ZetaChain: A Full-Chain Interoperability Platform for Innovative Technology Enabling Cross-Chain Asset Free Flow

In the wave of the multi-chain era, various public chains have emerged, but what follows is a retreat of liquidity and depletion of funds. Some public chains rely on cross-chain bridges to introduce assets, and when security issues arise with these cross-chain bridges, these ecosystems suffer heavy blows, sounding the alarm for the entire industry.

In this context, ZetaChain was born. As a forward-looking all-chain ( Omnichain ) interoperability platform, ZetaChain aims to address the fragmentation and limitations in the existing blockchain ecosystem. By seamlessly connecting assets and data across different blockchain networks, ZetaChain opens up new possibilities for the development and operation of decentralized applications ( DApps ).

The core team of ZetaChain is composed of senior industry experts from well-known companies in the industry. These team members translate their extensive experience in the Web3 field and deep insights into market demands into the core technology and strategic direction of ZetaChain. Their shared vision is to create a blockchain that can serve as a passport in the Web3 world, thereby simplifying and accelerating the development of decentralized applications and user experience.

In the history of blockchain development, interoperability has always been a core issue. ZetaChain not only provides a brand new solution technically but also innovates standards in its implementation. Through its unique multi-party computing system and threshold signature scheme, ZetaChain achieves interoperability with traditional non-smart contract chains such as Bitcoin and Dogecoin.

ZetaChain is committed to becoming a true cross-chain interoperability and asset transfer platform by providing a full-chain account. Below is an in-depth interview with the ZetaChain team, revealing how this project is bringing transformation to the decentralized ecosystem in the Web3 era.

Core Technology and Team Background of ZetaChain

The core contributors of ZetaChain, after participating in multiple Web3 projects, recognized the necessity of establishing ZetaChain and the concept of the "only blockchain needed." Currently, decentralized application developers face complexity issues when building products for multiple chains, and this step is essential for seizing opportunities in the Web3 market. They also often need to consider how to ensure that products can adapt to future technological developments and changes. ZetaChain not only addresses these issues but also simplifies the user experience. These challenges stem directly from the team's previous work experience in the cryptocurrency industry.

The Interoperability Implementation of ZetaChain

ZetaChain adopts a multi-party computation system, where each signature validator holds a part of the private key. On each connected chain, there is an account derived from this private key. Using the threshold signature scheme (TSS), validators can sign transactions from this TSS account. Since the TSS account is a regular external account, it does not require executing smart contract logic on the connected chain, which enables interoperability even for chains like Bitcoin that do not support smart contracts.

Tokens transferred to the TSS address on the cross-chain will become wrapped ZRC-20 tokens on ZetaChain. Withdrawing ZRC-20 from ZetaChain to the cross-chain will trigger the transfer of tokens from the TSS address to the recipient.

The Advantages of Omnichain Technology

Omnichain contracts allow DApp developers to create DApps that can accept inputs from any connected chain and trigger outputs to any connected chain. The advantage of Omnichain compared to cross-chain messaging is that it is architecturally simpler, as it does not require deploying and managing a large number of contracts across different chains. Omnichain also enables interoperability on non-smart contract chains like Bitcoin, effectively providing Bitcoin users with a way to build Omnichain smart contracts.

Features of the ZetaEVM Module

ZetaChain uses the Ethermint Cosmos SDK module to provide full EVM compatibility. In terms of single-chain performance and security, ZetaChain is comparable to other Cosmos blockchains that use the same EVM module. To achieve Omnichain functionality, the ZetaChain team developed a custom Cosmos SDK module, EVM contracts, and an off-chain observer called zetaclient, which collectively enhance the Omnichain capabilities of conventional EVM contracts.

Implementation of ZetaChain's Multi-Chain Functionality

ZetaChain does not require a third-party cross-chain bridge, as ZetaChain's own mechanism provides the functionality for cross-chain messaging and token transfers. ZetaChain focuses on moving native unwrapped assets between different chains, allowing users to receive native tokens on the target chain. This approach makes the entire process more secure, because once the cross-chain is completed, users no longer rely on ZetaChain( or anyone else) to transfer assets back to the original chain.

Although there are indeed ZRC-20 wrapped tokens representing assets transferred from connected chains on ZetaChain, these wrapped tokens only exist during the transaction process for operations such as cross-chain transactions, and end users do not interact with them directly.

Technical Selection and Performance

ZetaChain adopts the Comet BFT consensus engine, which provides instant transaction finality, high throughput, and reliability. The Cosmos SDK offers developers a range of ready-made building blocks, such as staking modules, governance modules, and layers compatible with EVM. The modularity of the Cosmos SDK enables ZetaChain's protocol team to develop modules that implement cross-chain messaging and support for interchangeable tokens in Omnichain contracts.

User and Developer Attraction Strategy

ZetaChain believes that for developers looking to build Web3 applications and services, choosing which chain to launch their product on is very difficult, and expanding to other chains is equally challenging. The vision of building a single chain that can access all other chains has resonated within the global developer community. ZetaChain actively builds relationships with developers by participating in various events, organizing hackathons, and releasing development documentation to help them build applications. They have cultivated a close relationship with developers, proactively seeking their feedback and suggestions. In addition, they have established an ecosystem grant program to support promising developers in making Omnichain-related innovations on ZetaChain.

Ecological Planning and Key Areas

ZetaChain's initial focus was on DeFi projects, as there was a strong demand from users and developers in this area. Even though we are currently in a bear market, the DeFi sector continues to maintain robust growth momentum, so it makes sense that there is strong demand for multi-chain expansion and growth. However, ZetaChain also collaborates extensively with developers and DApps across various industries, including gaming, NFTs, social finance, and payments.

Asia Community Strategy

Asia remains the core area of Web3. ZetaChain is proud of the community established in Asia and their enthusiasm for ZetaChain. They collaborate with local ambassadors and communities and regularly participate in key events to ensure they stay connected and responsive to the needs of developers and local communities.

Mainnet Launch Plan

Regarding the specific time of the mainnet launch, ZetaChain is currently unable to provide detailed information. However, it is recommended to follow and subscribe to their social media accounts to ensure timely updates on the latest news and announcements.