Blockchain : Interchain Validation Concepts in Multi-Blockchain Networks?
Hi everyone,
I’m currently researching a rather particular subject: concepts for interchain validation in PoS-based multi-blockchain networks. In that context, I’m looking for pointers to interesting solutions in case you are aware of any.
Let me explain a bit more so you understand what I’m interested in: There are currently several projects which tackle interoperability between blockchains by building a *multi-chain architecture*. The two most prominent examples are likely Polkadot and Cosmos. Both employ a design that consists of a hub/relay chain and connected zones/parachains.
What I am curious about are design approaches to creating a class of validators that can act network-wide, i.e. in all chains of a multi-chain network. Of course, such approaches would have to be secure, technically feasible, and cryptoeconomically sensible.
Polkadot’s proposed solution is based on a class of (unbonded) actors which they dub *Collators* who the whitepaper describes as follows:
>Transaction collators (collators for short) are parties who assist validators in producing valid
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>parachain blocks. They maintain a “full-node” for a particular parachain; meaning that they retain all necessary
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>information to be able to author new blocks and execute transactions in much the same way as miners do on cur-
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>rent PoW blockchains. Under normal circumstances, they will collate and execute transactions to create an unsealed
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>block, and provide it, together with a zero-knowledge proof, to one or more validators presently responsible for
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>proposing a parachain block.
Hence, collators enable bonded Validators – who to my understanding exist on the relay-chain-level – to ratify the parachain blocks and, later, the relay-chain blocks.
In the case of Cosmos, in contrast, their validators only validate the hub chain, not the zones (at least according to their whitepaper). That is, every sidechain/zone has to employ its own set of validators. (I heard somewhere that they plan to enable this post mainnet launch, but I didn’t find any details on how.)
I hope I managed to get across what I’m looking for. If so, I’m very interested in your feedback. Have you seen promising and sound approaches for network-wide validation in multi-chain networks? Do you have a solution in mind? Or are you aware of a certain paper/work which I should definitely read? I’m curious to learn more and thankful for any input!
What is the Blockchain?
A block chain is a transaction database shared by all nodes participating in a system based on the Bitcoin protocol. A full copy of a currency’s block chain contains every transaction ever executed in the currency. With this information, one can find out how much value belonged to each address at any point in history.
Author: thomaseuler
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