
Switchboard (SWTCH): Decentralized Multi-Chain Oracle Network
Switchboard is a decentralized, permissionless, multi-chain oracle network that delivers customizable, real-time data feeds and verifiable randomness to blockchain applications. Founded by Chris Hermida, Mitchell Gildenberg, and Alex Stewart in 2021, this platform has raised $11.2M to solve the oracle problem with ultra-fast data solutions. Switchboard (SWTCH) will soon be available on Bitget!
What is Switchboard (SWTCH)?
Switchboard provides customizable data feeds across multiple blockchains, allowing anyone to access any data at any time with verifiable accuracy and high speed. The platform serves over 100 blockchain projects and processes hundreds of millions of requests weekly for 500+ unique assets.
The platform solves the "oracle problem," which is the challenge of delivering secure, accurate, and timely off-chain data (such as prices, randomness, sports results, etc.) to smart contracts in a decentralized manner. Outdated oracles, data congestion, and slow update speeds can introduce significant risks for DeFi and blockchain applications.
Core Innovation: Switchboard addresses these issues with permissionless, customizable, pull-based oracles that allow projects to build their own feed logic, reducing network congestion and enabling fully cryptographically verified oracle data. The system delivers updates in as little as 400 milliseconds.
Who Created Switchboard (SWTCH)?
Switchboard was founded in 2021 by Chris Hermida, Mitchell Gildenberg, and Alex Stewart with backgrounds in cryptography, blockchain infrastructure, and privacy software.
Chris Hermida (Co-Founder):
● Protocol architect and engineer, previously at Circle
● Technical leadership in decentralized oracle solutions
● Background in cryptography, blockchain architecture, and core infrastructure for Web3 platforms
Mitchell Gildenberg (Founder/CTO):
● Previously worked at Google, Meta, University of Michigan, and Microsoft
● Technical founder in privacy and security domains
● Focuses on the protocol's scalability and reliability
Alex Stewart (Software Engineer):
● Previously technical lead at Nautilus and founder of TrustedHealth
● Specializes in bringing real-world data on-chain
● Expertise in privacy-preserving computation and secure enclave technologies
Additional Team Members:
● Edgar Sarkisian - Site Reliability Engineer
● Durgesh Pandey - Core Developer working on protocol development and oracle integration
What VCs Back Switchboard (SWTCH)?
Switchboard has raised $11.2 million across multiple funding rounds from venture capital firms, crypto investors, and ecosystem foundations.
Funding Rounds:
● Series A (May 2024): $7.5 million led by Tribe Capital and RockawayX
● Seed (June 2021): $3.5 million led by Lemniscap
● Pre-seed (January 2022): $150,000 from Alameda Research
Major Venture Capital Backers:
● Tribe Capital (Series A lead investor)
● RockawayX (Series A lead investor)
● Lemniscap (Seed lead investor)
● Alameda Research (Pre-seed investor)
● Aptos (Strategic/corporate investor)
● Collab+Currency
● Solana Foundation (ecosystem support)
● Arche Fund
● Bixin Ventures
● CMS Holdings
● Ascensive Assets
● Divergence Ventures
● mgnr
● Breed VC
How Switchboard (SWTCH) Works
Switchboard operates through several key technologies that enable fast, secure, and customizable oracle solutions:
Pull-Based Oracle Architecture
Unlike traditional push-model oracles that deliver preset data at fixed times, Switchboard provides data only when and how a protocol requests it. This on-demand setup ensures fresher results, lower costs, and eliminates network congestion by giving each project its own independent, cryptographically verified data source.
Ultra-Low Latency Data Delivery
Switchboard delivers real-time updates in under 100 milliseconds with "Surge" for streaming use cases, or within approximately 400ms for standard feeds. This enables rapid trading and risk management for DeFi protocols that require instant price updates and liquidation capabilities.
Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs)
Oracle operations run inside confidential enclaves (Intel SGX, AMD SEV) so not even oracle operators can see the raw data or manipulate results. This includes "slothash" and TEE attestation for secure, unpredictable randomness for gaming, lotteries, and DeFi.
Multi-Chain Support
Switchboard works across 10+ blockchains including Solana (SVM), EVM-compatible networks like Arbitrum and Optimism, Move-based chains such as Aptos and Sui, and Cairo-based chains like StarkNet.
Oracle Aggregator Technology
The platform can combine results from other oracles and multiple data sources, giving users access to accurate, resilient, and up-to-date data with redundancy and transparent validation processes.
You can access the platform at switchboard.xyz and explore documentation at docs.switchboard.xyz .
Switchboard Token (SWTCH) and Economics
The SWTCH token serves as the backbone of governance, staking, and economic security for the Switchboard oracle protocol.
Token Details
● Token Name: Switchboard
● Token Symbol: SWTCH
● Total Supply: 1,000,000,000 SWTCH (1 billion tokens)
● Blockchain Deployment: Solana (primary chain)
● Token Address: SW1TCHLmRGTfW5xZknqQdpdarB8PD95sJYWpNp9TbFx
Token Distribution
● Ecosystem Growth: 26% (unlocks over 4-6 years)
● Initial Contributors: 25% (cliff unlock March 2026, then 2-year linear vesting)
● Core Development Team: 23% (cliff unlock March 2026, then 2-year linear vesting)
● Protocol Rewards/Incentives: 16% (ongoing distribution over several years)
● Launch & Community: 10% (fully unlocked at Token Generation Event)
Token Utilities
● Oracle Node Incentives: Users and protocols pay for real-time or custom data feeds with SWTCH tokens
● Staking & Security: Node operators must stake SWTCH tokens as collateral, with misbehavior resulting in slashing
● Governance: SWTCH holders propose and vote on network governance matters, determining development priorities, fee structures, and technical upgrades
● Data Feed Payments: Pay for custom data feeds or real-time oracle data
● Validator Rewards: Validators earn SWTCH for reliably servicing data feeds and validating responses
● Ecosystem Incentives: Distribute SWTCH to reward developers, partners, and communities who help expand or secure the protocol
Why Switchboard?
Traditional oracle solutions face challenges around speed, customization, and network congestion that Switchboard addresses with its innovations:
Proven Leadership: Founded by protocol architects from Circle, Google, Meta, and Microsoft with technical expertise in cryptography, blockchain infrastructure, and enterprise-level reliability.
Strong Investor Validation: $11.2M raised from investors including Tribe Capital, RockawayX, Lemniscap, and strategic partners like Solana Foundation and Aptos.
Technical Innovation: First permissionless, pull-based oracle network with sub-100ms latency through Surge streaming, TEE-secured data integrity, and customizable feed logic that eliminates network congestion.
Strategic Partnerships: Integrations with DeFi protocols including Kamino Finance, Jito, MarginFi, and Drift Protocol, plus ecosystem collaborations with MagmaDAO, Kintsu, and infrastructure partners like StarkWare and Infstones.
Multi-Chain Infrastructure: Native support for 10+ blockchains including Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, Aptos, Sui, Core, and StarkNet.
Live Ecosystem: Already operational with hundreds of millions of weekly requests serving 500+ unique assets across 100+ blockchain projects.
Switchboard (SWTCH) Goes Live on Bitget
We are excited to announce that Switchboard (SWTCH) will be listed on Bitget! Check out the details below:
Trading Available: 9 September 2025, 13:00 (UTC)
Withdrawal Available: 10 September 2025, 14:00 (UTC)
Trade SWTCH/USDT on Bitget!
Switchboard (SWTCH) Goes Live on Bitget Launchpool— lock BGB and SWTCH to share 5,500,000 SWTCH!
Locking period: 9 September 2025, 13:00 – 11 September 2025, 13:00 (UTC)
Locking pool 1- BGB: Lock BGB to share 5,000,000 SWTCH
Locking pool 2- SWTCH: Lock SWTCH to share 500,000 SWTCH
Community Links: Website | Twitter | Discord | GitHub | Documentation
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are for informational purposes only. This article does not constitute an endorsement of any of the products and services discussed or investment, financial, or trading advice. Qualified professionals should be consulted prior to making financial decisions.