# A (very) short introduction to Eigenlayer *It's simpler than you think* By [Nahiko's Bookmarks](https://paragraph.com/@nahiko) · 2024-11-18 --- Hi Pals ! I'm on a secret trip ! 🏰 So I'll keep it short ! This week I learned about [Eigenlayer](https://x.com/eigenlayer), so here's **A (very) short introduction to Eigenlayer** * * * _Please note that I am in the process of learning more about Eigenlayer, consider these informations not as fact, but as MY understanding of it._ * * * The Initial Problem ------------------- Imagine you want to create an **onchain NFT that displays the current time.** `currentTime = block.timestamp` That was easy ! That's because that data is available inside the blockchain, We can simply ask the blockchain _"what time is it ?"_ Now let's add **the current temperature in Paris.** `currentTemperature = weather.Paris.temperature();` Nope, that doesn't work ! The blockchain does not contain that information. **In fact, the blockchain does not have access to anything on the internet** 😭 Alternative Solutions ? ----------------------- Chainlink used to solve this issue _(by providing a "bridge" between blockchains and real-world data like the weather - see this article 👇)_ [ AccuWeather's Chainlink Node To Satisfy Web3's "Great Need" For Weather Data ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- In 2021, the blockchain industry's leading oracle network, Chainlink, secured $75 billion in decentralized finance (DeFi) while laying the groundwork for decentralized insurance, dynamic NFTs, and blockchain gaming. Among global organizations delivering their data on-chain via Chainlink, AccuWeather launched its own Chainlink node in what its Director of Flagship Products, Matthew Vitebsky, called a historic \[...\] https://chainlinktoday.com ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/f049565a6eb7a5ad9da762571915426c.jpg) ](https://chainlinktoday.com/accuweathers-chainlink-node-to-satisfy-web3s-great-need-for-weather-data/) But AFAIK this was removed ! (it probably wasn't worth it 🤑), All they provide anymore is financial data (ex: live USD-EUR exchange rate) Wouldn't it be amazing if you could **ask for any real-world information on the blockchain** ? Enters Eigenlayer ----------------- Let's create a bounty on the blockchain: **"I will pay you 1$ if you tell me the current temperature in Paris"** 100 people answered ! Do I trust them ? Of course not They only get the 1$ if their answer is ±5°C from the average _(example: if the average of the other answers is 10°C, I will not accept 16°C as an answer)_ In a nutshell Eigenlayer gives you a set of tools & contracts to: * Pick information you want to query from the real world **(current temperature in Paris)** * Pick what the criterias to use as validation **(±5°C)** * Pick "who" can provide the data **(Only Parisians can answer)** * etc. You're in control of everything. To learn more, here's a (quite technical) blog on their website: [ You Could Have Invented EigenLayer: Explaining EigenLayer --------------------------------------------------------- In this blog post, we will take you through the evolution of the protocol, by covering how EigenLayer's architecture emerged from the initial concept. https://www.blog.eigenlayer.xyz ![](https://storage.googleapis.com/papyrus_images/7e372e5bc5eb2dbc5acb1b08357f2e1c.jpg) ](https://www.blog.eigenlayer.xyz/ycie/) And a huge thank you to [@JakeHartnell](https://x.com/JakeHartnell) for their help in understanding Eigenlayer a little more ! * * * I hope you liked this very short (and potentially inaccurate 😂) intro to Eigenlayer ! See you next week ! ✌ Nahiko * * * _If you enjoyed this issue, please tap the Share button below_ ❤ _Thank you!_ [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I%20found%20an%20interesting%20newsletter%20%21%0A%0A%40nahiiko%20pushes%20the%20boundaries%20of%20NFTs%20and%20shares%20everything%20he%20learns%20along%20the%20way%3A%0A%0Anahikosbookmarks.com) **_I share 1 new thing I learned in the NFT space, every Sunday_** ✨ Don’t miss the next one: [Subscribe](https://paragraph.xyz/@nahiko/memberships) --- *Originally published on [Nahiko's Bookmarks](https://paragraph.com/@nahiko/bookmarked-35)*