Alan Chiu

Alan Chiu is a blockchain entrepreneur best known as the founder and CEO of Boba Network, an Ethereum-compatible Layer 2 that uses optimistic rollup technology to reduce transaction costs and improve throughput for decentralized applications. He is also associated with Enya Labs, a core contributor to Boba Network, where his work has focused on scaling infrastructure, developer tooling, and hybrid on-chain and off-chain compute features aimed at expanding what smart contracts can do in production environments.

Overview

Chiu’s work is closely tied to the evolution of Ethereum scaling. Boba Network positions itself as a Layer 2 that supports EVM smart contracts while offering lower fees and faster confirmations compared with mainnet execution. In Boba’s roadmap and ecosystem messaging, a recurring theme is enabling more complex applications, including those that rely on external computation, data feeds, and user-facing experiences that need predictable costs. This framing places Chiu among founders trying to move Layer 2 networks beyond fee reduction toward broader application capabilities.

History and Background

Chiu is frequently described as having a background in distributed systems and early incentive design, including work on “DAO-like” mechanisms prior to the mainstream adoption of decentralized autonomous organizations. He has also been linked to early-stage investing through groups such as XSeed and Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs, alongside involvement in founder and mentoring communities connected to Stanford’s venture ecosystem. These experiences inform the way Boba has been presented as both infrastructure and an application platform, with emphasis on developer adoption, ecosystem grants, and structured support for teams building on the network.

Core Products and Services

Boba Network’s primary product is its Layer 2 execution environment for Ethereum-compatible smart contracts. The network has also promoted ecosystem programs intended to accelerate application development and attract new teams. Public initiatives associated with Boba and its leadership include:

• Layer 2 rollup network: EVM-compatible execution designed to reduce fees and latency for dApps.
• HybridCompute: A feature set marketed around enabling smart contracts to trigger off-chain computation and return results on-chain, a common requirement for AI, gaming, and data-driven applications.
• Ecosystem support: Structured programs such as grants and accelerators that aim to bring developers and startups into the Boba ecosystem.

CryptoSlate press releases have highlighted Boba’s ecosystem activity, including the Thrive Boba ecosystem grants initiative, where Chiu is quoted emphasizing developer-focused tooling and the role of HybridCompute in supporting new application categories.

Technology and Features

Boba Network is built around optimistic rollups, a scaling approach that executes transactions off-chain while posting proofs and data back to Ethereum for security and finality. In practice, this typically means lower gas costs for users and more capacity for applications that would be expensive to run directly on Ethereum. Boba’s positioning also highlights efforts to broaden smart contract functionality via hybrid compute patterns. While hybrid approaches can unlock new application design space, they also require careful engineering around trust assumptions, data integrity, and the reliability of off-chain services.

Use Cases and Market Position

Chiu’s public commentary and Boba’s ecosystem announcements have focused on enabling consumer and DeFi applications that benefit from predictable execution costs and improved UX. Boba has promoted integrations that expand DeFi functionality across chains, including partnerships positioned around cross-chain trading experiences. For example, a CryptoSlate press release in 2024 described Boba’s integration with Lynx as a way to enhance cross-chain perpetuals trading, with Chiu commenting on how the network’s scaling approach can support more flexible DeFi workflows.

More broadly, Boba competes in a crowded Layer 2 landscape that includes optimistic and zero-knowledge rollup ecosystems. Differentiation often depends on liquidity, developer tooling, application traction, and the ability to support specialized workloads without sacrificing security assumptions.

Funding and Team

Boba Network is closely associated with Enya Labs as a core contributor, and Chiu has been referenced as CEO of Enya Labs in ecosystem communications. In 2024, CryptoSlate reported a $70 million commitment connected to the Boba Network Foundation, described as funding intended to accelerate ecosystem development and adoption. Funding and resource announcements of this type are often used to support developer incentives, integrations, and core infrastructure improvements, especially for networks competing to attract builders and liquidity.

Risks and Considerations

Like other Layer 2 ecosystems, Boba Network faces technical and market risks. Bridge security and smart contract vulnerabilities can impact user funds and application reliability. Layer 2 systems also involve operational considerations such as sequencer design, upgrades, and governance processes that may be more centralized than Ethereum mainnet. On the market side, Layer 2 competition can fragment liquidity and developer attention, and sustained adoption typically requires consistent application traction rather than isolated announcements. Finally, regulatory developments affecting exchanges, stablecoins, and DeFi products can indirectly shape Layer 2 usage by influencing which applications and on-ramps remain viable in key jurisdictions.

• Boba Network Founder & CEO
• Enya.ai Founder & CEO
• Stanford University Graduate School of Business Board Member, Stanford GSB Alumni Association
• Stanford Angels & Entrepreneurs Co-President
• XSeed Capital Partner