The birth of modular blockchain stems from the need to solve the performance and scalability problems of traditional monolithic blockchain. Traditional blockchains (such as Bitcoin and Ethereum) typically integrate all core functions (consensus, data availability, execution, and settlement) into a monolithic architecture. Although this design ensures decentralization and security, it has significant limitations in scalability and efficiency, especially in the face of more and more users and complex decentralized applications (DApps). The congestion problem has become increasingly prominent.

The evolution process of modular blockchain:

Discovery of performance bottlenecks: Although the early blockchain design was decentralized and secure, as the number of users and transactions increased, network congestion problems emerged. When the Ethereum network faces large-scale DApp and NFT transactions, transaction fees have increased significantly and performance issues have become bottlenecks.

Layered design concept: The blockchain field has gradually developed the idea of ​​​​separating different functions, that is, modularizing core functions. Modular blockchain divides core functions into four levels:

Consensus Layer: Responsible for maintaining the decentralized consensus of the network.

Data Availability Layer: Ensures that data on the chain can be verified and accessible.

Execution Layer: handles transactions and smart contract execution.

Settlement Layer: Responsible for verifying and finalizing transaction results.

Technological breakthroughs: Some projects, such as Celestia and EigenLayer, have promoted the practical application of modular blockchain. They have made breakthroughs in aspects such as data availability and restaking respectively, allowing services at different levels to be developed independently and work together.

Ecosystem development: In the modular blockchain ecosystem, each project can focus on optimizing a certain function, thereby promoting the performance improvement of the entire blockchain system. For example, Layer 2 scaling solutions such as Rollups move execution off-chain while leaving data storage and consensus on the main chain.

Advantages of modular blockchain:

Improve scalability: Different modules can work in parallel, greatly improving the overall system throughput.

Flexibility: Developers can freely combine different modules according to application needs to improve the system's customization capabilities.

Security enhancement: By sharing a consensus layer or data availability layer, multiple chains can share security resources.

Modular blockchain is a response to the limitations of monolithic blockchain architecture. It provides stronger scalability and higher system flexibility by decomposing and optimizing different core functions. As blockchain technology continues to develop, this architecture may become mainstream, providing infrastructure support for more complex decentralized applications.

Later I will continue to introduce modular blockchain projects and the technologies they use.

The birth of modular blockchain stems from the need to solve the performance and scalability problems of traditional monolithic blockchain. Traditional blockchains (such as Bitcoin and Ethereum) typically integrate all core functions (consensus, data availability, execution, and settlement) into a monolithic architecture. Although this design ensures decentralization and security, it has significant limitations in scalability and efficiency, especially in the face of more and more users and complex decentralized applications (DApps). The congestion problem has become increasingly prominent.

The evolution process of modular blockchain:

Discovery of performance bottlenecks: Although the early blockchain design was decentralized and secure, as the number of users and transactions increased, network congestion problems emerged. When the Ethereum network faces large-scale DApp and NFT transactions, transaction fees have increased significantly and performance issues have become bottlenecks.

Layered design concept: The blockchain field has gradually developed the idea of ​​​​separating different functions, that is, modularizing core functions. Modular blockchain divides core functions into four levels:

Consensus Layer: Responsible for maintaining the decentralized consensus of the network.

Data Availability Layer: Ensures that data on the chain can be verified and accessible.

Execution Layer: handles transactions and smart contract execution.

Settlement Layer: Responsible for verifying and finalizing transaction results.

Technological breakthroughs: Some projects, such as Celestia and EigenLayer, have promoted the practical application of modular blockchain. They have made breakthroughs in aspects such as data availability and restaking respectively, allowing services at different levels to be developed independently and work together.

Ecosystem development: In the modular blockchain ecosystem, each project can focus on optimizing a certain function, thereby promoting the performance improvement of the entire blockchain system. For example, Layer 2 scaling solutions such as Rollups move execution off-chain while leaving data storage and consensus on the main chain.

Advantages of modular blockchain:

Improve scalability: Different modules can work in parallel, greatly improving the overall system throughput.

Flexibility: Developers can freely combine different modules according to application needs to improve the system's customization capabilities.

Security enhancement: By sharing a consensus layer or data availability layer, multiple chains can share security resources.

Modular blockchain is a response to the limitations of monolithic blockchain architecture. It provides stronger scalability and higher system flexibility by decomposing and optimizing different core functions. As blockchain technology continues to develop, this architecture may become mainstream, providing infrastructure support for more complex decentralized applications.

Later I will continue to introduce modular blockchain projects and the technologies they use.