The developer stack powering Cosmos-based blockchains meets the needs of many protocols currently being developed, according to Marko Baricevic.
The Ethereum layer-2 blockchain story could benefit the modularity work of projects built with the Cosmos software development kit (SDK), says Marko Baricevic, product lead of the Cosmos SDK at Binary Builders. As rollups use Cosmos SDK-based structures like Celestia for data availability, Cosmos may find itself back in the spotlight.
“Our approach has never said we are better; we try not to compare ourselves,” Baricevic said. “In the Cosmos stack vision, we are working to capitalize on the rollup story in terms of offering Cosmos SDK, IBC [inter-blockchain communication]and comet.”
The IBC is the cross-chain messaging infrastructure of the Cosmos SDK that can connect different blockchains without the need for a bridge, while Comet centralizes the sequencing for different blockchains.
Baricevic also explains that the Cosmos Hub, the chain of the Cosmos ecosystem that can provide security to other networks through its validators, can also power the rollups using both Cosmos SDK and Ethereum infrastructures.
“I think Cosmos Hub is changing and becoming not just a security provider for Cosmos chains, but also for various forms of rollups and chains,” he says.
Cosmos and zero knowledge
Two important next steps for Cosmos SDK are continuing to adapt the software to market conditions, which translates into modularity, and implementing zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. According to Baricevic, projects are underway and work is underway to dive into ZK.
“There are a lot of ideas around ZK that some teams are implementing, but they don’t really have the best go-to-market. We have the distribution power of Cosmos SDK users and new users coming in, and if we can take advantage and develop ZK technology, ZK accounts, and ZK account aggregation, that’s super exciting stuff. But there is so much more that once we get ZK into the software, everyone will be able to play and develop more complex applications than what they are developing now.”
Additionally, this ZK outing can also unlock a new user base that doesn’t link Cosmos and ZK in the same sentence. While not necessary as a story, it is an exciting technology to explore, Baricevic said.
Rise of app chains
Cosmos is known to be home to infamous dedicated application blockchains (appchains), such as dYdX, a decentralized exchange with its own blockchain infrastructure. Baricevic estimates that these app chains will become more popular and replace existing general-purpose rollups.
“When we look at the roll-up space, everyone is building general chains. And that’s okay, but how many generic chains can we actually have until there are no more users? There’s the points system, everyone’s farming points, the airdrop happens and everyone moves on to the next rollup. […] It is not sustainable. I still think that specific app chains, or small general app chains or roll-ups, will become a thing, and the whole kind of ownership of the stack will come back into play.”
I think it seems like we’re kind of in the backseat now, but it’s not like we’re three cars behind. I think it’s like Ethereum is driving the car and we’re in the backseat following along and having fun along the way.
Furthermore, by providing a foundation for building appchain, cross-chain messaging and shared security, Cosmos is more than ever in the same conversation as many other projects, the Binary Builders team member said.
But even if this proximity to what’s currently being built in the blockchain industry doesn’t put Cosmos in the spotlight, Baricevic thinks its infrastructure will survive.
“I don’t think we should be in the foreground, in the spotlight. We don’t have to run Ethereum. We don’t have to run Polkadot. We don’t have to lead Solana. As long as we participate and offer users things they may not be able to do elsewhere. And I think that’s good enough,” he concluded.