Written by: Haotian
Recently, @VitalikButerin said that Cross-L2 interoperability is no longer a problem. Although he did not specify the specific project, combined with the wonderful discussion in the comment area, I have summarized some solutions that can solve the cross-layer2 interoperability, as follows:
1ïŒBased-Rollup
In the Ethereum layer2 camp, there are some projects that pursue compatibility equivalence. By allowing layer2 and layer1 to share components as much as possible, they achieve maximum compatibility with EVM, allowing layer2 to directly hand over the sorter function to the main network.
Specifically, when retrieving Mempool transactions, the Proposer of the main network can use a special route similar to MEV-Boost to capture the Rollup Batch transactions, and then directly complete the sorting and chaining on the main network. Representative project: @taikoxyz
2ïŒCrossChain-Rollup
The powerful ZK technology provides a possibility to establish a trust-free mechanism for homogeneous/heterogeneous chains in complex environments, including interoperability between homogeneous chains such as EVM-Compatible. Cross-L2 belongs to this category. In addition, ZK technology can also connect the interoperability of complex non-smart contract-based chains such as EVM and Non-EVM.
Specifically, the ZK technical framework will become an underlying communication protocol, which allows homogeneous/heterogeneous chains to complete absolutely secure and reliable message transmission through Proof proof without viewing the specific data of the other party and only verifying the Proof proof. ZK-Rollup is essentially the process of the off-chain layer2 calculating a large amount of data into Proofs, and then letting the mainnet Rollup contract directly verify and finalize. Representative project: @ProjectZKM's Entangled Rollup Network unified liquidity layer.
3ïŒIntent-Rollup
Intent trading has always been regarded as the key to the Crypto market's embrace of Mass Adoption. It can accommodate many related directions such as account abstraction, chain abstraction, AI Agent, Pre-Confirmation, etc. Intent trading is essentially to "abstract" the user's needs to achieve programmable characteristics, and then use a decentralized Solver platform to execute the user's needs on behalf of the user to optimize the user-side transaction experience.
Intent will be the final destination of the ideal transaction, which can lower the threshold for users to onboard into the Crypto market and attract incremental users to the industry. The intent track is not difficult to understand, but it is a huge challenge to program the user's vague and complex needs and have them executed perfectly by the agent program, which requires a huge solver processing network. Representative project: @dappOS_com
4ïŒLayer2 Based-layer3
As we all know, leading layer2 projects such as Arbitrum, Starknet, and Optimism have successively launched layer3 application chain strategies. Layer3 application chains have customizable features, their own independent Tokenomics, and can customize Gas, but they rely on layer2 basic components to provide services, the most typical of which is interoperability.
The layer2 chain can provide a cross-application chain communication foundation for the layer3 application chain based on its own shared sequencer, shared prover, etc. Representative project: @arbitrumOrbit
5ïŒCosmos IBC Based -Rollup
Cosmos' IBC communication framework provides a basic interoperability capability for all chains connected to the Cosmos Hub. If the capabilities of Cosmos IBC are focused on the Ethereum layer2 ecosystem, a layer2 interoperability layer based on Cosmos IBC interoperability will be implemented.
This solution will directly retain the core code of Cosmos SDK, reducing development costs while also enabling targeted additional development for the Ethereum ecosystem, allowing Cosmos' universal interoperability to be perfectly implemented in the Ethereum ecosystem. Representative project: @Polymer_Labs
6ïŒAVS Based -Rollup
Eigenlayer's middleware service protocol implements a capability that allows Ethereum mainnet Validators to commercialize their own consensus and deliver it to other Rollup layer2 or other homogeneous/heterogeneous chains.
This solution essentially allows Ethereum validators to repeatedly stake LST tokens, and constrains validators based on a set of reward and punishment economic mechanisms to expand outside the chain to construct a secure consensus on other chains. If layer2 uses AVS to construct consensus, it is equivalent to another economically driven Based-Rollup, and the mainnet components can participate in the cross-chain interactive process of layer2. Representative project: @alt_layer
7ïŒModular-Rollups
When modularization reaches a certain level, the Rollup as a Service paradigm will drive the prosperity of the layer2 one-click chain launch market. At that time, a layer2 network may share Celestia's DA data availability layer, as well as Solana's VM or Ethereum EVM and other shared execution layers, and use Ethereum as a shared settlement layer for these Rollups. In order to achieve absolute modular collaboration, cross-chain collaborative communication between different modules or different chains is a basic prerequisite. Representative project: @AvailProject
âŠâŠother
Note: These are just a few of the directions I am familiar with, and they may not be complete. There are many projects working on the same direction and with differences. You can add them in the comments section. (All of them aim to eliminate centralized cross-chain bridges and CEX asset transfer stations)
I hope Vitalik can speak out more often, but please donât point to a specific project. To Vitalikâs innovation is definitely not based on Vitalikâs endorsement. Of course, there are some projects that will challenge Ethereumâs core position, but the future of Ethereum must break away from the Ethereum-centric thinking. Only by looking beyond Ethereum and looking at the Ethereum âecosystemâ can we see the whole picture, right?
