Solana announced on its official Twitter handle on July 19, 2023 the launch of Solang, a powerful compiler aimed at facilitating the integration of Ethereum developers into the Solana ecosystem.
With Solang, developers proficient in Ethereum’s Solidity programming language and Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) can now create and deploy smart contracts on the energy-efficient Solana network, significantly expanding the platform’s potential developer base and fostering compatibility between the two blockchain giants.
Enhancing Solidity Compatibility On The Solana Network
Solana Labs’ release of the Solang compiler marks a significant milestone in the realm of blockchain development. Prior to this, Solana’s smart contracts were predominantly written in Rust or C languages, which presented a barrier for Ethereum developers accustomed to Solidity. Solang’s introduction changes the game by offering a smooth transition for Ethereum developers seeking to explore the Solana network.
With Solang’s support for Ethereum Solidity 0.8 and native integration with Solana SPL tokens, developers can now leverage familiar tools while enjoying access to the inherent advantages of the Solana ecosystem. Additionally, Solang enables developers to call other Solana smart contracts, expanding the possibilities for decentralized applications on the network.
While Solang and Neon EVM share the common goal of onboarding Ethereum developers to Solana, they are considered complementary approaches rather than direct competitors. Solang acts as a bridge between EVM developers and the Solana ecosystem, facilitating a smooth transition by providing Solidity compatibility.
In a tweet, Austin Federa, Solana’s Head of Strategy, likened the relationship between Neon EVN and Solang to running a program built for Windows on a Mac, emphasizing their collaborative efforts in embracing Ethereum developers. Neon EVM, on the other hand, adds a smart contract layer on top of Solana, enabling the deployment of EVM code and allowing Ethereum applications to leverage Solana’s native features, such as parallel transaction execution.
Impact On Ecosystem And SOL’s Performance
As Solana Labs continues its efforts to expand its ecosystem by introducing innovative tools like Solang and Neon EVM, the performance of its native cryptocurrency, SOL, has seen substantial improvement.
In just one month, SOL’s trading price leaped from $16 to over $25, a testament to the growing interest and confidence in the Solana network.
The introduction of Solang and Neon EVM has played a pivotal role in strengthening the network’s appeal to developers and investors alike, highlighting Solana’s commitment to attracting Ethereum developers and fostering compatibility between the two prominent blockchain ecosystems.
