Sexual misconduct allegations prompt Ethereum L2 Eclipse CEO to step down

Neel Somani, the founder and CEO of Ethereum layer-2 blockchain Eclipse, has announced that he will be temporarily stepping back from his role as a public figure for the company due to allegations of sexual misconduct. In a post on May 9, Somani addressed the allegations made against him on Twitter, stating that they are false and that he has never assaulted or harassed any woman. He expressed his intention to clear his name and defend himself against the accusations. Somani believes that Eclipse’s senior leadership is capable of handling the situation and allowing the truth to come to light. Eclipse, in a separate post, acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and emphasized their commitment to upholding personal and professional standards, including gender equality and fair treatment. When asked for comment, Eclipse directed Cointelegraph to Somani’s posts. As of now, Somani has not responded to the request for comment. In March, Eclipse announced that it had raised $50 million in a Series A funding round, bringing its total capital raised to $65 million. The company launched the mainnet of its Ethereum layer 2 in September 2023.