Ethereum L2 Eclipse Founder Neel Somani Steps Down as Chairman in October 2025 to Focus on AI and Machine Learning Research

According to The Block, Neel Somani, founder of the Ethereum L2 protocol Eclipse, stepped down as Chairman of the Board in October 2025 to devote full‑time efforts to machine learning and broader AI research.

Eclipse launched in 2022 and secured about $15 million in seed funding to advance a scaling solution built around the Solana Virtual Machine before pivoting in 2023 to a high‑performance Ethereum L2 architecture. After a $50 million Series A in 2024, Somani transitioned from CEO to Chairman, with leadership changes described as founder‑led and planned, and with no alterations to his equity or board powers.

Industry observers will monitor how governance cadence and capital milestones influence Eclipse’s positioning in the competitive L2 sector as the ecosystem emphasizes reliability, throughput, and interoperability for enterprise deployments.