Make Monolithic Blockchains Great Again
In a world where you adapt, evolve, or you’re left behind, it’s best to constantly improve and switch to a way that will improve your network. This world is crypto, and the network is any monolithic blockchain out there.
"Oh, Salazar is calling out Monolithic blockchains today." Yes, I must remind them that they still have a chance—a chance to be Great Again. The technological scene in crypto in 2011 was different from 2018 and, as of the current year, 2023. The same is true for football: teams must adapt their style of play to the game. The game, the crypto game, requires monolithic chains to adapt—the technological advancements in this space are mind-boggling. Keeping up with the market is critical for an end user; otherwise, he or she will fall behind; the same is true for technological advancements in the space.
Do you want to stay behind, all ye monolithic chains?
A resounding no! Hence, here’s what I must say: you can be great again.
Before I go ahead, I'd like to give a brief overview of Modular and Monolithic blockchains.
Blockchains perform these tasks: providing consensus and security, guaranteeing data availability, and executing transactions. Monolithic chains handle these tasks on the same layer, a popular example being Bitcoin, Solana, and Cardano, while Modular chains focus on specific tasks while offloading others to other layers.
Which monolithic chains can we give a pass?
Well, I can say that many people regard Bitcoin as a store of value and an industry leader. But, through recent years, it hasn't had any major technological impact, with ETH leading the race; what’s the future for Monolithic Bitcoin? a store of value, I guess, led by devoted maxis who’re ready to cause a scene over any tech argument, especially when it involves anything Ethereum. We can give Bitcoin a pass; it’s the store of value 🙊.
Solana? Cardano? $Sol and $Ada have a strong community. Cult fanbase who are ready to fight over an argument—physically or on the keyboards. They are both incredible technologically, but will they be able to dominate the space or scale as time passes? Can we give them a pass?
For Monolithic chains looking to adapt and evolve, this is for you.
Be a Validium
A Validium is similar to a zk-Rollup; both generate zkp to verify transactions. The only difference is that a zkR stores the data in the parent chain, while a Validium stores the data elsewhere—this can be any Data Availability (DA) layer like Celestia or Polygon Avail.
It's a simple path to becoming a validium for a monolithic chain; you keep all of your tech while implementing zk technology and sharing security with whichever security layer you prefer. A validium generates zkps and verifies on the security chain.
In the past, Monolithic chains might have found it strenuous to carry this approach because of the difficulty of the Zk tech approach, but with the zk innovations currently led by Polygon zkEVM, zksync, scroll all approaching mainnet, zk tech would be easy to adopt.
The data is then stored off-chain (in the DA layer) and secured by a security layer (ETH).
Turn into a Rollup
Can Monolithic chains adopt this approach? Realistically, yes but most of them are puffed up with conceit, ran through by VC capitalists. Will they want to change architecture and settle on a secure L1-ETH?
Arbitrum has thrived and continues to thrive, with significant support from security and the DA layer (ETH).
Rollups adopt a Modular approach: an optimistic rollup (Arbitrum, Optimism) and a zero-knowledge rollup.
Rollups need ETH for data availability and consensus as well as for settlement.
Be a Security Layer
Let’s take Bitcoin as an example. Aside from ETH, BTC has the potential to become a reliable security layer. However, it needs to add ZKP functionality and data availability for validiums and rollups to settle on it, respectively.
Become a Data Availability Layer
Celestia and Polygon Avail employ some form of monolithic architecture consensus, making them not only data availability layers but also minimal security layers.
Call to action for other Monolithic chains is to rebuild to be a DA layer solely, without any form of Monolithic architecture. This will be unique and will yield something massive.
Can as well build to be a DA and security layer
As a DA and security layer, ETH is the market leader in this approach, as well as the home of numerous Web3 protocols. Then, there’s Celestia and Polygon Avail mainly focused on data availability but with a minimal security layer.
Conclusion
It’s up to Monolithic chains to make a choice: compete with the new technology or embrace this architecture. To succeed in this modular era, monolithic chains must stand out in all technological magnitudes, which isn't possible with their current structure, or switch to a modular chain.