Core Advantages and Ecological Status of Cosmos

Recently, a blockchain investment expert wrote an article about "the current core technologies and ecological projects of Cosmos," interpreting the core technological advantages of Cosmos, the innovative mechanisms on application chains, and several important projects currently on Cosmos.

One of the major challenges facing traditional blockchain today is the advancement of its widespread adoption and scalability. One of the difficulties is the lack of interoperability between different chains, leading to complex and inefficient communication and data transmission. Additionally, because the design focus is on security rather than scalability, scalability has always been a primary issue, which has also resulted in slower communication speeds and increased network congestion, leading to higher costs.

Cosmos proposes a solution to these challenges by introducing an interconnected blockchain paradigm. It utilizes the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol to achieve seamless communication and secure asset transfers between different chains. With a standardized framework for inter-chain interoperability, Cosmos facilitates efficient cross-chain interactions, expanding the possibilities and practicality of blockchain technology. Additionally, Cosmos addresses scalability issues through its modular architecture and consensus algorithms. Developers can use the Cosmos SDK to create application-specific blockchains, referred to as "zones." Zones (independent blockchains, also known as regions) can adopt different consensus mechanisms, allowing for horizontal scaling and performance optimization. By supporting parallel processing across multiple zones, Cosmos significantly enhances the network's transaction capacity and scalability while leveraging the Comet consensus algorithm to provide fast block confirmation times, increased security, and resilience against malicious attacks. This type of consensus algorithm serves as a reliable foundation for interconnected blockchain networks, combining efficiency, finality, and robustness.

Core: Cosmos SDK, IBC and Comet

The Cosmos SDK provides developers with the ability to create custom blockchains or zones that meet specific needs and goals. Leveraging the interoperability features of Cosmos, these custom zones expand the boundaries of inter-chain interaction. The Comet consensus algorithm enhances this capability, ensuring that the Cosmos network operates securely and efficiently. Additionally, IBC supports seamless communication across different chains.

Cosmos Highlights

Interoperability: The strength of Cosmos lies in its guarantee of interoperability, allowing independent blockchains within the Cosmos network to connect easily. This interoperability fosters breakthroughs in cross-chain applications and collaboration, driving innovation and enhancing the practical utility of decentralization.

Scalability and Performance: Cosmos addresses scalability issues by allowing the creation of independent blockchains or zones through authorization. These zones can customize their consensus mechanisms and scalability according to user needs, supporting horizontal scaling by merging additional zones to accommodate increased transaction volume. Therefore, the Cosmos ecosystem boasts excellent performance and scalability.

Personal Sovereignty: The Cosmos ecosystem provides an ideal platform for creating chains focused on personal sovereignty. By utilizing the infrastructure provided by Cosmos, such as the Cosmos SDK, IBC, and Comet BFT consensus algorithm, developers can flexibly customize any aspect of the technology stack to enhance performance, throughput, security, and other key factors of the chain. For example, EVM chains like Evmos are built using the existing technology stack. Additionally, dedicated application layers can be developed to support these specific virtual machines (VMs), allowing for the construction of chains that run on different virtual machines, such as Move or SVM.

Developer-Friendly Environment: Cosmos provides a friendly environment for blockchain developers. The Cosmos SDK is a feature-rich platform for building dApps. By leveraging the SDK's modular framework, developers can create their own unique blockchains outside of the SDK, simplifying the development process. This streamlined approach allows developers to create customized chains that extend from the Cosmos SDK, thereby enhancing the adoption and growth of the blockchain ecosystem.

Cosmos Application Chain

Application chains are an indispensable part of the innovative Cosmos ecosystem, representing specialized and specific application blockchains that meet different use cases. Unlike traditional monolithic blockchains, the modular approach adopted through the Cosmos SDK enables developers to customize consensus, storage, and networking mechanisms based on the specific requirements of their dApps. This grants application chains a certain degree of autonomy, allowing developers to have better control over their applications and enhancing their ability to shape user experiences. Additionally, the Cosmos application chain model offers enticing revenue opportunities, allowing dApp creators to explore unique monetization strategies and promote sustainable growth within their respective chains.

In addition, the flexibility of Cosmos application chains extends to the handling of MEV. By providing developers with tools to design MEV strategies that fit their needs, Cosmos incentivizes fair and transparent MEV extraction, promoting a more equitable and efficient ecosystem. Furthermore, the interoperability facilitated by the IBC protocol is a key advantage of the Cosmos application chain model. It supports seamless communication and asset transfer between different application chains, enabling the development of advanced cross-chain DeFi applications and expanding possibilities for developers and users alike. In summary, application chains in the Cosmos ecosystem provide a promising pathway for dApp development, offering sovereignty, income opportunities, flexibility in MEV, and seamless interoperability, thus fostering a vibrant and thriving blockchain ecosystem.

Inter-chain Security

Inter-chain security is a groundbreaking approach aimed at enhancing the security of the new Cosmos chains and facilitating their smooth launch, involving the concept of "renting" economic security from the already established secure chain within the Cosmos ecosystem (Cosmos Hub).

Main Advantages

Economic Security Leasing: To launch a new Cosmos chain, developers can utilize the security of the Cosmos Hub or other secure chains by locking a certain amount of the new chain's native tokens as collateral. This process helps to establish a financial connection between the new chain and the secure chain.

Cross-Chain Security: Achieve economic security through inter-chain security. The new Cosmos chain has stronger resistance against attacks, relying on a large number of different validators in the secure chain to protect its transactions and assets, reducing the risk of 51% attacks and other security threats.

Independent Blockchains: Each Cosmos chain operates independently, with its own governance, token, and use cases. However, through inter-chain communication protocols like IBC, they can securely exchange data and value, facilitating interoperability and synergy within the Cosmos ecosystem.

By adopting inter-chain security and collaborating within the Cosmos ecosystem, new chains can significantly lower the entry barrier and gain a strong and proven security infrastructure. This promotes innovation, accelerates the development pace of blockchain, and brings about a new era of secure and interconnected dApps.

Cosmos SDK

The Cosmos SDK supports modularization, creating an ecosystem that includes a large number of interchangeable modules. This approach liberates developers from the previous task of "building complex functionalities from scratch." Instead, developers can seamlessly integrate pre-built modules into their applications, simplifying the creation of application-specific blockchains. The Cosmos SDK offers high flexibility in module customization, allowing developers to tailor these modules precisely according to their application needs, opening up a realm for fine-tuning chain applications. As the Cosmos Network evolves, the ecosystem of SDK modules will also develop, providing developers with scalable options and functionalities. In this dynamic environment, complex and highly specialized blockchain applications can be nurtured, fostering innovation and driving the growth of the Cosmos ecosystem.

The Cosmos SDK also prioritizes security through its capability-based security concept. These features act as "guardians" that clearly define the boundaries between modules and mitigate the risks posed by malicious or unforeseen interactions. By protecting creation, the Cosmos SDK focuses on security measures.

Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol IBC

IBC is a protocol within the Cosmos ecosystem designed to facilitate secure and decentralized communication across blockchains. It acts as a bridge, enabling data transmission throughout the Cosmos network. By utilizing cryptographic proofs and consensus algorithms, IBC ensures the integrity and reliability of inter-chain transactions, maintains data confidentiality, and prevents tampering or unauthorized access. This protocol not only enhances chain interoperability but also fosters collaboration and innovation by allowing project-based systems to leverage the network. With IBC, Cosmos has the potential to usher in a new era of blockchain interconnectivity, providing new possibilities for dApps, cross-chain asset transfers, and the creation of interconnected blockchain networks.

Tracking: Chain B continuously receives the data headers sent from Chain A, and vice versa. This allows each chain to track the validator set of the other chain, essentially running a light client of the other chain.

Binding: When the IBC transfer is initiated, the token is bound.

Proof Relay: Then, 10 tokens are bound as proof relayed from chain A to chain B.

Verification: Verify the certificate against the data header of Chain A on Chain B. If the certificate is valid, create 10 certificates on Chain B.

Cosmos environment

The current Cosmos ecosystem is quite good, attracting a variety of projects and establishing influential partnerships. By leveraging Cosmos's powerful infrastructure, these projects have entered a highly interoperable blockchain space, potentially unleashing strong network effects. This seamless collaboration and integration greatly enhance the overall ecology, promote innovation, and drive the adoption of Cosmos as a popular blockchain solution.

Project based on Cosmos

Osmosis

Osmosis is an innovative crypto project built on the Cosmos ecosystem, providing a DEX platform that facilitates liquidity supply. With the support of the IBC protocol, Osmosis enables seamless token swaps between different chains within the Cosmos network. This unique feature allows users to access a variety of assets and pools, promoting an efficient and secure trading experience. By leveraging Cosmos's interoperability and scalability, Osmosis creates an inclusive and interconnected ecosystem that enhances liquidity and enables cross-chain collaboration. With its focus on user-centricity and optimized liquidity management, Osmosis opens up new opportunities for DeFi participants to explore a broader range of assets and realize their trading potential.

dYdX

dYdX is a DEX platform that has gained popularity due to its user-centered approach to cryptocurrency trading. By allowing users to have complete control over their private keys and assets, dYdX eliminates the reliance on centralized institutions, promoting a safer and more transparent trading experience. dYdX operates on the Cosmos chain, leveraging the Cosmos SDK to facilitate fast and efficient trading, as well as seamless interoperability with other Cosmos-based applications. In addition to basic cryptocurrency trading, dYdX also offers margin trading and lending services, catering to traders looking to leverage their trades and lending users who wish to earn interest on idle assets. With its robust security, Cosmos has a bright future on dYdX, fundamentally changing the way traders engage with cryptocurrencies while fostering the growth of the DeFi ecosystem.

Akash Network

Akash Network provides a decentralized cloud computing marketplace. By leveraging the security of Cosmos, Akash Network offers a secure platform where users can send data to each other and develop applications. The network operates through a PoS consensus mechanism, enhancing the security of transactions. The native token of Akash Network is AKT, serving as a utility token for the ecosystem. Through integration with Cosmos, Akash Network benefits from the interoperability and scalability of a larger network, enabling seamless communication with other blockchain platforms. As a result, Akash Network allows developers and organizations to access affordable decentralized cloud computing resources.

Sei Network

Sei Network is a high-performance blockchain platform that operates as L1 on the Cosmos SDK blockchain platform, providing financial services to users and facilitating the deployment of the DeFi ecosystem. The network was founded by individuals who recognized the need for a platform that prioritizes providing innovative financial tools to users.