Cross-chain paper series article catalog
Introduction- Catalogue of Cross-chain Paper Series Articles
Article Directory
introduction
It has been more than one and a half years since I came to graduate school, but I have not recorded what I have learned and thought. I plan to spend 2-3 months to record what I have learned and seen in detail, and put forward some thoughts of my own .
If you don’t know anything about cross-chain, it is recommended to read the review paper I attached at the end first, and then go back to this article.
This article is the beginning of all academic sharing, mainly recording what I have learned and thought about the cross-chain field of blockchain . As the pre-knowledge of cross-chain (basic principles of blockchain, classification, underlying support technology, etc.), it will not be introduced, please understand it yourself.
The first time I came into contact with cross-chain was last year. After gaining an in-depth understanding of cross-chain, I began to think about several questions
- Compared with cross-chain asset circulation, does cross-chain contract data circulation and function calling have the significance of in-depth research?
- If the cross-chain of the contract layer has research significance, then what is used to prove the credibility and integrity of the data, and what kind of communication architecture and access interface should be used to realize the cross-chain contract access of heterogeneous multi-chain?
- From the perspective of the characteristics of the blockchain, cross-chain is a behavior that crosses the trust boundary. So besides the common SPV proof and zero-knowledge proof, is there a better proof method to prove a transaction on the source chain?
- If you put the oracle machine and the cross-chain together, you will find that they both have a tendency from centralization => decentralization, so can the cross-chain be regarded as an extended result of the oracle machine?
I am a young man with little knowledge. If there is something wrong, please correct me and forgive me. Finally, I will attach some cross-chain technical overviews that I have read.
Cross-chain-what?
Many scholars have put forward their own views on cross-chain, and there are quite a lot of related investigations and studies. Some focus on cross-chain technology, some focus on cross-chain protocols, and some analyze the significance of cross-chain more systematically, and discuss Existing cross-chain technologies and protocols are classified.
A technical report by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines blockchain interoperability as
a composition of distinctive blockchain systems, each representing a unique distributed data ledger, where atomic transaction execution may span multiple heterogeneous blockchain systems, and where data recorded in one blockchain are reachable, verifiable, and referable by another possibly foreign trans action in a semantically compatible manner
A combination of differentiable blockchain systems, each representing a unique distributed data ledger, where atomic transaction execution may span multiple heterogeneous blockchain systems, and data recorded in one blockchain can be accessed by another A possible external transaction is accessed, verified and referenced in a semantically compatible manner
This definition points out that the core of cross-chain lies in the cross-chain access, verification and reference of transaction data.
It is worth thinking that pure transaction data obviously does not have richer semantics, so in terms of semantic interoperability, does semantic interoperability need to continue to implement corresponding cross-chain operations at the contract layer or even the application layer? Woolen cloth?
Cross-chain-why?
After a brief understanding of the definition of cross-chain, let’s think about why there is a cross-chain? Most studies mention the silo effect. If we compare each blockchain instance to a bank that issues its own currency, then cross-chain transactions are like cross-bank transfers and value circulation, but the actual currency does not cross-bank and still remains in the original banking system (only possible This part of the currency is in the hands of the target bank).
The cross-chain transaction mentioned above is the research that has received the most attention. I personally think that the charm of the blockchain should not be limited to this. The core characteristics of the blockchain are tamper-proof and decentralization. This determines the huge application potential of blockchain technology in the financial field, but it is worth noting that the introduction of smart contracts makes blockchain technology have considerable application potential in a wider field.
From the perspective of interoperability, perhaps in addition to cross-chain transactions, cross-chain data circulation and function calls also have considerable research value, which can provide richer semantics for project applications and achieve more complex operation, which is also of great significance to the promotion and application of blockchain technology in various industries.
Cross-chain-where and when?
- Where
From the perspective of the blockchain architecture, the data layer and network layer, which symbolize the underlying technology of the blockchain, are more of a basic supporting technology for cross-chain technology, and are not a focus of cross-chain research .
The consensus layer takes on the important responsibility of the credibility of the blockchain process, and the consensus layer is obviously the core role of cross-chain technology. From the perspective of the consensus layer, the cross-chain technology mainly realizes the verification process of the target chain to the source chain transaction at the consensus layer. Only the source chain transaction that has passed the consensus on the chain is a legal cross-chain transaction.
The contract layer is obviously a huge expansion of the application of blockchain technology. The cross-chain of the contract layer can better realize the semantic interoperability of the cross-chain, and at the same time realize the contract data circulation and function call of the cross-chain.
The application layer is the top-level call of the blockchain technology. In the cross-chain technology, the cross-chain research of the application layer is more inclined to DAPP's transparent access to different chains.
- when
The timing of cross-chain is obviously available at any time. Here we mainly consider the time consumption of different cross-chain technologies. Regarding cross-chain contract data access and function calls, no detailed introduction will be given, please refer to the follow-up articles.
Cross-chain transactions Cross-chain transactions focus on proof of the credibility of transaction data. The cross-chain transaction process can be abstracted as: (perhaps not perfect, roughly the process)
Cross-chain transaction initiation, A chain => middleman (centralized or distributed) => B chain
To prove, the middleman or B chain applies for proof to an organization and then proves to ensure the credibility and integrity of cross-chain data.
If the proof is successful, the transaction is successful, otherwise the A-chain transaction should be rolled back to ensure atomicity.
Cross-chain contract data access mainly includes contract synchronization, contract migration, and contract invocation.
Cross-chain contract function calls mainly include application layer agnostic calls and contract calls.
Cross-chain-how?
Cross-chain technology:
- notary public
- Sidechain/Relay
- hash time lock
- Distributed private key control
- Some fusion schemes of the above four
Cross-chain protocol:
- IBC (inter blockchain communication protocol) protocol
- MBCCP（multiblockchain consociation and communication protocol）协议
- XCMP (cross-chain message passing) protocol
- IBTP（inter blockchain transfer protocol）
- XCLAIM
- NCASP
- AC3WN（atomic cross chain commitment witness network ）
- 3PP(three-phase protocol)
- Relay
- Swap
- DeXTT （deterministic cross-blockchain token transfers）
- Interledger protocol
- Zendoo protocol
- SuSy agreement
- AUGP (atomic unidirectional gateway protocol) protocol
Summarize
There are various cross-chain solutions, and the research in recent years is also increasing, which undoubtedly shows the importance of cross-chain research. Welcome to exchange private messages and learn and progress together! !
The cross-chain solution needs to meet the following characteristics (summarized by myself, only for recording my own views):
appendix
[1] I. A. Qasse, M. Abu Talib和Q. Nasir, 《Inter Blockchain Communication: A Survey》, 收入 Proceedings of the ArabWIC 6th Annual International Conference Research Track, New York, NY, USA, 3月 2019, 页 1–6. doi: 10.1145/3333165.3333167.
[2] H. Tam Vo, Z. Wang, D. Karunamoorthy, J. Wagner, E. Abebe和M. Mohania, 《Internet of Blockchains: Techniques and Challenges Ahead》, 收入 2018 IEEE International Conference on Internet of Things (iThings) and IEEE Green Computing and Communications (GreenCom) and IEEE Cyber, Physical and Social Computing (CPSCom) and IEEE Smart Data (SmartData), Halifax, NS, Canada, 7月 2018, 页 1574–1581. doi: 10.1109/Cybermatics_2018.2018.00264.
[3] W. Ou, S. Huang, J. Zheng, Q. Zhang, G. Zeng and W. Han, "An overview on cross-chain: Mechanism, platforms, challenges and advances", Computer Networks, Vol. 218, Page 109378, December 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.comnet.2022.109378.
[4] G. Wang, Q. Wang and S. Chen, "Exploring Blockchains Interoperability: A Systematic Survey", ACM Comput. Surv., page 3582882 , February 2023, doi: 10.1145/3582882.
[5] Y. He, C. Zhang, B. Wu, Y. Yang, K. Xiao and H. Li, "A Cross-Chain Trusted Reputation Scheme for a Shared Charging Platform Based on Blockchain”, IEEE Internet Things J., Volume 9, Issue 11, Pages 7989–8000, June 2022, doi: 10.1109/JIOT.2021.3099898. [6] Meng Bo, Wang Yibing, Zhao Can, Wang Dejun
and Ma Binhao, "A Review of Blockchain Cross-chain Protocols", Computer Science and Exploration, Page 1–18, 2022. [
7] Lu Aitong, Zhao Kuo, Yang Jingying and Wang Feng, "Blockchain Cross-chain Technology Research" , Information Network Security, Issue 08, Pages 83–90, 2019.
[8] Li Fang, Li Zhuoran and Zhao He, "Research on the Progress of Blockchain Cross-chain Technology", Journal of Software, Volume 30, Issue 06, Pages 1649–1660, 2019, doi: 10.13328/j.cnki.jos.005741.
[9] Guo Chao, Guo Shuaiyin, Zhang Shengli, Song Lingyang and Wang Hui, "Blockchain Cross-chain Technology Analysis", Journal of the Internet of Things, Volume 4, Issue 02, Pages 35–48, 2020. [10] Xu Zhuoyan and Zhou Xuan
, "A Review of Cross-chain Technology Development", Computer Application Research, Volume 38, Issue 02, Pages 341–346, 2021, doi: 10.19734/j.issn.1001-3695.2020.01.0025. [11] R. Belchior, A. Vasconcelos
, S. Guerreiro and M. Correia, "A Survey on Blockchain Interoperability: Past, Present, and Future Trends", ACM Comput. Surv., Volume 54, Issue 8, Pages 168:1-168:41, October 2021, doi : 10.1145/3471140.
[12] P. Robinson, "Survey of crosschain communications protocols", Computer Networks, Volume 200, Page 108488, December 2021, doi: 10.1016/j.comnet.2021.108488.