Multi-Chain State Synchronization
1. Deposit fraud prevention: Multi-chain infra security challenge
The main challenge of building a App-Rollup deployed across various networks is the risk of deposit fraud. When having multiple chains or rollups in the same setup, each network is isolated – they are not able to perceive the states of the others because they can not directly access external information.
A bad sequencer may falsely inform the primary chain about a fake deposit on one secondary chain, e.g, the sequencer may inform the primary chain about a 100 USDT deposit on a secondary chain which may not exist. In such scenarios, without effective verification mechanisms, it could lead to loss of user funds.
The challenge centers on guaranteeing the states consistency between the primary chain and the secondary chains. To address this issue, we need a verification mechanism that is both fast and secure, ensuring all chains stay synchronized, and no one can alter or falsify information.
2. Nexus solution: multi-chain state synchronization via Ethereum
The network connected with zkLink Nexus have to be Ethereum or its Layer 2 rollups, which communicates with Ethereum through the official rollup bridges that are trustless.
Firstly, zkLink Nexus L3 sequencer will commit state and proof to the primary chain(assuming Linea is the primary chain) and secondary chains in step 1, 2, 3, as is shown in the figure below.
Secondly, the primary chain Linea computes the sync hash of Starknet and zkSync (secondary chains) through the transactions it received, and posts it to the Ethereum contract in step 4. In the meantime, the secondary chains, Starknet and zkSync will compute and post their sync hashes representing their transaction history to the Ethereum contract in steps 5 and 6.
Thirdly, the Ethereum contract will compare the sync hash from Linea with the sync hashes from Starknet and zkSync. If they match, confirmation messages will be sent to the contract on the three L2s through their official Ethereum rollup bridges in steps 7, 8, and 9.
This messaging mechanism allows for a secure and effective synchronization of states cross-L2s, ensuring that deposit fraud issues on the secondary chains are prevented.
3. Origin solution: cross-chain state synchronization via Light Oracle Network
zkLink Origin introduces a light oracle network to facilitate the cross-chain transfer of sync hashes. The light oracle network consists of independent cross-chain general message service providers such as LayerZero, zkBridge, Chainlink, etc., which ensures decentralization of the message transfer process.
As shown in the figure below, the zkLink Origin Rollup sequencer will firstly commit state and proof to the primary chain and secondary chains in steps 1, 2, and 3.
Secondly, the secondary chains will post their sync hash to Linea through the light oracle network service in steps 4, 5, and 6.
Thirdly, the Primary contract computes the sync hash of all other secondary chains and compares them with the sync hashes from the secondary chains. If they match, confirmation messages will be sent back to all secondary chains through the light oracle network in steps 7, 8, and 9.
Through the process described above, the cross-chain states are synchronized fast and secure.
In addition, a user that deploys significant capital to a zkLink Orgin Rollup could apply to run a node service of the light oracle network, which will completely eliminate the risk of multi-chain deposit fraud.
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