Ethereum to Solana: A Migration Guide for Developers
Solana offers sub-second finality and near-zero fees. With SolScript, Ethereum developers can use Solidity syntax to build on Solana without learning Rust. Here's how the two blockchains compare.
Key Takeaways
- Solana processes 65,000+ TPS vs Ethereum's ~15 TPS (pre-sharding).
- Solana fees are typically under $0.01 vs Ethereum's $1-100+.
- Solana uses accounts and PDAs instead of contract storage and mappings.
- SolScript lets you write Solana programs in Solidity syntax, bridging the gap.
Concept Mapping: Ethereum to Solana
| Ethereum Concept | Solana Equivalent | SolScript Handles? |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Contract | Program | Automatic |
| Contract Storage | Accounts (PDAs) | Automatic |
| mapping(k => v) | PDA with seeds | Automatic |
| msg.sender | Signer account | Automatic |
| ERC-20 Token | SPL Token | Built-in |
| ERC-721 NFT | Metaplex NFT | Partial |
| Events | Anchor Events / Logs | Automatic |
| require() / revert() | Custom Errors | Automatic |
| constructor() | initialize instruction | Automatic |
| Gas | Compute Units | Different model |
| Solidity | Rust/Anchor | SolScript compiles Solidity to Anchor |
Key Architectural Differences
Account Model vs Contract Storage
Ethereum stores all data inside the contract. Solana stores data in separate accounts that the program reads and writes. This enables parallel transaction processing (transactions touching different accounts execute simultaneously), but means programs must declare all accounts upfront. SolScript handles this automatically when you use state variables and mappings.
Program Derived Addresses (PDAs)
Instead of hash-based mappings, Solana uses PDAs -- deterministic addresses derived from seeds and a program ID. When you write mapping(address => uint256) in SolScript, it generates the PDA derivation code automatically, using the key as a seed.
Transaction Fees
Ethereum's gas model creates variable, often expensive fees. Solana charges a base fee (~5000 lamports / $0.0005) plus optional priority fees. Compute units replace gas, with a per-transaction limit of 1.4M compute units. Fees are predictable and nearly free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I run my Ethereum smart contracts on Solana? ▼
Not directly. Solana uses a different virtual machine (BPF/SBF) than Ethereum (EVM). However, SolScript lets you write contracts in Solidity syntax that compile to native Solana programs. The syntax is the same, but the compiled output targets Solana.
How do Ethereum gas fees compare to Solana transaction fees? ▼
Solana transaction fees are typically under $0.01, compared to Ethereum fees that can range from $1 to $100+ during congestion. Solana achieves this through its proof-of-history consensus and parallel transaction processing.
What is the equivalent of ERC-20 tokens on Solana? ▼
Solana uses the SPL Token standard instead of ERC-20. SolScript handles this mapping automatically — when you write a token contract in Solidity syntax, SolScript generates the correct SPL Token program interactions.
How do mappings work differently on Solana? ▼
Ethereum stores mappings in contract storage. Solana doesn't have contract storage — it uses accounts. SolScript converts Solidity mappings to Program Derived Addresses (PDAs), which are deterministic account addresses derived from seeds. This is handled automatically.
What tools do I need to start building on Solana with Solidity? ▼
With SolScript, you only need a web browser. The online playground at solscript.cryptuon.com/playground includes a WASM compiler for instant compilation. For local development, install the SolScript CLI and optionally the VS Code extension.