Modular Blockchain: Analysis of 9 Major Blockchains and Future Outlook

Overview

• Compared to Ethereum, modular blockchain represents a more reasonable trend in multi-chain structure.
• Currently, the modular blockchain focuses on DA and execution layers, with the execution layer being easy to deploy and DA emphasizing performance optimization.
• General-purpose modular blockchains like Celestia are worth paying attention to.

Characteristics of Modular Blockchain

A modular blockchain is an independent blockchain that focuses on a specific module of the blockchain, such as data availability (DA), transaction execution, or network consensus. For example, Celestia focuses on providing DA services for other chains/Rollups without validating or executing transactions.

Advantages of modular blockchain:

1. Lightweight and combinable: Different modular blockchains can be combined with each other and can also be combined with monolithic chains.

2. Governance decoupling: the execution layer can respond quickly, and the consensus layer achieves robust improvements.

3. Forming a "trust-minimized" cluster: Rollups with the same DA can form secure funds and message transmission.

Analysis of 9 Major Modular Blockchains

1. Celestia: A general-purpose modular solution that provides DA services. Introduces DAS technology to improve TPS.

2. Polygon Avail: A general-purpose modular blockchain solution, similar to Celestia.

3. EigenDA: The DA solution proposed by EigenLayer, the restaking layer of Ethereum.

4. Fuel: modular execution layer, Ethereum's Optimistic Rollup.

5. Assembly: The modular smart contract layer on IOTA.

6. zkPorter: an off-chain DA solution proposed by zkSync.

7. StarkEx DAC: The off-chain DA solution of StarkEx.

8. Arbitrum Anytrust: Arbitrum's off-chain DA solution, Nova chain is now live.

9. Adamantium: Off-chain DA solutions, users can custody their own off-chain DA.

Current Situation and Prospects

• The modular blockchain is in the early stages of development, and most projects are still in the testnet phase.
• The highlight moment is expected to arrive soon, as the mainnet of Celestia and zkSync 2.0 is about to go live.
• Ethereum Rollup has made many attempts in DA, maintaining off-chain DA through a centralized group.
• Modular blockchain options may emerge for different scenarios in the future.
• Early projects like Celestia will face market testing first.
• The security and composability issues of modular blockchain still need to be addressed.