Introduction
Modular blockchains have emerged as a key trend for 2024, endorsed by major players like a16z. With Ethereum's Cancun upgrade on the horizon, debates around modular vs. monolithic architectures intensify. This article explores their complementary roles—modular chains can serve as middleware for monolithic chains, and vice versa—highlighting how they evolve together by learning from each other's strengths.
Key Architectural Approaches
Monolithic vs. Modular Blockchains
- Monolithic: Integrated execution, consensus, and data availability (e.g., Near, Polkadot).
- Modular: Decoupled layers (e.g., Ethereum’s rollup-centric model).
Shared Goal: Scalability via:
- Sharding (Ethereum, Near, Polkadot).
- Rollups (Ethereum’s L2 solutions).
Ethereum 2.0 vs. Near
Nightshade Sharding
- Near’s built-in sharding enables cross-shard transactions seamlessly.
Phases:
- Phase 0: Single shard.
- Phase 1: Chunk-only producers.
- Phase 2: Full Nightshade (no global-state validators).
Starsight: ZK-Centric Future
- Near adopts zkRollups for stateless validation, reducing costs and improving decentralization.
- Key Innovation: Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) for state transition verification.
Ethereum 2.0 vs. Polkadot
Shared Design Philosophy
- Both prioritize simple base layers (Ethereum’s beacon chain ↔ Polkadot’s relay chain).
- Rollups (Ethereum) ≈ Parachains (Polkadot).
Polkadot’s Advanced Features
- Substrate Framework: Simplifies app-chain launches.
- XCMP: Enables cross-parachain messaging without relay chain mediation.
- On-Chain Governance: Autonomous protocol upgrades.
Challenges
Universal Issues
- Innovation Dilemma: EVM dominance vs. new VMs (Move, WASM).
- Consensus-Building: Beyond technical specs to social adoption.
Modular-Specific Problems
- Fragmentation: Competing layers.
- Fragility: Security risks from interdependent modules.
- Cross-Rollup Execution: Requires standardization.
The Path Forward: Collaboration
- Synergy: Modular and monolithic chains are complementary.
- Future Focus: Open networks that embrace innovation (e.g., account abstraction, shared security models).
FAQ
Q1: What’s the difference between modular and monolithic blockchains?
A1: Modular chains decouple functions (e.g., execution, consensus), while monolithic chains integrate them.
Q2: Why is Near adopting ZKPs?
A2: For stateless validation, reducing costs and improving scalability.
Q3: How does Polkadot’s XCMP improve interoperability?
A3: It allows parachains to communicate directly without relay chain mediation.
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