Introduction to Specialized Blockchains
In any industry, specialization ultimately trumps generalization. As the complexity of systems increases, it’s not the tools that try to do everything at once, but rather the ones that are designed to do one thing exceptionally well. Remarkably, technology has always followed this path. Cloud computing is divided into storage, computing power and databases, chip design is branched into CPUs, GPUs and TPUs, and the financial industry is increasingly relying on clearinghouses and custodian banks as dedicated infrastructure. Blockchain is no exception.
The Need for Specialization in Blockchain
Over the cycles, the blockchain ecosystem has begun to fragment into purpose-built networks for data availability, stablecoins, tokenized assets, and settlement layers optimized for speed and security. Following this path, it becomes clear that evidence review is the next area poised to follow this path. It is a level that is long overdue for its own special level.
The blockchain ecosystem has seen significant growth, with various networks emerging to cater to specific needs. For instance, data availability networks like Celestia and EigenDA have optimized their infrastructure for data storage and retrieval, while stablecoin-first chains like Arc and Tempo have tailored their infrastructure specifically for payments and exchanges.
Verification is the Bottleneck
Knowledge-free virtual machines (zkVMs) and cryptographic applications now provide more evidence than ever before. Rollups, privacy apps, and zkML systems go into production, each generating large amounts of evidence that needs to be reviewed. Demand continues to grow, but the infrastructure for verifying evidence has not kept pace.
On Ethereum (ETH), a single proof verification consumes around 200,000 to 300,000 gas. In times of network congestion, that means $1 to $10 or more per check. For applications that require thousands or millions of reviews, these economic benefits do not scale. Rather, they become unpredictable as the unit economics of a product can appear profitable one day and fail the next, depending on gas volatility.
Consequences of Inefficient Verification
Developers often try to get around these limitations by aggregating evidence or converting it from STARKs to SNARKs to satisfy EVM constraints. While this is useful, it can lead to complexity and inefficiency. There are also some nuances here – newer types of evidence cannot always be verified on Ethereum. The bottom line is that our current infrastructure is collapsing under the demand for evidence.
Just Add a Verification Layer
The solution? Specialization. A dedicated verification layer that can verify evidence at orders of magnitude higher volume can reduce costs and latency while protecting applications from the volatility of L1 gas markets. This framework of this approach encompasses more than just simple efficiency. Rather, it embodies a core ethos of web3 by emphasizing composability.
A dedicated verification layer can support new types of proof, enabling projects to adapt to market developments or stay ahead of the curve. By treating evidence verification as a specialized function, verification layers can address one of the most pressing bottlenecks facing the blockchain industry today.
Benefits of a Verification Layer
A dedicated verification layer has far-reaching benefits across the ecosystem. For instance, systems like RISC Zero or SP1 can avoid the costly detour of converting their STARK evidence to SNARK just to adapt to EVM constraints. A verification layer enables native operation, improving performance and reducing costs.
Identity and attestation protocols can also benefit from a verification layer, enabling predictable and low-cost authentication. Online gaming can build provable fairness into mechanics without disrupting the flow of play, while AI and zkML systems can pool and verify evidence cost-effectively.
The Future of Specialized Chains
As multichain ecosystems expand, we have already begun to see the potential benefits of specialization. Celestia and EigenDA are two such examples. By optimizing data availability, applications no longer have to reinvent the wheel. Even stablecoin-first chains like Arc and Tempo have tailored their infrastructure specifically for payments and exchanges, illustrating how modularity and specialization can enable more effective scalability.
Verification layers are the natural next step, long overdue to become the next area of specialized innovation. They fit into the composable stack alongside oracles, DA networks, and settlement layers. By treating evidence verification as a specialized function, they address one of the most pressing bottlenecks facing the blockchain industry today.
Read more about the benefits of specialized blockchains in the original article: https://crypto.news/some-blockchains-are-meant-to-do-one-thing-opinion/
Rob Viglione is co-founder and CEO of Horizen Labs, the development studio behind several leading Web3 projects including zkVerify, Horizen and ApeChain. Rob served in the US Air Force for several years and was deployed to Afghanistan, where he supported the intelligence efforts of the Special Operations Task Force. During this time, he developed an early interest in Bitcoin and recognized its potential benefits for countries with unstable economies. Rob is very interested in Web3 scalability, blockchain efficiency and zero-knowledge proofs. His work focuses on developing innovative solutions for zk rollups to improve scalability, achieve cost savings and increase efficiency. He holds a doctorate in finance, an MBA in finance and marketing, and a bachelor’s degree in physics and applied mathematics. Rob currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Puerto Rico Blockchain Trade Association.
