NAIROBI (CoinChapter.com) — Neel Somani, founder of Ethereum scaling solution Eclipse, announced stepping back as the project’s public face. This comes after Somani faced serious sexual misconduct allegations on X (formerly Twitter). Somani categorically denied the allegations as false.
In a series of posts, Somani stated, “These allegations are false, but serious allegations about sexual misconduct warrant a serious and thoughtful response.” He underscores his commitment to proving the falsity of these claims.
To limit any adverse impact on his company, Somani will reduce his visibility as a public figure. Eclipse leadership expressed support for this decision, allowing the truth surrounding these allegations to emerge.
Eclipse’s Ethereum Scaling Mission Continues
The accusations against Somani were made on X within the past week. Although Somani did not immediately respond, the swiftness of his action now underscores the sensitivity of the issue for both him and Eclipse. Eclipse also issued a statement expressing a commitment to high personal and professional standards and their belief in the importance of truth within the matter.
In March 2024, the project raised $50 million in a Series A funding round, which investors like Placeholder and Hack VC co-led. This brought Eclipse’s total funding to $65 million.
Eclipse, in a separate statement, reaffirmed its dedication to upholding the highest ethical standards. The company vowed to maintain gender equality and fair treatment amid the allegations against its CEO.
“The team takes allegations against our CEO, Neel Somani, seriously and believes in the importance of truth,”
Founder Vows to Clear His Name
While stepping back temporarily, Somani expressed his determination to clear his name and defend his reputation against the sexual misconduct allegations.
“I have never sexually assaulted or harassed any woman,” he asserted, acknowledging the gravity of such issues within the industry and society at large.
Somani emphasized the importance of giving voices a platform, saying, “The discussion about sexual misconduct is very important. We should never silence voices.”
As the investigation unfolds, Eclipse’s senior leaders will take on Somani’s public-facing responsibilities until the truth about these allegations emerges.
