Enterprises Are Finally Moving Their Businesses Onchain: RJ Catalan of Aligned

In this discussion, R.J. Catalan, a representative from Aligned, explores the evolving landscape of blockchain adoption and the technical infrastructure required to bring the next billion users onto Ethereum. Aligned is a technology company specializing in helping enterprises, institutions, and startups migrate their entire operational stacks to the Ethereum network. Catalan argues that while the initial phase of crypto adoption focused on simple tokenization and the introduction of stablecoins, the next stage involves moving complex financial and identity services directly on-chain. However, because Ethereum’s main layer is not yet capable of scaling to millions of direct users, Aligned provides a vertically integrated technical stack to bridge this gap. The Aligned stack is built on three primary pillars: a zero-knowledge-backed virtual machine (ZKVM), a specialized rollup solution, and a wallet-as-a-service. Catalan emphasizes that vertical integration is essential for institutional clients. Large-scale businesses typically prefer to work with a single, trusted vendor rather than managing a fragmented array of different providers for their infrastructure. By offering a cohesive pipeline, Aligned reduces the friction and technical complexity that often prevent traditional companies from adopting blockchain technology. A central component of this infrastructure is Ethrex, an execution client for both Layer 1 and Layer 2. Developed by Lambda Class, from which Aligned is a spin-off, Ethrex is written in Rust and designed with a minimalistic approach. Catalan explains that this design makes the client easier to audit, maintain, and perform. Unlike older execution clients that carry significant technical debt, Ethrex was built from scratch to meet the modern needs of Ethereum. It is 100% EVM compatible and uses ZKVMs to prove state transitions efficiently. This simplicity is a key selling point for enterprise CTOs who require high security and long-term reliability for their financial backends. Catalan also shares a distinct philosophy regarding the future of Layer 2 solutions. He posits that rollups are becoming a "commodity." In his view, the underlying technology of a rollup is no longer a significant competitive moat. Instead, the real value lies in how a company understands and serves its clients' specific business needs. Aligned utilizes "based rollups," which are designed to be decentralized and interoperable with Ethereum’s Layer 1. This ensures that clients can access the deep liquidity and security of the main network, which Catalan identifies as the primary core value of the Ethereum ecosystem. This approach aligns with the vision recently shared by Vitalik Buterin, which calls for Layer 2s to achieve "Stage 2" decentralization. Catalan agrees that rollups should enhance Ethereum’s features—such as lower fees and specialized functions—rather than competing with the base layer. However, Aligned also recognizes that decentralization exists on a spectrum. Depending on their regulatory environment or geographic location, some clients may prioritize censorship resistance, while others may require more centralized control for features like account recovery. Aligned’s stack is flexible enough to accommodate these varying needs, offering a customizable experience for different institutional requirements. On the user-facing side, Aligned offers a white-label wallet-as-a-service. This allows companies to integrate blockchain functionality into their existing applications using an SDK, maintaining their own branding rather than forcing users to interact with a separate Aligned-branded app. The wallet infrastructure is built on account abstraction, utilizing a two-out-of-two model to facilitate secure fund recovery. Catalan notes that the role of the wallet is shifting from a mere storage tool for private keys to a comprehensive interface for identity and verifiable credentials. He mentions projects like Sora and QuarkID as examples of how financial life and bureaucratic identity are converging on-chain. Aligned’s primary target audience consists of non-crypto native organizations that already possess large distribution networks and user bases. These entities often find the standard crypto ecosystem difficult to navigate. By providing an all-in-one solution that includes a scalable backend and an easy onboarding process, Aligned helps these organizations transition their users to Ethereum seamlessly. Catalan highlights a significant opportunity in emerging markets, particularly in Latin America and Africa. In these regions, legacy financial systems are often inadequate, and Ethereum can provide superior solutions for payments, liquidity, and trust. Specific use cases for this technology are already emerging. Catalan points to Loom Finance, a project that allows crypto investors to access revenue-based financing opportunities in Europe. This demonstrates how blockchain can be used to build new markets with better trust guarantees. Other high-demand areas include B2B payments and government-led identity systems. Currently, Aligned is actively developing its full stack. While their proof aggregation service is already live, the integrated rollup and wallet solutions are currently on testnet. The team is focused on completing audits and preparing for a public demo at the upcoming EthCC (ECC) conference. Catalan expects to launch the first major client on the mainnet within the next few months, marking a significant step toward the mainstream institutional adoption of Ethereum.