Initia: Building a Full-Chain Rollup Ecosystem for Web3

With the rise of modular public chains, the number of blockchains has shown explosive growth. Currently, there are 53 L2 public chains in the market, with another 42 under construction. Although these public chains designed for different scenarios can meet diverse needs, they also introduce issues such as complexity and fragmentation.

Against this backdrop, the modular project Initia launched by the Cosmos ecosystem has attracted widespread attention. Inspired by Apple's design philosophy, Initia transforms blockchain into a form that is as easy to access and integrate as iPhone applications, allowing users to enjoy an intuitive and interconnected blockchain application experience. The product suite of Initia covers multi-chain browsers, wallet tools, cross-chain bridges, centralized application platforms, and on-chain identity systems, aiming to build a unified user-friendly blockchain ecosystem.

Currently, the Initia testnet is online and has launched its first round of airdrop plans to reward early ecosystem contributors. It is expected that after completing the testing, Initia will officially launch its mainnet in the third quarter of this year. Its innovative design and complete ecosystem may reshape the blockchain landscape in the Web3 era.

Initia: A Full-Chain Rollup Ecosystem for Web3

The founding team of Initia consists of veteran crypto experts Zon and Stan Liu, and has now grown to 20 people. These founders and researchers have extensive experience in building billion-dollar TVL applications across ecosystems such as Cosmos, Terra, and Ethereum. Zon has served as the chief architect and chief technology officer of a certain company, while Stan Liu is a senior developer in the Ethereum ecosystem, having participated in the development of numerous well-known DeFi projects.

In October 2023, Initia completed a pre-seed funding round through an investment institution and established partnerships with its affiliated projects, laying a solid foundation for future development. In February 2024, Initia secured another $7.5 million in seed funding, led by Delphi Ventures and Hack VC, with well-known angel investors Cobie, Nick White, and Smokey also participating. This funding will drive the development of Initia's infrastructure and the expansion of product tools, as well as nurture key application layer projects, further promoting the development of the Initia ecosystem.

Initia's goal is to provide users with a clear and unified full-chain Rollup ecosystem by integrating modular Layer 1 and proprietary Layer 2. It brings together the advantages of multiple mainstream public chains, creating a scalable and efficient application ecosystem for developers and users. Developers can quickly build cross-chain applications using the infrastructure provided by Initia; users can enjoy a rich array of DeFi, GameFi, Social, and other application services seamlessly without having to switch back and forth between different public chains.

To simplify the experience for users and developers, Initia also provides a complete stack of technology and user products, including:

• InitiaScan: This is a user-centered interactive platform for navigation and construction across multiple InitiaRollups, providing valuable insights and tools for developers and users.
• Wallet Widget: As the front-end entry of the Initia wallet solution, it provides users with the convenience of cross-chain wallet signing through an innovative social login method.
• Bridget: As a front-end bridge/entry aggregator, Bridget is directly integrated into various Rollup application layers within the Initia ecosystem, providing seamless asset cross-chain and deposit services for these Rollups.
• Initia Application: This is a centralized platform that integrates various resources and services within the Initia ecosystem, such as the Initia wallet, Initia username system, Bridget cross-chain bridge, etc., providing users with a one-stop experience in the Initia ecosystem.
• Initia Username: The Initia username system provides a simple, convenient, and easy-to-read way to access the account address for each Rollup on the Initia platform.
• Initia Wallet: Initia Wallet offers unparalleled convenience as the unified center for navigating the Initia ecosystem. With features like social login, cross-chain swaps, and automated routing, users can seamlessly manage their assets across multiple Rollups.

The Initia platform provides a complete set of product-ready Rollup collections, enabling teams to build scalable sovereign systems while eliminating the user experience complexities faced when interacting with a modular multi-chain universe. Users can freely explore various DApps and services in the Initia ecosystem like using a smartphone, enjoying a seamless crypto world without having to worry about the differences in underlying public chains.

Initia Layered Architecture: A Flexible and Scalable Multi-Chain Ecosystem

Initia adopts a layered modular design architecture, integrating innovative L1 with interwoven application-specific L2 infrastructure systems, reconstructing the entire technology stack, including components like the InitiaScan browser, Wallet Widget wallet tool, Bridget cross-chain bridge, and Initia applications. At the same time, with the layered modular architecture, developers can easily launch application-specific blockchains as Initia L2 without needing to understand the complex chain-level infrastructure or run a validator set.

The Initia architecture is mainly divided into 4 modules, specifically:

Initia Orchestration Layer (Layer 1): Initia has a main chain network referred to as L1, which plays a key role in orchestrating and coordinating the entire ecosystem. The L1 layer is responsible for ensuring fundamental functions such as security, liquidity, routing, and cross-chain interoperability of the entire system. Unlike traditional single main chains, Initia's L1 network adopts a more flexible and scalable design, laying a solid foundation for the development of upper-layer applications.

The L1 main chain employs an innovative consensus mechanism that combines the advantages of Proof of Stake ( PoS ) and Proof of Authority ( PoA ). This not only ensures the security and decentralization of the entire network but also guarantees the efficient confirmation and finality of transactions. At the same time, Initia has implemented a mechanism for dynamically adjusting block intervals and the number of validators to meet performance demands in different scenarios. This adaptive design allows the L1 main chain to provide reliable performance guarantees while maintaining a high degree of decentralization.

Initia Rollups (Layer 2): Another key component of the Initia platform is the independent Layer 2 network "Minitia". Each Minitia focuses on specific application scenarios, such as financial services, gaming, or social networks, and can operate independently while maintaining a close connection to Layer 1. This design not only enhances the overall system's flexibility and scalability but also allows Initia to better meet the needs of various application scenarios.

Minitias is a fully functional CosmosSDK chain that integrates advanced aggregation features and uses standard CosmosSDK modules such as AuthZ and Feegrant, as well as custom modules like POB in the Skip Protocol. Minitias boasts impressive technical specifications and a rich feature set:

1. High throughput of over 10,000 TPS and a block time of 500 milliseconds
2. IBC is used for interoperability in Cosmos and shared security in Omnitia.
3. Support for Celestia data availability, MoveVM, WasmVM, and EVM
4. Various native functions, such as the benefits program, token rebates, and the Omnitia messaging module.
5. Advanced tools, including InitiaSDK, WalletSDK, and 1-ClickDeposit Widget
6. Integration with third-party services and oracles to enhance functionality and user experience

OPinit Stack: OPinit Stack is an OR framework built by Initia within the CosmosSDK. This framework leverages Celestia's data availability layer to support secure scaling across various virtual machines, including EVM, MoveVM, and WebAssembly. This means that developers can freely choose the most suitable virtual machine based on the needs of their applications without having to focus too much on the complicated chain-level infrastructure.

OPinit Stack features fraud proof and rollback capabilities, ensuring complete interoperability among various aggregation networks built on top of it. This innovation brings unprecedented flexibility and scalability to Initia, enabling developers to quickly build product-ready, interoperable applications.

Interoperability/Bridge Middleware: Interoperability/Bridge Middleware is another key component of the Initia platform, which includes inter-blockchain communication ( IBC ) protocol and TBA Bridge Provider. IBC supports instant communication and transfers between different blockchains through simple cross-chain messaging, helping Initia achieve seamless asset and data transfer between different blockchain networks.

TBA Bridge Provider is another high-performance, secure cross-chain bridging solution that connects Initia's Layer 1 network with the Layer 2 Minitia network. Additionally, this protocol integrates efficient aggregation technology, significantly enhancing the throughput and performance of cross-chain interactions.

The layered design of Initia grants it scalability and flexibility. The L1 main chain is responsible for core consensus and settlement, while Minitias focuses on performance-intensive applications, with both deeply integrated through the OPinit Stack. At the same time, interoperability/bridging middleware enables cross-layer asset and data interaction for Initia across different blockchain networks and within the ecosystem. This layered design not only addresses the complexity and fragmentation issues of multi-chain ecosystems but also greatly enhances user experience, laying a solid foundation for the development of a modular multi-chain universe.

Overview of Popular Ecological Projects

The Initia testnet has been launched, and the incentive airdrop has also begun. As a project aimed at becoming the "Apple system" of the blockchain field, Initia has garnered significant attention from the investment community. Some institutions predict that Initia may be poised to initiate its Series A financing before officially launching its mainnet in the third quarter of this year. At that time, some popular projects within the Initia ecosystem will undoubtedly receive great attention.

Currently, the projects worth paying attention to in the Initia ecosystem are:

Blackwing

Blackwing is a modular blockchain that enables leveraged trading of long-tail assets without liquidation through an "infinite pool." Utilizing Initia as the foundation, Blackwing allows traders to trade assets on any modular application chain without the need to transfer funds across networks, significantly saving costs and enhancing security.

Blackwing completed a $4.5 million financing in March this year. The testnet Tomcat-1 was successfully launched in May, and the TVL has now surpassed 50 million.

Tucana

Tucana is a multifunctional L2 network centered around intentions in the Initia ecosystem. Its core goal is to unify and optimize the transactional experience across various modular networks. The underlying architecture of Tucana is supported by the intertwined Rollups technology of Initia and Celestia, enabling it to be compatible with and integrate the transactional needs across different modular networks.

Through Tucana's liquidity layer, users can seamlessly access thousands of modular networks, including limit orders, market orders, and perpetual contracts, enabling seamless trading of multi-chain assets. Tucana is viewed as a one-stop shop for the future of modular trading.

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