Why Caldera matters: app-specific rollups over general-purpose chains
Thread271 words
Argues most apps will not stay sustainable on general-purpose chains and that HyperCore succeeds because it is application-specific. Caldera makes running an L2 appchain a few clicks, giving control of stack, UX, fee revenue and blockspace while inheriting Ethereum security.
Key claims
Building on general-purpose chains will not be sustainable for most apps
L2 appchains are far cheaper to run than a standalone L1 with its own validator set
Quick Caldera Thesis (must read):
One of the main reasons why I think @Calderaxyz rly matters, is that I'm convinced that building on general-purpose blockchains, with few exceptions, will not be a long-term sustainable for most apps.
Why do you think @HyperliquidX (more specifically HyperCore) is such an amazing product?
Exactly because it's NOT a general-purpose chain.
It's an application-specific, decentralized network designed from the ground up for high-performance trading.
Building an appchain mean you can't add some sort of programmable execution environment to the mix (see HyperEVM) along the way too, but it definitely frees builders from all chain-, and VM-specific limitations that have previously constrained the design space.
But wait, Hyperliquid is an L1, isn't it?
Yes anon, it is.
But launching an L1, and building + maintaing a properly decentralized validator set is complex and costly.
As @jimmyyy pointed out recently, L2s fix this being significantly more efficient to run, and inheriting security + consensus from the internet’s greatest settlement layer. Ethereum.
Anyone can build a rollup on Caldera in literally just a few clicks, which is not just fast af, but also allows builders to:
- Fully control their stack and infrastructure.
- Own the end-to-end user experience.
- Capture revenue through transaction fees.
- Operate opinionated, dedicated blockspace.
- Leverage top-tier settlement (e.g., Ethereum) and data-availability layers (e.g., @celestia, @AvailProject, @eigen_da) for consensus, security, verification, and storage.
Caldera is not just another infra project.
Caldera is THE catalyst for the appchain future.
An appchain future where every app has its own state machine one day.
Gmera.
@Calderaxyz @HyperliquidX Linking back to this here too ↓
x.com/zerokn0wledge_/status/1928571279117852885
What came next · since 04 Jun 2025
Since then
Zero has written 2 more pieces on Caldera since this one.