EigenLayer, the leader in Ethereum re-staking protocols, officially launched its revolutionary new platform—EigenCloud—today. In a show of confidence in the project's long-term value, a16z crypto has strategically increased its investment in EigenLayer by purchasing $70 million worth of EIGEN tokens.

This is not just a product launch or a round of funding; it marks EigenLayer's transition from a foundational security-sharing protocol to a platform-level ecosystem that empowers countless applications.

Why Do We Need EigenCloud?

Our current digital lives are somewhat "split."

On one hand, we have blockchain-based Web3, whose superpower is "trust." For example, DeFi on Ethereum allows borrowing and lending entirely through code, with no fear of the platform owner absconding with funds. How cool is that! However, its limitations are also evident: it is cumbersome and has limited functionality. Even performing a complex mathematical calculation consumes a significant amount of Gas, not to mention running AI models or playing large-scale games. Specific limitations include:

• Limited software: The Web2 world has thousands of open-source software libraries, but most are unusable on blockchains, requiring developers to start from scratch.

• Weak hardware: Want to use a GPU for AI? No way. All computers on the blockchain must avoid top-tier configurations, otherwise, they risk being seen as "encouraging centralization."

• Narrow perspective: Blockchains are "closed" systems. Want to know today's weather? A typical Web2 application can simply send an HTTP request. However, dApps on the blockchain cannot send HTTP requests; external information must be provided by an "oracle" intermediary, which offers far less information (most oracles only provide high-value financial market data).

On the other hand, we have cloud computing (Web2), such as the well-known Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud. Its superpower is "omnipotence." It can handle any functionality you need, from AI and big data to social media. But its Achilles' heel is equally fatal: you must unconditionally trust the "centralized" large company.

EigenCloud aims to address this "split." Its brilliant idea is to move complex tasks (application logic) from the cumbersome blockchain to the powerful cloud (off-chain), and then use the "trust" magic of the blockchain to stamp these off-chain tasks as "verified and trustworthy." In this way, we achieve the best of both worlds!

🛠 The Three Core Components of EigenCloud

For example, let's say we want to develop a decentralized food delivery platform called TrustEat.

First, this "food delivery platform" involves complex path-planning algorithms and external data calls (such as weather APIs), which are beyond the capabilities of on-chain dApps and must be completed off-chain.

In fact, this "food delivery platform" also involves how to split revenue between the platform, restaurants, and delivery riders, as well as how to resolve disputes. These aspects that require "decentralized trust" need to be implemented on-chain to leverage the blockchain's transparency and openness.

Therefore, this "decentralized food delivery platform" is a typical project that requires integration of on-chain and off-chain components. As a "verifiable cloud," EigenCloud provides the following three "core components" to simplify the development process of such projects.

EigenDA (The Archive Room) 📜

• What it does: A high-capacity, low-cost "public data wall." All inputs, outputs, and processes of off-chain computations must be recorded on this wall, making them publicly accessible and transparent.

• Example for the food delivery platform: Every detail of your order, from the time you placed it and the price of the dishes, to the delivery rider's GPS route, delivery time, and your review, is all written on the EigenDA "wall." No chance of cheating—everything is verifiable!

EigenVerify (Universal Court)

• What it does: This is the key to "verifiability"—a readily available "universal arbitration court." When someone disputes the results of off-chain computations, this court is called in to adjudicate.

• Example for the food delivery platform:

  • Objective dispute: You paid $25, but the bill shows you only paid $20. EigenVerify will recheck the calculations like an accountant, identifying any errors.

  • Subjective dispute: You gave a bad review saying, "The food arrived cold." The restaurant claims it's a malicious review. In this case, EigenVerify's validators form a "jury." They will check the evidence on EigenDA's "public data wall": Did the delivery rider take a detour? Was the delivery time too long? They can even bring in third-party data (e.g., whether it was raining heavily at the time). Finally, they vote on whether the bad review is justified. This is the most impressive aspect of EigenVerify—verifying subjective issues!

EigenCompute (One-Click Deployment Platform & Lego Workshop) 🚀

• What it does:

  • First, EigenCompute packages all the underlying complexities (such as how to write data to EigenDA and how to call EigenVerify). You simply need to package your code into a "Docker container," upload it, and EigenCompute will automatically handle all the dirty work of staking, recording, and verification. EigenCompute allows developers to build decentralized applications as easily and smoothly as developing typical Web2 applications, without needing in-depth blockchain knowledge.

  • Second, the core advantage of EigenCompute is that it enables developers to easily combine and use various AVS (Application Verification Services) developed by others, without "reinventing the wheel." These AVS are like pre-built, functionally diverse "smart Lego bricks." EigenCompute, through standardized interfaces and unified payment models, makes combining these AVS as simple as building with Legos. This greatly increases development efficiency and lowers the barrier to entry.

  • Finally, developers only need to build and deploy their application logic once. The results computed off-chain by EigenCompute can be used by any smart contract on L1 or L2 chains, achieving a "build once, deploy everywhere" effect.

• Example for the food delivery platform:

  • In the past, you might have had to write a complex AI pricing algorithm from scratch or build a rider credibility scoring system yourself. But with EigenCompute, need AI pricing? Just call a pre-existing, verified "AI pricing AVS." Need to handle user data? Connect a reliable "data processing AVS." Need to integrate payments from other blockchains? Integrate a secure "cross-chain bridge AVS."

  • Developers can package their code (including both their own code and code that calls other AVS) into a Docker container and "one-click deploy" it to EigenCompute. In this way, a decentralized food delivery platform is up and running!

When you actually pick up your phone and place an order on "TrustEat," what exactly happens behind the scenes?

Step 1: On-chain Trigger

You select your dishes and click "Place Order and Pay." At this point, you initiate a request within the TrustEat smart contract on the blockchain. This request does not immediately perform complex fee calculations on-chain, as that would be too slow and expensive. Instead, the smart contract sends out a "flare" to trigger the off-chain EigenCloud to start working, calculating the total cost of the order and how the revenue should be split.

Step 2: Off-chain Computation and Verification

The off-chain EigenCompute immediately receives the task. It begins running the complex pricing program, potentially calling other AVS to obtain real-time weather and traffic conditions to calculate a fair delivery fee. The crucial step is that all inputs (your order, restaurant location, weather data, etc.) and the final output (total cost XX dollars, with A dollars going to the restaurant, B dollars to the rider, and C dollars to the platform) are packaged and published to the EigenDA "public archive room" for public display. Meanwhile, EigenVerify is constantly monitoring everything. By default, it assumes the computation result is correct. However, if anyone (you, the restaurant, or the rider) disputes the result, EigenVerify will immediately intervene, using the public data on EigenDA to review or arbitrate, ensuring the result is absolutely fair.

Step 3: On-chain Settlement

Once the computation result is verified (or after a brief public display period with no objections), a result with a "verified" gold label is securely passed back to the TrustEat smart contract on-chain. Upon receiving the result, the smart contract confidently executes the final step: deducting the total cost from your authorized wallet and distributing the funds proportionally to the restaurant, rider, and platform, completing the settlement.

💰 EIGEN and bEIGEN: The Two "Currencies" Driving the System

To make such a vast system operate, fuel is definitely needed, and that fuel is the EIGEN token. However, it is very unique, adopting a "dual-token" model.

EIGEN: This is the ordinary "cash." You can freely buy and sell it on exchanges or use it for DeFi investments. Holders of EIGEN do not need to concern themselves with the complex staking, disputes, or forks within EigenCloud. They can enjoy a peaceful existence, unrelated to the inner workings.

bEIGEN: You can think of this as a "work permit." When you want to participate in the construction of EigenCloud, such as serving as a "juror" to earn arbitration fees, you need to stake your EIGEN "cash" in exchange for this bEIGEN "work permit." Holding a work permit means you commit to working honestly. If you vote recklessly or engage in malicious behavior, your "work permit" (along with the staked cash) will be slashed.

This design is very clever; it separates speculators from builders, making the entire system more stable.

What if the majority of "work permit" holders collude to do something wrong? For example, if more than half of the "jurors" take bribes and deliberately make incorrect judgments, this is when the ultimate weapon comes into play—forkability.

Any honest minority who firmly believes the majority is wrong can pay a huge price (such as burning a portion of their tokens) to initiate a "fork." At this point, the EIGEN token will split into two versions: one following the villains with the old version, and one representing justice with the new version.

Then, the entire community, including exchanges, users, and project teams, must take sides and vote with their "money" (EIGEN tokens). If everyone supports the new version representing justice, the old version tokens held by the malicious majority will instantly become worthless, and their entire fortune will vanish into thin air.

EigenLayer, the leader in Ethereum re-staking protocols, officially launched its revolutionary new platform—EigenCloud—today. In a show of confidence in the project's long-term value, a16z crypto has strategically increased its investment in EigenLayer by purchasing $70 million worth of EIGEN tokens.

This is not just a product launch or a round of funding; it marks EigenLayer's transition from a foundational security-sharing protocol to a platform-level ecosystem that empowers countless applications.

Why Do We Need EigenCloud?

Our current digital lives are somewhat "split."

On one hand, we have blockchain-based Web3, whose superpower is "trust." For example, DeFi on Ethereum allows borrowing and lending entirely through code, with no fear of the platform owner absconding with funds. How cool is that! However, its limitations are also evident: it is cumbersome and has limited functionality. Even performing a complex mathematical calculation consumes a significant amount of Gas, not to mention running AI models or playing large-scale games. Specific limitations include:

• Limited software: The Web2 world has thousands of open-source software libraries, but most are unusable on blockchains, requiring developers to start from scratch.

• Weak hardware: Want to use a GPU for AI? No way. All computers on the blockchain must avoid top-tier configurations, otherwise, they risk being seen as "encouraging centralization."

• Narrow perspective: Blockchains are "closed" systems. Want to know today's weather? A typical Web2 application can simply send an HTTP request. However, dApps on the blockchain cannot send HTTP requests; external information must be provided by an "oracle" intermediary, which offers far less information (most oracles only provide high-value financial market data).

On the other hand, we have cloud computing (Web2), such as the well-known Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud. Its superpower is "omnipotence." It can handle any functionality you need, from AI and big data to social media. But its Achilles' heel is equally fatal: you must unconditionally trust the "centralized" large company.

EigenCloud aims to address this "split." Its brilliant idea is to move complex tasks (application logic) from the cumbersome blockchain to the powerful cloud (off-chain), and then use the "trust" magic of the blockchain to stamp these off-chain tasks as "verified and trustworthy." In this way, we achieve the best of both worlds!

🛠 The Three Core Components of EigenCloud

For example, let's say we want to develop a decentralized food delivery platform called TrustEat.

First, this "food delivery platform" involves complex path-planning algorithms and external data calls (such as weather APIs), which are beyond the capabilities of on-chain dApps and must be completed off-chain.

In fact, this "food delivery platform" also involves how to split revenue between the platform, restaurants, and delivery riders, as well as how to resolve disputes. These aspects that require "decentralized trust" need to be implemented on-chain to leverage the blockchain's transparency and openness.

Therefore, this "decentralized food delivery platform" is a typical project that requires integration of on-chain and off-chain components. As a "verifiable cloud," EigenCloud provides the following three "core components" to simplify the development process of such projects.

EigenDA (The Archive Room) 📜

• What it does: A high-capacity, low-cost "public data wall." All inputs, outputs, and processes of off-chain computations must be recorded on this wall, making them publicly accessible and transparent.

• Example for the food delivery platform: Every detail of your order, from the time you placed it and the price of the dishes, to the delivery rider's GPS route, delivery time, and your review, is all written on the EigenDA "wall." No chance of cheating—everything is verifiable!

EigenVerify (Universal Court)

• What it does: This is the key to "verifiability"—a readily available "universal arbitration court." When someone disputes the results of off-chain computations, this court is called in to adjudicate.

• Example for the food delivery platform:

  • Objective dispute: You paid $25, but the bill shows you only paid $20. EigenVerify will recheck the calculations like an accountant, identifying any errors.

  • Subjective dispute: You gave a bad review saying, "The food arrived cold." The restaurant claims it's a malicious review. In this case, EigenVerify's validators form a "jury." They will check the evidence on EigenDA's "public data wall": Did the delivery rider take a detour? Was the delivery time too long? They can even bring in third-party data (e.g., whether it was raining heavily at the time). Finally, they vote on whether the bad review is justified. This is the most impressive aspect of EigenVerify—verifying subjective issues!

EigenCompute (One-Click Deployment Platform & Lego Workshop) 🚀

• What it does:

  • First, EigenCompute packages all the underlying complexities (such as how to write data to EigenDA and how to call EigenVerify). You simply need to package your code into a "Docker container," upload it, and EigenCompute will automatically handle all the dirty work of staking, recording, and verification. EigenCompute allows developers to build decentralized applications as easily and smoothly as developing typical Web2 applications, without needing in-depth blockchain knowledge.

  • Second, the core advantage of EigenCompute is that it enables developers to easily combine and use various AVS (Application Verification Services) developed by others, without "reinventing the wheel." These AVS are like pre-built, functionally diverse "smart Lego bricks." EigenCompute, through standardized interfaces and unified payment models, makes combining these AVS as simple as building with Legos. This greatly increases development efficiency and lowers the barrier to entry.

  • Finally, developers only need to build and deploy their application logic once. The results computed off-chain by EigenCompute can be used by any smart contract on L1 or L2 chains, achieving a "build once, deploy everywhere" effect.

• Example for the food delivery platform:

  • In the past, you might have had to write a complex AI pricing algorithm from scratch or build a rider credibility scoring system yourself. But with EigenCompute, need AI pricing? Just call a pre-existing, verified "AI pricing AVS." Need to handle user data? Connect a reliable "data processing AVS." Need to integrate payments from other blockchains? Integrate a secure "cross-chain bridge AVS."

  • Developers can package their code (including both their own code and code that calls other AVS) into a Docker container and "one-click deploy" it to EigenCompute. In this way, a decentralized food delivery platform is up and running!

When you actually pick up your phone and place an order on "TrustEat," what exactly happens behind the scenes?

Step 1: On-chain Trigger

You select your dishes and click "Place Order and Pay." At this point, you initiate a request within the TrustEat smart contract on the blockchain. This request does not immediately perform complex fee calculations on-chain, as that would be too slow and expensive. Instead, the smart contract sends out a "flare" to trigger the off-chain EigenCloud to start working, calculating the total cost of the order and how the revenue should be split.

Step 2: Off-chain Computation and Verification

The off-chain EigenCompute immediately receives the task. It begins running the complex pricing program, potentially calling other AVS to obtain real-time weather and traffic conditions to calculate a fair delivery fee. The crucial step is that all inputs (your order, restaurant location, weather data, etc.) and the final output (total cost XX dollars, with A dollars going to the restaurant, B dollars to the rider, and C dollars to the platform) are packaged and published to the EigenDA "public archive room" for public display. Meanwhile, EigenVerify is constantly monitoring everything. By default, it assumes the computation result is correct. However, if anyone (you, the restaurant, or the rider) disputes the result, EigenVerify will immediately intervene, using the public data on EigenDA to review or arbitrate, ensuring the result is absolutely fair.

Step 3: On-chain Settlement

Once the computation result is verified (or after a brief public display period with no objections), a result with a "verified" gold label is securely passed back to the TrustEat smart contract on-chain. Upon receiving the result, the smart contract confidently executes the final step: deducting the total cost from your authorized wallet and distributing the funds proportionally to the restaurant, rider, and platform, completing the settlement.

💰 EIGEN and bEIGEN: The Two "Currencies" Driving the System

To make such a vast system operate, fuel is definitely needed, and that fuel is the EIGEN token. However, it is very unique, adopting a "dual-token" model.

EIGEN: This is the ordinary "cash." You can freely buy and sell it on exchanges or use it for DeFi investments. Holders of EIGEN do not need to concern themselves with the complex staking, disputes, or forks within EigenCloud. They can enjoy a peaceful existence, unrelated to the inner workings.

bEIGEN: You can think of this as a "work permit." When you want to participate in the construction of EigenCloud, such as serving as a "juror" to earn arbitration fees, you need to stake your EIGEN "cash" in exchange for this bEIGEN "work permit." Holding a work permit means you commit to working honestly. If you vote recklessly or engage in malicious behavior, your "work permit" (along with the staked cash) will be slashed.

This design is very clever; it separates speculators from builders, making the entire system more stable.

What if the majority of "work permit" holders collude to do something wrong? For example, if more than half of the "jurors" take bribes and deliberately make incorrect judgments, this is when the ultimate weapon comes into play—forkability.

Any honest minority who firmly believes the majority is wrong can pay a huge price (such as burning a portion of their tokens) to initiate a "fork." At this point, the EIGEN token will split into two versions: one following the villains with the old version, and one representing justice with the new version.

Then, the entire community, including exchanges, users, and project teams, must take sides and vote with their "money" (EIGEN tokens). If everyone supports the new version representing justice, the old version tokens held by the malicious majority will instantly become worthless, and their entire fortune will vanish into thin air.