EM, creators.

In today’s episode, we dive into the exciting potential of combining the best of Solana with Base, and how a hybrid ecosystem can bring scalability, creativity, and user accessibility together like never before.

Our early morning crew was joined by Joanna Zeng, Co-founder and CEO of SOON. We explore how crosschain innovation can unlock new opportunities for both developers and users. From fostering experimentation to simplifying onboarding, this is an ecosystem designed for growth and collaboration.

Let’s break down the barriers between chains, and imagine a future where every creator has the tools they need to thrive. Let’s get started.

When comparing Solana and Ethereum, the user experience (UX) is a key point of differentiation. Solana has become the go-to for user-friendly blockchain experiences, focusing on speed, low fees, and a seamless interface, making it more accessible to newcomers. Joanna compared Solana's culture to Brooklyn, saying, “Solana is more creative, experimental, and accessible like the more laid-back Brooklyn vibe, while Ethereum offers more structured, security-minded experiences, much like the business-driven, high-stakes energy of Manhattan."

Gramajo emphasized the simplicity of Solana: “Solana’s UX is top-notch—transactions are fast, and you don’t have to jump through hoops to make things work. It’s easy and accessible for new users.”

Diana (Treegirl) noted: “Ethereum’s complexities give you more control, but it’s not as easy as Solana. The trade-off is worth it for those who want more security.”

Base, a Layer 2 solution on Ethereum, addresses many of these issues by offering lower fees and better scalability while maintaining Ethereum’s security.

However, even with Base solving many of Ethereum’s scaling challenges, it still lacks some of the experimentation and innovation happening in Solana’s ecosystem. To truly bridge the cultural divide, we need to integrate Solana's creative, risk-taking projects—like DePIN and meme coins—into the Ethereum space. SVM and SOON can play a key role in making this possible, by enabling the Solana Virtual Machine on Ethereum and Base, creating a hybrid environment where Solana-driven innovation thrives alongside Ethereum’s secure foundation.

The potential of a hybrid ecosystem combining Solana's speed and low fees with Ethereum's security and decentralization offers a new era for blockchain.

Joanna emphasized the opportunity: “We can bring high-performance use cases to Base, leveraging Solana’s innovation while maintaining Ethereum’s trusted security.”

The real power lies in fostering innovation across both ecosystems. Gramajo highlighted Solana’s experimental projects that push blockchain boundaries: “Solana is home to creative projects—like CUDIS and Moonwalk—that are driving blockchain forward.” By bringing these innovations to Base, we can create a space for unprecedented experimentation.

With the SOON Stack and the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM), developers can develop once and deploy across chains, and experiment freely. This multichain interoperability with Solana x Base enables the best of both worlds, giving developers the tools to experiment while reaching wider audiences.

Diana noted, “We don’t have to sacrifice security for speed. This hybrid ecosystem allows us to tap into Solana’s innovation without losing Ethereum’s security.”

This hybrid model combines scalability, creativity, and security, unlocking a dynamic space for developers and users to thrive in Web3.

The hybrid ecosystem not only offers the best of Solana and Base but also creates a smoother path for onboarding new users into Web3.

Joanna emphasized the importance of interoperability between different blockchain environments, “The future is about enabling users to thrive no matter which chain they start on. We need to make Web3 as intuitive as possible, so users—from creators to developers—can explore without friction or fear of failure.”

This new ecosystem allows developers to build once, deploy across both chains, and experiment in ways that will attract new users. Humpty added: “The beauty of this hybrid model is that we’re removing the silos between ecosystems. New users can easily transition between Solana and Ethereum, without needing to learn multiple systems.”

Diana pointed out that this crosschain compatibility simplifies the user experience: “By tapping into both ecosystems, we’re giving users the flexibility to explore Web3 without feeling overwhelmed or locked into a single chain. This is how we onboard a wider audience.”

The importance of a multichain future is clear, where different blockchain virtual machines (VMs) create a more intuitive experience for both developers and users, provide users with rich, differentiated experiences, and make it easier for newcomers to join Web3 without the steep learning curve.