Rollups-as-a-service, or RaaS for short, are blockchain platforms that support builders in building and launching their dedicated rollups.
Rollups-as-a-service, or RaaS for short, are blockchain platforms that support builders in building and launching their dedicated rollups.
RaaS providers abstract away the complexity of building blockchains, turning a process that would take multiple engineers dozens of hours into a one-click, no-code deployment process.
Building rollups on your own using rollup stacks is an intensive engineering process because builders need to understand how their chosen rollup stack works, what other layers in their modular tech stack are compatible with their stack, and finally, how to connect them all.
Building a rollup also requires advanced expertise in cloud infrastructure, which is often too expensive or too technically complex for web3 teams to gather, and it distracts from their primary goal. RaaS providers make this process as easy as choosing snacks from a vending machine — pick your preferred rollup stack, choose a data availability layer, and select a native gas token for your rollup. No engineering team required.
RaaS providers can even help you narrow your selection when customizing your rollup so that the modular tech stack best suits your project’s needs. They’ll hold your hand and guide you through the process.
Demand for blockspace on Layer 1 (L1) can grow rapidly if an app or NFT collection takes off in popularity. When many projects share L1 blockspace, it can become a huge problem if a few projects are hogging it all. Gas fees can skyrocket for everyone when usage goes up on the L1.
This isn’t scalable or sustainable, which is why Ethereum transitioned to a rollup-centric roadmap. We’ve started seeing Layer-2 (L2) blockchains like Arbitrum and Optimism move much of that transaction volume onto rollups. With a RaaS provider, projects can quickly spin up their own dedicated L2 rollup that functions as a separate blockchain. It’s like moving from a shared hosting plan to a dedicated server.
There are many other advantages to deploying a rollup using a RaaS, including:
Faster Block Times: Rollups can process transactions in as little as milliseconds, instead of 10 seconds on Ethereum L1.
Lower Fees: Gas fees can be $0.001 or lower on a RaaS-deployed rollup.
Full Customization: Choose the execution layer, data availability layer, sequencing, native gas fee token, and integrations that fit your project’s needs.
Security: Deploying rollups with a RaaS can give you greater security guarantees than building a standalone blockchain because transactions settle to Ethereum, the substrate of choice for most web3 builders.
Any project needing a custom blockchain and not wanting to compete for limited resources can benefit from a RaaS. Whether you’re a new DeFi protocol, an established NFT community building an appchain (an application-specific blockchain), or a web2 business looking for a seamless way to bring your industry onchain, RaaS providers have brought the world into the vending machine era of blockchains. Now, it’s as easy to deploy one as tapping a button.
About Caldera
Caldera is one of the fastest-growing rollup ecosystems on Ethereum, empowering web3 teams to launch high-performance, customizable, application-specific rollups. With over 50 modular rollups in its network, Caldera powers an ecosystem of unified rollups that share collective network effects and enjoy greater efficiency, scalability, and security. Leading Caldera chains like Manta, Apechain, Kinto, Injective, RARI Chain and Zero Network by Zerion benefit from its dedicated support for builders and robust coordination mechanisms. Caldera’s Metalayer is the connective tissue between rollups on the Optimism, Arbitrum, Polygon, and ZK stacks. As an omnichain, all-purpose abstraction layer for rollups utilizing different frameworks, the Metalayer enables unparalleled connectivity while streamlining the developer experience, making it possible for Ethereum to be truly web-scale. Caldera has raised $25 million from leading investors, including Founders Fund, Dragonfly, Sequoia Capital, and Lattice.
Join the thousands already learning crypto!