
By supporting SVM-based development with Ethereum-level finality, SOON lowers the barrier for developers familiar with either ecosystem. Teams can build once and deploy across multiple chains, maximizing reach while minimizing technical overhead.
This flexibility encourages broader adoption and fosters innovation in areas like gaming, social tokens, and decentralized identity systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What makes SOON different from other Solana Layer 2 solutions?
A: SOON uniquely combines SVM’s high-performance execution with optimistic Rollup technology and cross-chain settlement. Unlike most L2s focused on a single chain, SOON enables developers to build on Solana’s speed while settling on Ethereum or other L1s.
Q: Can non-Solana developers use SOON?
A: Yes. While SOON leverages SVM, it’s designed to be accessible to Ethereum and broader Web3 developers. The goal is to provide a unified development experience across ecosystems.
Q: Is SOON secure?
A: Security is ensured through optimistic Rollup fraud proofs and final settlement on trusted L1s like Ethereum. The challenge mechanism protects against invalid state transitions.
Q: How does SOON handle transaction finality?
A: Transactions are finalized off-chain via SVM but achieve ultimate settlement on Ethereum, combining fast processing with strong cryptographic guarantees.
Q: When will the mainnet launch?
A: The public testnet is now live. Mainnet timelines will be announced based on testing progress and community feedback.
Q: Which wallets support SOON?
A: Currently, Backpack Wallet is the only supported wallet for interacting with the SOON Devnet.
The Future of Interoperable Blockchain Infrastructure
SOON represents a bold step toward a more connected and efficient blockchain future. By decoupling execution from settlement and leveraging SVM's power across multiple chains, it addresses critical pain points in scalability, cost, and fragmentation.
As adoption grows, SOON could become a cornerstone for cross-chain dApps—enabling seamless experiences where users and developers move freely between ecosystems without compromise.
👉 See how the future of scalable blockchain execution is being built today.
Core keywords: SOON, Solana Layer 2, optimistic Rollup, SVM, cross-chain, blockchain scalability, DeFi scalability, SOON Devnet