What Is the Project?
Caldera (ERA) is a leading Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) platform that empowers developers to deploy and manage custom Layer-2 (L2) and Layer-3 (L3) blockchains, primarily settling on Ethereum. With a vision to create an "Internet of Chains," Caldera provides modular infrastructure that unifies rollups into a cohesive network, enhancing scalability and cross-chain interoperability. The native ERA token drives the ecosystem, enabling gas payments, staking, and decentralized governance.
Key Highlights
Modular Rollup Ecosystem: Caldera supports the deployment of custom rollups using frameworks like Arbitrum Nitro, Optimism Bedrock, zkSync ZK Stack, and Polygon CDK, offering unmatched flexibility and scalability.
Metalayer Interoperability: The Metalayer is a cross-chain interoperability protocol that connects Caldera-powered chains into a unified network, providing shared liquidity and intent-based bridging for seamless cross-chain transactions.
Proven Adoption: Caldera powers over 50 live rollups with a total value locked (TVL) exceeding $400 million, processing over 750 million transactions across 27 million unique wallets. Notable partners include Manta Pacific, ApeChain, and B3.
Community Governance: ERA token holders can participate in on-chain governance, voting on Caldera Improvement Proposals (CIPs), ecosystem grants, and leadership elections within the Caldera Foundation.
Retroactive Airdrop Strategy: Caldera rewards early adopters, testnet participants, and community contributors through retroactive airdrops, fostering loyalty and engagement.
Products
Rollup Engine: A modular operating system for launching high-performance L2 chains on frameworks like Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and zkSync, simplifying blockchain development.
Metalayer: A cross-chain interoperability protocol that unifies rollups into a single network. Leveraging technologies from Hyperlane, Across, Eco, and Relay, it enables fast, secure bridging and is deployed on major networks like Ethereum, Arbitrum One, Base, zkSync Era, and Optimism.
Developer Toolkit: Includes a Typescript SDK and Widget SDK for building cross-chain dApps, allowing developers to focus on application logic while the Metalayer handles interoperability complexities.
Caldera Chains: Over 50 live rollups, including Manta Pacific, ApeChain, and B3, showcase Caldera’s ability to support vibrant, scalable ecosystems.
Funding
Caldera has raised a total of $25 million:
$15 million Series A led by Founders Fund.
Approximately $10 million from earlier rounds backed by investors like Sequoia Capital, Dragonfly Capital, Ethereal Ventures, and 1kx.
Backers
Caldera is supported by top-tier venture capital firms, underscoring its credibility and potential:
Founders Fund (led by Peter Thiel)
Sequoia Capital
Dragonfly Capital
Ethereal Ventures
1kx
Tokenomics & Allocation
Token Name: ERA
Genesis Total Token Supply: 1,000,000,000 ERA
Max Token Supply: 1,000,000,000 ERA (fixed supply, with no automatic burn mechanism currently, though governance may propose fee burns).
Circulating Supply at Listing: 148,500,000 ERA (14.85% of total supply).
Allocation:
Retroactive Airdrop (~30%): Rewards early testnet participants, builders, and community contributors. Includes 70 million ERA (7%) for the Genesis Airdrop, targeting users of Caldera-powered chains, Ape/BAYC holders, Manta and Modular communities, public goods developers, Kaito Yappers, and L2 users.
Team & Advisors (~20%): Vested over 2–4 years to ensure long-term commitment.
Investors & Treasury (~30%): Funds ecosystem expansion, partnerships, and grants.
Ecosystem Incentives (~20%): Supports liquidity mining, developer bounties, and governance rewards.
Token Utility:
Omnichain Gas: ERA serves as the standard gas token for Metalayer transactions and cross-chain operations.
Staking & Security: Validators stake ERA to secure the network and verify cross-chain messages.
Governance: ERA holders vote on protocol upgrades, ecosystem grants, and Caldera Foundation leadership.
Additional Allocation: 20,000,000 ERA (2% of total supply) allocated for future marketing campaigns, with details to be announced six months post-listing.
Binance HODLer Airdrop
Binance announced Caldera (ERA) as the 27th project in its HODLer Airdrops program.
Eligibility: Users who subscribed BNB to Simple Earn (Flexible and/or Locked) or On-Chain Yields products from July 1, 2025, 00:00 (UTC) to July 5, 2025, 23:59 (UTC).
Airdrop Rewards: 20,000,000 ERA (2% of total supply).
Listing: ERA will be listed on Binance on July 17, 2025, at 15:30 (UTC) with trading pairs: ERA/USDT, ERA/USDC, ERA/BNB, ERA/FDUSD, and ERA/TRY.
Access: Available on the Binance Airdrop Portal, with claims using Binance Alpha Points upon trading launch.
Source: Binance Announcement
Token Unlock
Team & Advisors (~20%): Vested over 2–4 years to align with long-term development goals.
Retroactive Airdrop: Includes the 70 million ERA Genesis Airdrop, distributed at the TGE, with pre-claims open until July 17, 2025, 00:00 (UTC).
Other Allocations: No specific unlock schedule for Investors & Treasury or Ecosystem Incentives, likely subject to governance decisions.
Future Marketing Allocation: 20,000,000 ERA for marketing campaigns will be allocated six months post-listing.
Conclusion
Caldera (ERA) is more than a blockchain platform—it’s a transformative vision for the future of decentralized networks.
Through its Rollup Engine and Metalayer, Caldera unifies fragmented rollups into a seamless ecosystem where liquidity and data flow freely. Backed by industry giants like Founders Fund and Sequoia Capital, with over 50 live rollups and $400 million in TVL, Caldera is already a powerhouse in the RaaS space.
The ERA token, with its versatile utility in gas, staking, and governance, combined with strategic airdrops and Binance’s listing, positions Caldera as a leader in the modular blockchain revolution. Join Caldera to shape the Internet of Chains and build a decentralized, efficient, and interconnected future
This article is for informational purposes only. The information provided is not investment advice
