IOHK announced that Solidity, a programming language for writing smart contracts on Ethereum, is now compatible with the Cardano blockchain through an interoperable platform that uses Ethereum’s native code. The company has also restarted its KEVM devnet program, which enables the Ethereum Virtual Machine to run with Cardano’s K-framework.
Cardano is gearing up for an exciting 2021 with new KEVM devnet
IOHK, the company behind the Cardano blockchain, announced two major new development environments earlier this month. Both developer networks were set to allow developers to write smart contracts for Cardano and were part of the company’s larger effort to launch Goguen, the blockchain’s smart contract era.
And while enabling dApps on Cardano is, without a doubt, the largest development on the blockchain since Shelley, the fact that Ethereum developers will be able to write smart contracts in their native Solidity programming language is an even bigger deal.
According to an announcement published on Dec. 21, IOHK has now opened Cardano up to the Solidity and Ethereum community with a platform that’s compatible and interoperable with their native code. The framework has established a permanent bridge that will enable developers to work seamlessly across both ecosystems, the company explained.
As part of the effort, the company has also restarted and accelerated its K Ethereum Virtual Machine (KEVM) program—a ‘correct-by-construction’ version of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) specified in the K framework.
The K Framework is a semantics platform used to create formally-verified programming languages and virtual machines, enabling developers to define and implement the formal semantics of a programming language in an intuitive and modular way.
IOHK calls on Ethereum developers to build on Cardano
After announcing that the KEVM devnet program went live last week, IOHK finally called on Solidity developers to join the initiative on Dec. 21.
As #Cardano momentum builds into 2021, we’re inviting #Solidity developers to check out our new 2020 KEVM devnet program, which went live last week. Find all the core info you need to know right here 👇 https://t.co/uOtfwNZrbH
— Input Output (@InputOutputHK) December 21, 2020
The company published extensive documentation for developers that want to use the KEVM. Ethereum developers can now write dApps in Solidity and then deploy them on Cardano to take advantage of the blockchain’s lower fees, quicker speeds, and enhanced functionality.
The KEVM devnet is just the latest effort coming from IOHK when it comes to the blockchain’s upcoming smart contract functionality. Other devnets, including Glow and IELE, are also set to be deployed in the following weeks.
Developed by Cardano partner MuKn, Glow is a so-called “high-level” programming language similar to JavaScript and Python. Glow will be the next devnet to be deployed on Cardano, Tim Harrison, IOHK’s marketing and communications director revealed last week. He said that most of the core development work was already done and will most likely be deployed in January 2021.
The IELE devnet will focus on ensuring that all programming languages are compatible with Cardano, allowing developers to build blockchain solutions regardless of their chosen programming language. The devnet will be connected as a side chain to the Cardano mainnet in the first half of next year.
