205: Building the Everything Layer for Rollups: Matt from Caldera on Scaling Ethereum

In this episode of Web3 with Sam Kamani, I sit down with Matt, co-founder of Caldera, live at DevCon. Caldera is building the everything layer for rollups, helping Ethereum scale with reliable, customizable blockspace. Matt shares insights on: How Caldera helps projects like Zerion and ApeChain launch dedicated L2s. The challenges Web3 developers face compared to Web2 devs. Innovations like chain abstraction and cross-chain connectivity. Why Ethereum’s scaling roadmap and rollups are the future of blockchain. If you’re curious about how rollups as a service can power on-chain applications or how infrastructure enables the next wave of adoption, this episode is a must-listen! Key Timestamps [00:00:00] Introduction: Sam introduces Matt from Caldera and the focus on rollups at DevCon. [00:02:00] Matt’s Journey: From Bitcoin in 2011 to building scalable blockchain infrastructure. [00:04:00] What Sets Caldera Apart: Reliable rollup infrastructure, developer support, and ecosystem growth. [00:06:00] Real-World Use Cases: Zerion’s Zero Network: Enabling free GAS transactions for users. ApeChain: Turning communities into platforms with unified L2s. [00:08:00] Key Innovations at DevCon: The rise of chain abstraction and lowering friction for users. [00:09:00] Challenges for Web3 Developers: Balancing cost, decentralization, and speed compared to Web2. [00:12:00] Caldera’s Roadmap: Enabling cross-chain connectivity for value and data transfer. Integrating third-party infrastructure like oracles and indexers seamlessly. [00:16:00] The Infrastructure vs. Apps Debate: Why infrastructure needs to come first to enable innovation. [00:18:00] Shifts in Funding Trends: From apps in 2021 to infrastructure today, and where it’s heading. [00:21:00] On-Chain Adoption: Why stablecoins are the “killer app” and how Web3 lowers barriers for new platforms. [00:26:00] Challenges Ahead: Maintaining infrastructure quality and long-term vision as Caldera scales. [00:29:00] Advice for Fundraising: Why fundraising is about alignment rather than persuasion. [00:32:00] The Ask: Hiring top talent and building a vibrant developer community. Connect https://www.caldera.xyz/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/calderaxyz/ https://x.com/Calderaxyz https://www.linkedin.com/in/mykatz/ https://x.com/0xkatz Disclaimer Nothing mentioned in this podcast is investment advice and please do your own research. Finally, it would mean a lot if you can leave a review of this podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share this podcast with a friend.Be a guest on the podcast or contact us - https://www.web3pod.xyz/