Exploring Avail Blockchain: An In-Depth Exploration of Avail’s Modular Blockchain and Its Data Availability Layer
Introduction
Blockchain technology is a revolutionary innovation known for its ability to provide secure and transparent solutions across various industries. At its core, a blockchain is like a shared digital ledger that records transactions in an unchangeable and chronological way. Unlike traditional centralised systems, blockchain operates on a network of peers, making it resistant to censorship and fraud.
In today’s rapidly evolving digital space, the old-fashioned monolithic blockchains have lost their appeal. Instead, modular blockchains have taken center stage, offering greater flexibility and scalability. One standout example of a modular blockchain is the Avail Project. Avail is at the forefront of the Modular Blockchain movement, and in this article, we’ll explore the Avail project and its significant role in addressing real-world challenges.
Differences between Monolithic and Modular Blockchains
Monolithic blockchains, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, consolidate essential functions like transaction execution, consensus, and data availability into a single layer. This design offers simplicity and security but grapples with scalability. In contrast, modular blockchains break down these tasks into separate layers, enhancing flexibility and scalability. They can offload tasks to Layer 2 networks, accommodating more transactions without compromising security or decentralisation.
Overview on the Avail Modular Blockchain
Avail, a modular blockchain project, was founded by Anurag Arjun and Mihailo Bjelic, both of whom had previously co-founded Polygon Labs. Recognising the demand for a more adaptable blockchain architecture capable of supporting the next generation of trust-minimised applications and sovereign roll-ups, they initiated the Avail project in late 2020, unveiling it to the public in 2021.
Avail’s primary objective is to overcome the limitations of traditional blockchain platforms. It achieves this by offering a versatile blockchain platform that can be tailored to suit the distinct requirements of various applications. Avail serves as a foundational layer upon which developers can construct other blockchain solutions. It delivers a secure and scalable data availability layer alongside a customisable consensus layer, catering to diverse application needs.
In July 2023, Avail made a significant announcement regarding the launch of a testnet data availability bridge known as the Data Attestation Bridge. The testnet bridge seamlessly connects with any blockchain compatible with EVM, enabling the integration and linking of different blockchain solutions. It is available on Avail’s Kate testnet and facilitates Validium mode within ZK and optimistic rollup stacks, moving transaction data off-chain for significant cost reductions compared to traditional rollups, benefiting developers and Layer 2 and Layer 3 blockchain users.
Validiums excel at shifting data availability off-chain, drastically reducing data-related costs, which currently constitute 70–85% of rollup expenses. The data attestation bridge not only empowers this validium mode and reduces operational costs but also transforms Layer 2 solutions’ ecosystems, redefining their role in the blockchain landscape.
This testnet bridge offers developers the convenience of creating validiums or low-cost layer 2 solutions without the necessity of storing complete transaction data on the Ethereum blockchain.
Layer 2 rollup networks like Optimism, and zkSync are designed to reduce transaction fees by aggregating transactions into rollups and then integrating them with the Ethereum base layer. While these layer 2 solutions are more cost-effective than layer 1 alternatives, they can still incur higher fees. To address this issue, some networks use validium solutions, which involve storing transaction proofs on-chain while keeping the full transaction data off-chain.
Validium is a scaling solution akin to ZK-rollups, ensuring transaction integrity via validity proofs like ZK-rollups but distinctively avoids Ethereum Mainnet transaction data storage. In Validium, transaction data is stored off-chain, and verified by zero-knowledge proofs. Unlike ZK-rollups storing all data on-chain, Validium solely stores validity proofs on-chain, enhancing scalability.
Avail’s data attestation bridge empowers developers to efficiently create custom validium solutions by using the Avail network to store their transaction data, eliminating the need to establish their own data availability committee (DAC).
Unlocking Data Accessibility with the Avail Data Availability Layer
Avail is also a data availability layer (DAL) that supports various execution environments, such as standalone chains, sidechains, and off-chain scaling solutions. It simplifies the process of verifying data availability for light clients without the need to download the entire blockchain, significantly enhancing its scalability compared to conventional blockchain platforms.
Avail aims to reduce data storage costs on Ethereum by enabling layer 2 and layer 3 chains to publish data off-chain. This approach lowers transaction fees on the Ethereum blockchain, enabling it to concentrate on execution and preventing congestion. Avail addresses the “data availability” (DA) problem using cryptographic systems. Their data attestation bridge connects Layer 2 rollup data to Layer 1 through an off-chain layer. This bridge is a component of Avail’s layer 2 ecosystem, with plans to host various rollup solutions, including validiums, for scaling Ethereum off-chain.
Additionally, Avail employs an innovative security methodology known as data availability sampling (DAS), rendering it exceptionally resilient against data tampering or censorship attempts.
A Closer Look at How Avail Works
Avail addresses the data availability problem by securely storing transaction data from various blockchains. It efficiently supports numerous blockchains in this specialised role. Using innovative methods such as KZG commitments, data availability sampling, erasure coding, and light client P2P networking, Avail enables independent data availability verification without fraud proofs. This results in a secure and scalable network where chains can be built on top of any execution environment. Avail eliminates concerns about data withholding attacks for other chains and significantly boosts throughput and cost-efficiency for existing Layer 2 chains through Validium solutions, making it easy to integrate with any rollup.
Avail’s innovative approach embraces a decoupled methodology that efficiently separates the execution and validation of transactions from the intricate consensus layer. This well-considered strategy streamlines the core function of the consensus layer, redirecting its focus solely towards the crucial tasks of prioritising transaction sequencing and ensuring data accessibility. In doing so, Avail empowers the seamless creation of autonomous chains or sidechains, each with its distinct execution environment, all the while maintaining the utmost security for validators, without the hassles of validator set management.
Notably, Avail distinguishes itself by utilising advanced mathematical techniques to meticulously examine the blockchain data contributed by node operators. This thorough scrutiny ensures the authenticity of the data, all without requiring confirmation from every operator in the network. This unique combination of modular design and cutting-edge mathematical validation establishes Avail as a pioneer in blockchain technology, offering a robust and secure framework for the future of decentralised systems.
The Core Features of the Avail Blockchain
The Avail blockchain offers several key features such as:
- Modular Architecture: The Avail Modular Blockchain features a modular design, consisting of separate components that can be easily swapped or updated. This built-in modularity boosts the blockchain’s flexibility and its ability to adapt to new developments. It gives developers the freedom to choose the components that best suit their needs and customise the blockchain to fit their specific requirements with ease.
- Data Availability Layer: The data availability layer takes on the important role of recording and maintaining data in the blockchain. This layer has been carefully designed to provide outstanding scalability and efficiency, making it easy to handle many transactions without any challenge. Its main job is to ensure that all the data generated from successfully completed blockchain transactions is recorded and can be easily accessed.
- Scalability: Avail is designed to excel in scalability, effortlessly accommodating many users and numerous transactions. The Avail blockchain demonstrates an innate capacity for scalability, skilfully handling a significant volume of transactions without compromising its peak performance. This achievement is owed to a set of advanced strategies, including sharding and the implementation of a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism.
- Security and Privacy: Avail places a strong emphasis on security and privacy in its design, ensuring users that their data is kept safe, and their transactions are reliable. This is achieved through a comprehensive strategy that includes cryptography, decentralisation, and detailed controls over who can access data. These measures ensure that only authorised individuals can access sensitive information, maintaining its confidentiality. Avail also provides support for private transactions, giving users the choice to keep their data private if they wish.
- Interoperability: Avail Project promotes interoperability by providing tools and protocols that facilitate seamless communication between different blockchain networks and systems, allowing for cross-chain transactions and data sharing.
Potential Use Cases of the Avail Blockchain
Many potential use cases exist for the Avail blockchain, and as blockchain technology continues to evolve, we can anticipate witnessing numerous innovative applications for Avail. For now, let’s explore a few use cases of the Avail Blockchain.
- Decentralised Finance (DeFi): Avail offers a secure and tamper-proof data storage solution specifically designed for DeFi applications, such as lending, borrowing, and trading. This decentralised data storage guarantees that no single entity possesses control over the data. Additionally, Avail possesses the capability to deliver the high throughput and low latency that DeFi applications demand, effectively satisfying their performance requirements.
- Non-fungible tokens (NFTs): Avail offers a secure and immutable storage solution for NFTs, encompassing ownership history, metadata, and NFT images. This safeguarded data ensures the authenticity of NFTs and prevents any counterfeiting.
- Gaming: Avail is a versatile solution well-suited for empowering gaming applications, including multiplayer games and virtual worlds. The exacting nature of gaming applications, marked by the requirement for high throughput and minimal latency, can be effectively tackled by Avail. Also, Avail proves invaluable for storing and authenticating critical data within gaming applications, such as player statistics and game states, ultimately enhancing the fairness and security of these gaming experiences.
- Supply Chain Management: Avail Blockchain’s capacity for traceability and transparency makes it a perfect fit for supply chain management. It enables the tracking of the origins of products and materials while also serving as a secure repository for pertinent data, including details about their source, manufacturing process, and transportation. This data, which remains both transparent and invulnerable to tampering, has the potential to significantly enhance supply chain efficiency and security.
- Internet of Things (IoT): The Internet of Things depends on connected devices and needs a strong, scalable infrastructure. Avail Blockchain’s modular design efficiently manages IoT data and transactions, enhancing connectivity and security. It stores and verifies IoT device data, like sensor data and machine learning models, to boost IoT system security and reliability.
Similar Projects to Avail Blockchain
Several projects are currently focused on modular blockchains, representing just a subset of the numerous initiatives in this rapidly expanding field. It is highly probable that we will witness the emergence of numerous additional ground-breaking projects in the forthcoming years. As previously mentioned, Avail stands out as a modular blockchain base layer, with its primary goal of delivering a high-performance, scalable, and secure platform for next-generation applications. Here are a few other projects like the Avail blockchain:
- Celestia: Celestia and Avail are two separate blockchain initiatives, each with its own distinct approach to tackling the challenges of scalability and security within the blockchain technology space. Celestia is a modular blockchain network designed to deliver consensus and data availability services to other blockchains while giving priority to security, decentralisation, and scalability. This is accomplished by separating the consensus and application execution layers, thereby guaranteeing data security while streamlining application development. Conversely, Avail functions as a dedicated data availability layer for other blockchain networks, elevating their security and scalability.
- Fuel: This is a modular blockchain designed for speed, security, and scalability. Its primary role lies in serving as an execution layer, responsible for transaction processing and the execution of smart contracts. Distinguishing it from Avail, Fuel is dedicated to the efficient handling of transactions and execution, while Avail concentrates on data storage.
- GameSwift: This is a modular blockchain network specifically designed for the gaming industry. This innovation involves seamlessly incorporating zkEVM rollups, which is a way to significantly enhance the efficiency of Web3 gaming. GameSwift Chain facilitates seamless integration with other blockchain networks, promoting better compatibility and interaction. Notably, GameSwift is primarily focused on gaming, while Avail, on the other hand, is a more versatile platform that can be used for various purposes.
- Cosmos: Cosmos is a modular blockchain network designed for seamless compatibility with other blockchain networks. While both Cosmos and Avail are blockchain platforms committed to promoting blockchain interoperability, they diverge significantly in their fundamental approaches. Cosmos functions as a layer-1 blockchain, serving as a foundational framework for constructing and connecting autonomous blockchains. In contrast, Avail operates as a layer-2 blockchain, primarily focused on providing storage solutions for Cosmos-based blockchains.
Notable Achievements by Avail
Following Avail’s separation from Polygon in March 2023 and its transition into a standalone entity, the company has achieved significant milestones since July of the same year. In July, Avail introduced an open-source software development kit (SDK) called OpEVM (Optimistic Ethereum Virtual Machine). This SDK empowers developers to construct their own Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible, optimistic rollups. Notably, the development of OpEVM was a collaborative effort between Avail and the Equilibrium Group. This innovation operates within Avail’s data availability layer, enabling the creation of independent rollup solutions distinct from smart contracts for dispute resolution. OpEVM stands out for its smart contract independence.
Meanwhile, the Avail network has recently achieved a significant milestone by onboarding 100 external validators. This achievement marks a crucial moment in the network’s journey towards expansion and greater decentralisation. External validators are nodes that operate independently of the Avail team and play a pivotal role in upholding the network’s security and reliability. The inclusion of these 100 external validators signifies a substantial leap forward for the Avail network, indicating its increasing popularity and the surging demand for its services.
In another noteworthy advancement, Avail announced two strategic partnerships in August 2023. On August 24, 2023, Avail joined forces with AltLayer to become a key data availability provider for AltLayer’s RaaS solutions. Additionally, on August 31, 2023, Avail established a partnership with Airchains, allowing Airchains to incorporate Avail as its data availability layer. This collaboration empowers Airchains users to harness the extensive data availability features offered by Avail.
These accomplishments signify a significant step in Avail’s journey to becoming a leader in modular blockchain technology. They highlight Avail’s commitment to innovation and its prominent position in the field, positioning it as the preeminent data availability layer for modular blockchains.
Conclusion
Blockchain technology has undergone significant development since its inception, evolving into a dynamic ecosystem of modular solutions. The emergence of projects like Avail showcases the industry’s commitment to addressing real-world challenges. Avail’s innovative approach to data availability, scalability, and security sets it apart as a leader in the modular blockchain movement. With its versatile architecture, Avail opens doors to a wide range of applications, from DeFi and NFTs to gaming and supply chain management. As blockchain technology continues to advance, projects like Avail are paving the way for a decentralised, secure, and interconnected future. Its recent achievements underscore its growing prominence in the world of blockchain innovation. Avail has the potential to become a major player in the blockchain ecosystem.
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