Last updated on August 30th, 2024
Blockchain technology has emerged as a transformative solution for industries grappling with the constraints of centralized operations. By establishing an ecosystem grounded in zero trust principles, blockchain offers processes that are remarkably neutral, resilient to changes, and entirely transparent, especially when compared to traditional computing environments. Having proved its reliability across various sectors, blockchain now encounters an oracle issue—its dependence on an Internet connection.
This limitation arises because blockchains lack inherent communication capabilities with external APIs or other blockchains, which not only restricts their ability to interact with traditional systems but also impedes interoperability between different blockchains. As the concept of a multi-blockchain landscape gains momentum, interoperability protocols are rapidly becoming essential infrastructure for the seamless exchange of tokens and data across blockchains.
In this article, we will explore the significance and mechanics of blockchain interoperability for businesses, shedding light on what to anticipate from its integration.
The Origin of Blockchain Interoperability Solutions
The significance of blockchain interoperability can be best appreciated by relating it to the concept of globalization. This approach enables blockchain networks to facilitate the movement of assets that are confined within their individual chains.
Much like countries that excel in specific sectors, certain blockchains may be particularly adept at minting new NFTs, while others might provide exceptionally low transaction fees. Additionally, the location of a blockchain can significantly influence the scalability and security of decentralized applications (dApps). By establishing connections between these specialised blockchains, the potential extends far beyond merely allowing existing applications to expand; it paves the way for the emergence of new applications and use cases.
Similar to historical economic shifts driven by globalization, such as the creation of new business domains and the rise of e-commerce through enhanced web interoperability, blockchain interoperability opens up a world of opportunities. However, on the practical front, the absence of such interoperability has led to numerous persistent challenges, prompting businesses to seek solutions specifically targeting blockchain interoperability.
- The lack of direct interoperability between Ethereum and Bitcoin restricts Bitcoin users from utilizing their funds within the Ethereum network.
- To convert BTC to ETH, users must rely on a centralized cryptocurrency exchange, as direct transactions are not possible.
- Though both Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain support USDT, transferring USDT from Ethereum to Binance Smart Chain or any other blockchain remains impossible.
- Blockchain proponents aim to integrate blockchain technology into the traditional financial system; however, if different banks operate on separate blockchains, transaction complexities arise, resulting in a fragmented system rather than a cohesive one.
Business Benefits of Blockchain Interoperability
As the blockchain ecosystem grows, interoperability is emerging as a vital factor influencing the success of various projects. The global market valuation for blockchain interoperability is expected to approach $3 billion by 2034; however, significant interchain partnerships and advancements are anticipated as early as 2025. This trend reflects companies’ ongoing efforts to enhance blockchain efficiency, scalability, and privacy.
Also Read: 5 Crucial Things You Should Know About Blockchain Technology
Real-World Applications of Blockchain Interoperability
The practical implementation of blockchain interoperability is already beginning to transform various industries. By facilitating connections across different blockchain networks, businesses can offer enhanced transaction capabilities, enabling users to seamlessly interact and transact without being confined to a single platform. This versatility not only bolsters the reliability of platforms but also fortifies security by integrating multiple networks known for their transaction accuracy and safety.
In addressing scalability challenges, companies can leverage interoperable blockchain solutions to create advanced applications and services without the burden of performance constraints or exorbitant transaction fees. As communication between diverse blockchains improves, the resulting improved ecosystem allows brands to collaborate more effectively, leading to innovative products and services tailored to customer needs. Additionally, cross-chain communication streamlines transaction processes, reducing costs and settling transactions more quickly, which enhances user experience.
Moreover, the interconnectivity of blockchains fosters transparency, granting customers insight into up-to-date transaction data and reinforcing trust in business operations. The ability to exchange real-time data across networks accelerates growth by enabling companies to identify opportunities and respond to market demands efficiently. This interoperability not only paves the way for innovation by encouraging the development of applications that exploit the strengths of multiple blockchains but also unlocks new use cases, allowing businesses to offer personalized solutions that cater to diverse customer requirements. Lastly, by minimizing reliance on any single blockchain, interoperability significantly lowers the risk of disruptions, ensuring continuous operations through alternative transaction pathways, which enhances the overall resilience of the blockchain ecosystem.
The Common Blockchain Interoperability Solutions
The best starting point when discussing blockchain interoperability solutions is to examine the most popular cross-chain interactions:
- Token Swaps: These involve trading a token on the source chain and receiving a different token on the destination chain, typically facilitated by atomic swap protocols and cross-chain automated market makers (AMMs) that maintain liquidity pools on each blockchain.
- Token Bridges: These operate by locking or burning tokens through a smart contract on the source chain and then minting or unlocking tokens via a separate smart contract on the destination chain, enabling assets to transition between blockchain networks and enhancing token utility.
- Native Payments: This method involves an application on the source chain triggering payments on the destination chain using the native asset. Cross-chain payments can also be executed on the source chain, utilising its native asset based on data from an alternate blockchain network.
- Contract Calls: In this scenario, a smart contract on the source chain invokes a function on a smart contract deployed on the destination chain, which may rely on data originating from the source chain. Multiple contract calls can be integrated to form sophisticated cross-chain applications that include token bridging and swaps.
To facilitate these cross-chain interactions, four interoperability solutions are utilized, which validate the state of a source blockchain and relay transactions to the destination blockchain. Both state verification and relaying are crucial for the completion of cross-chain interactions.
Web2 Validation
Web2 validation occurs when individuals employ a Web2 service to carry out cross-chain transactions. A prevalent example of this is when users utilize centralized exchanges to swap or bridge their tokens. The process is straightforward: users deposit their assets into a source chain address managed by the exchange, and then they can withdraw the same or different tokens (through a swap) to their own destination chain address.
External Validation
External validation involves leveraging validator nodes from all participating blockchains in the cross-chain interaction to verify the state of the source blockchain. Once certain criteria are fulfilled, these nodes initiate the subsequent transaction on the destination chain. There are various methods to implement committee-based consensus, including decentralized oracle networks, multi-party computation, and threshold multi-signature contracts. Each of these approaches relies on validator nodes to carry out trust-minimized off-chain computations, which are then confirmed on-chain.
Local Validation
Local validation occurs when the parties involved in a cross-chain interaction independently verify each other’s state. If both parties validate the other’s status, the cross-chain transaction can proceed, leading to successful peer-to-peer exchanges. Transactions relying on local validation are commonly referred to as atomic swaps. These atomic swaps are designed to minimise trust, operating under the premise that either the swap is completed successfully or both transactions fail, thus upholding a strong assurance against unilateral losses.
Native Validation
Native validation occurs when a destination blockchain actively verifies the state of a source blockchain in the context of cross-chain interactions before executing a transaction on its own chain. This process typically involves running a light client of the source blockchain within the destination chain’s virtual machine or operating both systems concurrently.
Leading blockchain companies, including Chainlink, Cosmos, and Polkadot, are incorporating these methodologies to improve connectivity among networks. However, the effectiveness of these solutions largely depends on the thoughtful and strategic design of the interoperable systems.
At iTechnolabs, we are committed to developing blockchain software that is scalable, forward-thinking, and effective, ensuring that interoperability mechanisms are carefully constructed. To this end, we share specific requirements with our clients to enhance their blockchain’s readiness for interoperability.
Read More: Top 13 Real-World Applications of Blockchain Technology
Blockchain Interoperability in Business Best Practices
The influence of blockchain interoperability on businesses significantly hinges on the quality of its implementation within the solution. Typically, the interoperability model is structured around three layers designed to tackle various cross-chain challenges effectively. These layers work collaboratively to ensure seamless interactions between different blockchains, enhancing operational efficiency and fostering innovation in business processes.
Business Model Layer
When two blockchain ecosystems exchange data, it is crucial for their governance models to be easily comparable, accompanied by a clear legal framework and commercial agreements. Relying solely on technical feasibility for interoperability is a narrow-minded approach and should be avoided. Businesses should consider the following questions within this layer:
- Which industries and data standards do the participating entities adhere to?
- Are any participants currently affiliated with an existing blockchain ecosystem, and what data standards do they employ?
- What methods should participants implement to discover, exchange, and apply pertinent distributed data across varying ecosystems?
- Does the proposed use case necessitate features offered by associated ecosystems, such as payments or trade finance in supply chain contexts?
- How can we avert or lessen interoperability risks, such as the risk of exposing data to untrusted third parties and losing access to information on secondary chains?
Platform Layer
When two ecosystems exchange data points, blockchain interoperability necessitates a thorough examination to ensure that the platform layers are technically aligned, particularly regarding consensus mechanisms, authentication, and smart contracts. Here are the essential questions businesses should address within this layer:
- Are any participants already part of an existing blockchain ecosystem? If so, which blockchain platform do they utilise, and what consensus mechanism underpins it?
- Do blockchain platforms facilitate comparable multi-signature transactions for authentication and authorisation? For example, does one platform verify at the user level while another does so at the node level?
- Is it possible to create a cross-authentication mechanism?
- In a notary scheme-based interoperability approach, is it feasible to place trust in a third party to manage the notary scheme for cross-chain interaction, or does this contradict the aim of decentralisation?
- If a relay-based interoperability solution is used, what were the reasons for the two ecosystems being built on differing blockchain technologies? How can stakeholders in the application layers of distinct blockchains create trust, given their varied consensus mechanisms and governance structures?
- Can an API gateway be established to bridge the systems?
Infrastructure Layer
The infrastructure layer encompasses a range of components that enable the services of a blockchain platform, including computation, storage, networking, and virtualization. Here are critical questions that businesses should consider for this layer:
- Will the use case expose the solution owner to regional legal restrictions concerning data storage locations or other factors?
- Does the use case allow the solution owner to implement it on a virtual private cloud?
- Can the use case leverage Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) offerings?
- Is the IT organization equipped to manage hosting nodes, wallets, secure keys, or tokens effectively?
Here are some best practices for blockchain interoperability in business that we recommend our clients follow on their journey to scale up, regardless of the use cases they are exploring:
- Conduct thorough assessments of legal and regulatory requirements related to blockchain solutions.
- Evaluate the infrastructure capabilities to support scalable and compliant deployments.
- Leverage existing BaaS solutions to expedite development and reduce maintenance overhead.
- Ensure the IT team possesses the necessary skills and maturity for effective blockchain management.
The Future of Blockchain Interoperability in Business
There is a critical necessity for isolated blockchain networks to seamlessly interact with one another. Without a dedicated blockchain abstraction layer, decentralized applications (dApps) are reliant on distinct, internal integrations for each cross-chain interaction they wish to utilize, a process that is notoriously resource-heavy, lengthy, and intricate.
As the industry increasingly prioritizes the exploration and enhancement of blockchain interoperability for enterprises, we can expect the emergence of various interoperability platforms. This shift will likely lead to new partnerships within the technology sector as businesses evaluate fresh use cases. On the consumer side, end users will benefit significantly, gaining greater confidence in blockchain applications as interoperability paves the way for countless new opportunities.
Important: Decentralized Cryptocurrency Exchange Development
FAQs
What is blockchain interoperability?
Blockchain interoperability refers to the capability of diverse blockchain networks to connect and operate together effortlessly. This functionality facilitates the transfer and exchange of data, assets, and information among different blockchain platforms without the need for intermediaries. The goal is to foster a more interconnected and efficient blockchain ecosystem, thereby improving the overall utility and adaptability of blockchain technology.
How does blockchain interoperability work?
Blockchain interoperability operates by employing standardized protocols, bridges, and cross-chain communication methods that enable various blockchain networks to share information and assets openly. These technologies allow blockchains to interpret and validate data from alternate networks, fostering seamless interactions. Tools such as smart contracts, atomic swaps, and interoperability platforms like Polkadot and Cosmos play a crucial role in facilitating this connectivity, ensuring that transactions and data exchanges are both secure and efficient across multiple blockchain systems.
How can blockchain interoperability improve business efficiency?
The approach can greatly boost business efficiency by facilitating smooth data exchanges and transactions among various blockchain platforms. By removing the necessity for intermediaries, it lowers operational costs and accelerates processes. Companies can utilize interoperable blockchains to optimize supply chains, increase transparency, and enhance cooperation with partners who utilise different blockchain technologies. This interconnected strategy promotes more efficient and secure business practices, driving innovation and scalability across multiple sectors.
