The potential of blockchain has always been vast, but the infrastructure hasn’t always kept up with what developers need to create truly groundbreaking applications. That’s why the latest news from vlayer, a crypto startup creating what’s being dubbed “Solidity 2.0,” is so significant.
vlayer has successfully raised $10 million in pre-seed funding from high-profile investors, including a16z CSX, Credo Ventures, and BlockTower Capital, as well as angel investors like Remco Bloemen from World (formerly Worldcoin), Jakub Florkiewicz from Tools For Humanity, and others from Aztec. This substantial investment validates vlayer’s ambitious goal: empowering smart contracts to handle real-world, verifiable data, unlocking new use cases for blockchain applications everywhere.
Why “Solidity 2.0” Matters
For the past few years, the Ethereum blockchain has been the go-to platform for decentralized applications (dApps). However, there have always been limitations, especially when it comes to integrating real-world data seamlessly. vlayer’s innovation is a suite of new Solidity functions that make it easier for developers to build applications that are not only decentralized but also practical for real-world use.
The platform’s four key features include:
Time Travel: Allows contracts to access historical on-chain data (reading historical balances is possible).Teleport: Enables cross-chain functionality, so contracts can interact across multiple EVM-compatible networks (useful for gathering token balances from multiple networks).Web Proofs (zkTLS): Verifies and integrates web-based data sources, including private APIs.Email Proofs (zkEmail): Allows to use email content on-chain, adding another layer of real-world functionality (like abstraction account wallet recovery) .
Hubert Rachwalski von Rejchwald, vlayer’s co-founder and CEO, shared that vlayer offers a holistic approach to verifiable data sources, covering areas like web, email, and storage proofs, where other projects typically specialize in only one. Rejchwald explained that these functions are designed to be as familiar as possible to Solidity developers, which means that ZK (zero-knowledge) proofs will be more accessible and usable than ever.
The Funding Journey: $10 Million Across Two Rounds
Securing $10 million in pre-seed funding is no small feat, and vlayer achieved it in two tranches. The first $3 million was raised in February in just a week, while the remaining $7 million came together in August within a month. This round was structured through a SAFE (simple agreement for future equity) and a SAFT (simple agreement for future tokens), allowing investors to benefit from both equity and token opportunities when vlayer’s network eventually goes live.
vlayer’s rapid progress attracted not only big-name venture funds but also strategic angel investors with deep blockchain experience, such as Remco Bloemen and Zac Williamson from Aztec. With this backing, vlayer is positioning itself as a pioneering force in making smart contracts and decentralized applications accessible and usable for a broader audience.
Entering Open Alpha and Building Momentum
Now in open alpha, vlayer is inviting developers to start building on its platform, with early adopters across DeFi, real-world assets (RWA), and gaming. This initial developer group highlights the potential impact of vlayer’s technology across various industries and demonstrates how its new Solidity functions can support complex, data-driven applications. Rejchwald has emphasized that vlayer’s platform aims to integrate with many sectors over time, making the dApp ecosystem stronger and more capable of real-world use.
Though the open alpha phase is underway, the roadmap for vlayer includes a testnet, mainnet, and token launch, anticipated no sooner than 2025. This careful planning reflects vlayer’s commitment to providing a stable, reliable platform for decentralized applications.
Why vlayer’s Vision is Essential for Blockchain’s Future
Ethereum and blockchain, in general, have achieved incredible success in the last decade, yet they still face limitations when it comes to handling verifiable, trustless data. vlayer’s approach—combining multi-party computations (MPC) with zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP)—is designed to close this gap. As AI and decentralized applications evolve, the need for secure, verified data will only grow. vlayer’s technology allows smart contracts to use off-chain data confidently, which is critical as applications in finance, identity verification, and beyond require stronger trust guarantees.
Building the Future, One Solidity Function at a Time
vlayer’s mission to make smart contracts “useful for billions” is an ambitious one, and with this latest funding round, it’s well on its way. By empowering developers with Solidity 2.0 and its verifiable data infrastructure, vlayer is laying the groundwork for applications that not only operate securely on-chain but also engage meaningfully with the real world. This could very well be the bridge that connects Web2 and Web3, making decentralized applications accessible and reliable for everyone.
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