Rome Protocol has launched its native token, ROME, which will serve as gas for Rome’s own chain and can be used for transactions on launch day. According to ChainCatcher, the protocol connects EVM applications with Solana, allowing Solidity contracts and users to interact with Solana programs and assets while settling atomically on Solana.

Rome EVM runs as a single program on Solana mainnet and supports multiple EVM chains and gas tokens, with EVM contracts and Solana programs sharing state. The mainnet program has been audited by Halborn, and the deployed binary can be reproduced from a public repository. Solana zkEVM is running on devnet, with Solana serving as the settlement, data availability, and verification layer, while Canton zkEVM is on testnet.

The mainnet already offers USDC bridges, oracle gateways, a block explorer, and applications. Users can sign on the original EVM chain, keep custody of their assets, and access Solana lending markets.

Rome charges a small fee on each transaction across supported chains, with half retained in ROME or used to buy ROME on the open market and placed into a non-selling reserve. The project said the launch is not a token sale and did not disclose valuation, timing, or an exchange listing venue. Supply and the schedule will be announced after the trading venue is finalized.