How Does the Cosmos IBC Protocol Achieve Interoperability?
The Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol is a secure, authenticated, and ordered communication layer that allows independent blockchains (called zones) to exchange data and assets. IBC relies on light clients and relayers to prove the state of one chain to another, without requiring a central intermediary.
This creates a "network of blockchains" where tokens can move freely and trustlessly. It is a standardized, modular approach to interoperability.
Glossar
Light Clients
Verification ⎊ Light clients are software implementations that verify the state of a blockchain without needing to download and process the entire ledger history, relying instead on cryptographic proofs derived from block headers.
Ordered Communication Layer
Architecture ⎊ An ordered communication layer ensures that messages and transactions are processed in a specific, deterministic sequence across a decentralized network.
Cosmos Ibc Protocol
Protocol ⎊ The Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) Protocol is a standardized, end-to-end, connection-oriented protocol for reliably, securely, and authentically relaying data packets between independent blockchain ledgers, or Zones, within the Cosmos ecosystem.
Relayers
Function ⎊ Relayers are off-chain processes or entities responsible for transporting data packets, including transaction proofs and messages, between two distinct blockchain networks that are connected via an interchain communication protocol.
Independent Blockchains
Architecture ⎊ Independent blockchains represent a departure from permissioned or centralized ledger systems, prioritizing decentralized control and data sovereignty within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Cosmos
Architecture ⎊ Cosmos, within the cryptocurrency ecosystem, represents a layered blockchain network designed for interoperability and scalability, diverging from monolithic chain structures.