23 protocols, an overview of the current chain abstraction protocol pattern

Is the chain abstraction itself the core paradox of the optimal solution for infrastructure? Among so many chain abstractions, which one is the ultimate abstract solution?

 

This article counts 23 protocols that are currently online and not yet online in the market (including protocols with the motivation to do chain abstraction).

 

So far, I haven't seen anything more complete than this article

1. Chain abstract requirements 🔻

 

I haven't traced the origin of the concept of chain abstraction, but what can be confirmed is that its proposal solves the problems of liquidity dispersion and attention dispersion caused by the current multi-chain pattern in the industry.

 

There are hundreds of Ethereum-derived chains alone, which is actually a split in the developer community

 

Before building upstream, many factors need to be considered for this chain, including whether there will be more would-be users.

 

If you bet on the wrong thing, you can basically declare that this entrepreneurship can come to an end. After all, opening a store on a "ghost chain" is a waste of costs without any expected revenue. The result can be imagined (only a few projects like Manta will partially break away from the original ecosystem (Polkadot) and regain vitality).

 

The potential trend of current chain abstraction is still quite obvious. Here are two recent trends from BinanceLabs:

 

Announced investment in chain abstraction protocol Particle Network

 

(2) The Cycle Network selected for the seventh incubator is the chain abstraction track

 

Originally, cross-chain protocols should ideally exist to solve this multi-chain pattern, but later it was found that its threshold for users is still relatively high. Therefore, the relationship between the two is actually inclusive: chain abstraction includes cross-chain protocols, not equal.

 

In yesterday's communication with friends, I said that cross-chain protocols that do not iterate to the chain abstraction scheme in the future will eventually be eliminated by the market.

 

You can sort out the main direction of the concept of [chain abstraction] and the problems it may encounter from this introduction.

 

------ Divider: Project Overview ---

 

2. Online protocol 🔻

 

2.1 NEAR Protocol

 

The solution adopted by NEAR in the field of chain abstraction is: Web2 social login + preset GAS (allowing developers to prepay GAS to users in a pool in advance) + multi-chain signature (messages from other chains can be signed on the NEAR chain).

 

● Implement the entire logic of chain abstraction through the above three main components to support seamless user experience

 

2.2 Everclear

 

Everclear implements chain abstraction by constructing the concept of a "settlement layer" to coordinate transactions and settlements between different chains. By optimizing settlement paths and reducing the number of actual cross-chain bridges, it reduces the cost and latency of cross-chain transactions.

 

Simply put, it simplifies the actual user cross-chain steps. We don't need to find the corresponding bridge. Everclear can automate the execution of these intents.

 

2.3 Chain abstraction three giants: Wormhole/Axelar/Layerzero

 

As mentioned earlier, there is an inclusive relationship between chain abstraction and cross-chain protocols. Chain abstraction is based on multi-chain messaging and liquidity calls, and all three are cross-chain interoperability protocols launched this year. They occupy a considerable market consensus, strong financing lineup, and certain market share in the market, making them very representative. Therefore, they are called the "three giants of chain abstraction".

 

Currently, they do not define themselves as [chain abstraction] like protocols perpendicular to the field of chain abstraction. The main focus is on cross-chain interoperability protocols. This article focuses on the introduction of chain abstraction and will not go into too much detail about them. It is only necessary to know that their business models are similar.

 

2.4Polyhedra/Entangle

 

The logic of Polyhedra and Entangle is similar to the above-mentioned "chain abstraction three giants". Polyhedra uses its product zkBridge to achieve cross-chain messaging, while Entangle focuses more on liquidity. In principle, it is expected that they will enter the chain abstraction in the future.

 

2.5 Gravity

 

Gravity is a full-chain Layer1 launched by the famous on-chain credential network Galaxy, which allows developers to define and settle transactions on multiple networks, and enhances the on-chain experience of the original large user base by introducing account abstraction. It also includes intent-based transactions and NEAR-like GAS subsidy schemes, eliminating the problem of multi-GAS reservation between multiple chains.

 

However, there are currently no more technical details for the chain, only self-positioning and documentation are in the realm of chain abstraction.

 

2.6Zeta Chain

 

ZetaChain implements chain abstraction through its general EVM and chain abstraction framework

 

(1) Universal EVM is a state synchronization environment that can be called from any chain, manage native assets on any chain, and access any message to call contracts on other chains

 

It allows developers to deploy the code once to run on all connected chains, including non-smart contract chains such as $BTC $DOGE

 

The provided chain abstraction framework enables the network to connect to any blockchain. It allows developers to build powerful state management and meet the needs of multi-step, multi-chain applications, all of which are completed in the familiar EVM Development Environment