Modularity is the new narrative of 2024, and modular blockchain and applications are the innovation we have been waiting for.
It is difficult for a single blockchain to do everything at scale, so the current solution given by the market is modularization. This divides blockchain functions into independent layers - execution, settlement, consensus and data availability.
Take Celestia as an example, Celestia is the first modular blockchain DA layer, we can think of Celestia as the Amazon Web Service of blockchain. It can reduce security costs, make launching a blockchain as simple as deploying a smart contract, and these blockchains will be customizable and sovereign.
$TIA has completed its growth as the leader and its market value has exceeded 1 billion US dollars. For an emerging track, this is tantamount to the market's recognition of its narrative. In comparison, the traditional L2 has become somewhat dim, although ZKS and STARKnet will successively launch their tokens in 2024.
Let’s summarize the emerging important projects worth investing in on the modular track:
1.Dymension
2.Fuel
3.Eclipse
4.Espresso Systems
5.Lambda
Dymension (DYM)
Dymension is undoubtedly one of the most watched projects in the modular blockchain space. It is a modular platform designed to create interconnected ecosystems, known as RollApps. This infrastructure facilitates the development of application-specific second-layer Rolls, providing a scalable and efficient framework for developers and users.
One of Dymension’s key innovations is the RollApps concept. RollApps are modular blockchains that leverage the Dymension central hub for security while using the Data Availability (DA) network for transaction data publishing. This setup allows for low-cost, high-speed deployment of blockchain applications.
Dymension also integrates the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, a secure bridging protocol that enables communication between different chains. IBC improves the security and composability of RollApps, allowing them to seamlessly integrate with the broader blockchain ecosystem.
From an economic incentive perspective, RollApps operators can earn fees based on the popularity of their applications, while DYM stakers provide security for the network and receive fees from transaction verification.
DYM recently successfully launched its mainnet and airdropped $390 million worth of DYM tokens to early adopters, including users from communities such as Solana and Ethereum. This massive airdrop is intended to incentivize user adoption and build a strong initial network foundation for Dymension.
After the mainnet launch, DYM stakers will be eligible to receive additional airdrops from projects built on the Dymension platform, such as the NIM Network, which focuses on AI gaming applications. In this way, Dymension is actively nurturing its ecosystem and providing incentives for developers and early adopters.
Dymension's vision is to become a leader in the modular blockchain space and build an "Internet of RollApps". The platform's infrastructure and economic incentives are designed to support rapid deployment and scalable applications, making it a strong competitor in the field of distributed application development.
Fuel Network
The Fuel Network is a highly specialized, modular execution layer designed to optimize Ethereum. As a targeted solution, Fuel addresses some of the key challenges currently facing blockchains, such as scalability and flexibility.
At the heart of the Fuel network is the Fuel Virtual Machine (FuelVM), which is specifically designed to provide high performance and support parallel transaction execution. Unlike the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), FuelVM excels at minimizing state growth and is highly customizable, enabling developers to integrate it into application-specific chains.
It is worth noting that FuelVM is compatible with Ethereum and supports Turing-complete smart contracts. This ensures that the Fuel network is flexible and interoperable, making it a powerful bridge connecting the existing Ethereum ecosystem and emerging solutions.
In addition to powerful virtual machines, Fuel also provides developers with a rich development environment. For example, Sway
is a domain-specific language designed specifically for smart contracts, while Forc (Fuel Orchestrator) is a vertically integrated tool that provides developers with
Experience with the Rust tool ecosystem. The goal of these tools is to simplify the development process and lower the barrier to entry for blockchain development.
The Fuel network also supports native account abstraction, allowing users to use any network's wallet to sign transactions. This feature enhances the user experience and provides a more flexible and secure way to interact with the blockchain.
To help fuel the development of the ecosystem, Fuel has launched a grant program that provides up to $50,000 in funding to projects that help build the Fuel network. So far, the program has brought several innovative projects to the ecosystem, including
Elix Finance (an AMM DEX), Orao Network (blockchain oracle), and Fuel Nomen (domain name system), etc.
Recently, Fuel launched a public testnet called "Beta-3", which is an important milestone. The testnet introduced P2P network functions and full node synchronization capabilities, which are key components required to achieve the operation of a complete distributed network. By gradually launching new features in the public testnet, the Fuel team can thoroughly test and ensure the stability and security of the network before the mainnet is launched.
In addition to ongoing testnet upgrades, Fuel is also strengthening interoperability with other blockchains. One of the most notable efforts is the integration with Hyperlane to enable permissionless bridging and cross-chain applications. Hyperlane enables composability between different blockchains, opening up broader application scenarios and use cases for the Fuel network.
Fuel's technology stack is designed to support the next generation of dApps, making it an ideal platform for developers looking to build secure, high-performance blockchain applications. By focusing on flexibility and scalability, Fuel positions itself as a key player in the future of Ethereum's Scroll-based development.
Eclipse
Eclipse
Eclipse Labs is a blockchain startup that aims to create scalable solutions for Ethereum by combining technologies from Solana and other blockchains.
The $50 million in funding raised will be used to advance the launch of its mainnet, marking another step towards achieving its goal of providing an efficient second-layer solution for Ethereum.
Eclipse
The core of the system is a hybrid architecture that combines the robust security of Ethereum and Solana
This hybrid approach aims to provide the best of both worlds - high performance with strong security. By leveraging the strengths of each blockchain, Eclipse
We hope to create a new blockchain experience where users do not have to make a trade-off between performance and security.
As a project focused on second-layer solutions, Eclipse aims to alleviate the scalability issues inherent in first-layer blockchains such as Ethereum. This is achieved by offloading transaction processing from the Ethereum mainchain, thereby increasing overall transaction throughput while reducing gas fees for users.
Eclipse
Eclipse’s technology is designed to interoperate with other blockchain ecosystems, increasing its utility and potential adoption. Most notably, Eclipse is collaborating with Cosmos
This integration further expands Eclipse’s functional scope, enabling it to seamlessly connect with the broader distributed ecosystem.
Eclipse provides strong support for developers, including comprehensive toolkits and software development kits (SDKs) to facilitate the construction of distributed applications (dApps) on its platform. Eclipse's goal is to lower the entry barrier for developers and encourage innovation within the ecosystem.
To engage and foster the community, Eclipse has also launched various activities such as grant programs and hackathons. These initiatives aim to create a vibrant and collaborative environment where developers and users can contribute to and benefit from the growth of the ecosystem.
Eclipse
Positioning itself as a pioneer in the field of second-layer scalability, it aims to provide solutions for Ethereum that combine the best features of various blockchain technologies. Its core narrative revolves around building a more scalable, efficient and secure blockchain ecosystem, laying a solid foundation for the next generation of distributed applications. This vision stems from solving the limitations of the current blockchain architecture and providing a strong infrastructure for future innovations.
Espresso Systems
Espresso
Systems is a blockchain startup focused on developing high-performance distributed first-layer solutions. Their flagship project Espresso
Combining the Proof of Stake consensus mechanism with Zero-Knowledge Proof Rollups (ZK-Rollups) achieves high throughput and low transaction fees. This innovative approach enables Espresso
It strikes a perfect balance between scalability and security, making it a key player in the blockchain space.
At the heart of Espresso is the HotShot consensus protocol, an optimistically responsive consensus mechanism designed to support scrolls. Unlike transactions on the Ethereum mainchain, HotShot provides fast finality, enabling fast transaction confirmations and seamless scroll-layer interoperability. This solves the latency issues that exist on Ethereum's first-layer transactions.
In addition, Espresso
Introduced an innovative feature called Espresso
Market. In this market, scrolls can sell their "sequencing rights", the right to sequence transactions. Sequencers will bid for these rights, thus promoting a highly competitive and efficient transaction processing environment. Espresso
The market increases flexibility and economic incentives for reel operators.
Espresso
The integration with Arbitrum is particularly noteworthy. Espresso has added support for Arbitrum fraud proofs, ensuring that
The Arbitrum Orbit Chain is able to maintain high security standards. This integration also lays the foundation for allowing permissionless submission of fraud proofs in the future.
Newest
The Cappuccino testnet has seen significant progress in Espresso’s efforts to improve decentralization and security.
The finalization layer has been expanded to 100 geographically distributed nodes. This major upgrade not only increases the speed of transaction confirmation, but also enhances the security and censorship resistance of the entire network.
At the same time, Espresso Systems has established partnerships with several well-known blockchain infrastructure providers, including Blockdaemon, Informal Systems, and Figment. These partnerships ensure the robust and secure operation of the Espresso distributed node network around the world.
Espresso
Not only does it support Arbitrum, but it also plans to integrate with more scroll stacks in the future. This commitment highlights Espresso
Espresso is determined to enhance the functionality of the entire blockchain ecosystem so that more projects can benefit from its innovative technologies. Espresso aims to form a mutually beneficial relationship with other participants in the ecosystem and jointly promote the development of the entire industry.
In terms of the developer community, Espresso provides a lot of documentation and support resources to encourage developers to try and integrate the functions of its test network. The project also actively attracts developer participation and contributes to the ecosystem through activities such as grant programs and hackathons. Espresso believes that only by working closely with the developer community can it truly unleash the full potential of its technology.
In addition, Espresso maintains active information releases on social media and official websites, and maintains close communication with the community. By sharing the latest progress and technical updates, Espresso aims to increase transparency and allow the community to participate in the development of the project. This open and inclusive attitude helps build user trust and loyalty.
Espresso
Systems' vision is to create a blockchain ecosystem that is both scalable, secure, and decentralized. By leveraging innovative technologies such as zero-knowledge proof scrolls and responsive consensus protocols, Espresso aims to overcome the limitations of traditional blockchain architectures. This approach not only increases transaction speed and reduces costs, but also ensures a secure and efficient operating environment for distributed applications.
Espresso's commitment to interoperability and collaboration with other blockchain platforms makes it an important contributor to the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem that cannot be ignored. The project's innovative features and continued development efforts make it a project worth paying close attention to in 2024 and beyond.
Lambda
Lambda is a modular storage network that leverages Ethereum's second layer to provide scalable, efficient, and secure storage solutions for distributed applications (DApps), scrolls, and artificial intelligence (AI). Lambda focuses on providing permanent data storage and availability services, positioning itself as a key player in the distributed storage space.
Key Features:
Modular architecture: Lambda's infrastructure adopts a modular blockchain design. This approach divides the blockchain into independent but interrelated layers or modules, each responsible for specific functions such as consensus, execution, data availability, and settlement.
Data Availability (DA) Service: Lambda provides a Data Availability Sampling (DAS) service that ensures that all necessary data for transaction validation is accessible and verifiable.
Persistent Storage Solutions: Lambda provides a long-term data storage solution, which is particularly beneficial for applications that require reliable and tamper-proof storage of large amounts of data.
Interoperability and integration: Lambda seamlessly integrates with the Ethereum mainnet and supports a variety of blockchain ecosystems, improving interoperability
Lambda has been expanding the scale of the network, increasing the number of nodes and improving decentralization, including working with various blockchain infrastructure providers to support geographically distributed nodes, thereby improving the security and reliability of the network. Lambda has established partnerships with multiple blockchain projects and ecosystems to expand its service offerings, aiming to provide comprehensive data access routing to support various blockchain applications. In addition, Lambda
There is an increasing focus on AI applications and DApps, providing the necessary infrastructure for these advanced use cases. This focus includes providing
A powerful storage solution that developers are in high demand for. Lambda provides extensive documentation, development tools, and support for developers. This includes integrating with the Lambda storage service and using DAS
The goal is to foster a vibrant community of developers who can build innovative applications on the Lambda platform.
Lambda positions itself as a distributed modular storage solution, providing scalable, efficient and secure storage infrastructure for next-generation blockchain applications. By leveraging a modular architecture and focusing on data availability and permanent storage, Lambda aims to address key challenges in the blockchain space, such as scalability, data integrity and interoperability.