Sorare CEO still bullish on Ethereum despite ‘upgrading’ to Solana

Sorare is rolling out a phased migration to Solana this month, transitioning its fantasy sports games and NFT trading card ecosystem from the StarkEx/Ethereum platform. The move aims to deliver higher throughput and improved consumer-grade performance, allowing for faster, smoother gameplay and trading experiences for users.

CEO Nicolas Julia emphasized that this shift is an “upgrade” rather than a full replacement. Ethereum users will continue to be supported, with ongoing deposits and compatibility through Base, ensuring that existing ETH holders remain integrated within the platform. The migration to Solana is designed to enhance scalability and user experience while maintaining a bridge for Ethereum-based assets.

Why Sorare is moving now

Julia says Solana currently offers the best fit for Sorare’s consumer scale prioritizing speed, low fees, and security with growing developer traction and user activity. Sorare’s official blog outlines a staged October migration covering ETH balances (to Base) and NFT cards (to Solana), aiming for minimal disruption.

What changes for players and collectors

• Cards & gameplay
  Sorare cards will be bridged and re-issued as Solana NFTs with matching metadata; users’ wallets map to Solana addresses seamlessly.

• Payments
  ETH activity settles on Base; Sorare is integrating Layer0 to streamline payments across Solana and Base.

• Timing
  Phases run through late October, with completion expected by month-end, per Sorare and media reporting.

Ethereum isn’t going away

Julia says Sorare remains bullish on Ethereum, keeping ETH deposits and continuing support via Base. The message: leverage Solana’s consumer performance while preserving Ethereum’s liquidity and ecosystem reach.

Market context: NFTs and sports tokens

Sorare’s userbase grew to ~5 million, with a $4.3bn valuation in 2021. NFT market softness has pushed collection floors down even as day-to-day Sorare sales remain steady in the thousands, per third-party trackers. Axios+1

Multichain direction beyond Solana

Sorare says it’s evaluating other high-performance chains while prioritizing Solana now. Elsewhere, major crypto apps have expanded Solana support (e.g., cross-chain swaps by 1inch), underscoring a broader trend toward Solana-EVM interoperability.

 What the Sorare migration to Solana means for compliance and stability

Sorare notes Solana’s improving uptime and maturing infrastructure; recent client and throughput upgrades aim to further harden the network. Sorare says it’s prepared to manage typical blockchain hiccups during the cutover.

Timeline highlights for the Sorare migration to Solana

• Phase 1 (mid-Oct)
  ETH balances migrate to Base (transparent settlement).

• Phase 2 (late Oct)
  Sorare cards bridged and visible as Solana NFTs; wallet mapping stays seamless.

Context & Analysis

Sorare’s move mirrors a pragmatic shift among consumer crypto apps: optimize for UX (fees/latency) while staying asset-agnostic. Solana’s throughput and tooling have improved, and EVM bridges/cross-chain swaps are reducing fragmentation. Keeping ETH rails via Base hedges against ecosystem risk and preserves on-ramp familiarity. (Analysis)

Conclusion

Sorare is betting on Solana’s high-performance infrastructure to drive the next phase of its fantasy sports growth while maintaining Ethereum support. The move is designed to offer faster, more efficient gameplay and improved user experience without leaving Ethereum users behind.

If the phased migration goes as planned, players can expect lower transaction costs, quicker interactions, and expanded wallet compatibility by the end of October. The upgrade aims to combine Solana’s speed with Ethereum’s established ecosystem, ensuring that the platform scales smoothly while keeping existing users fully integrated and ready to enjoy enhanced features.

FAQs

Q : When will the Sorare migration to Solana finish?

A : Phased steps run through late October 2025, with completion expected around month-end.

Q : Will I still be able to deposit ETH?

A : Yes. Sorare will keep ETH deposits and settle activity on Base.

Q : Do my cards change on Solana?

A : Cards are bridged as Solana NFTs with identical metadata; ownership persists.

Q : Why did Sorare choose Solana?

A : For speed, low fees, and consumer-app focus, according to Sorare and its CEO.

Q : Is this a replacement of Ethereum?

A : No leadership calls it an “upgrade,” and Sorare remains bullish on Ethereum.

Q : Will gameplay be interrupted during the move?

A : Sorare targets a seamless transition with minimal impact.

Q : What other apps are adding Solana support?

A : Examples include 1inch enabling native Solana↔EVM swaps.

Facts

• Event
  Sorare begins phased migration from StarkEx/Ethereum rails to Solana; Base integration for ETH

• Date/Time
  2025-10-15T12:00:00+05:00

• Entities
  Sorare; Nicolas Julia (CEO); Solana; Base (L2 by Coinbase)

• Figures
  Users ~5 million; Series B valuation $4.3bn (Sep 2021)

• Quotes:
  “It’s not a replacement, it’s an upgrade.” Nicolas Julia

• Sources
  Sorare blog (migration plan) Sorare; Cointelegraph interview/coverage Cointelegraph