The Modular Blockchain

A modular blockchain, also known as a modular or modularized architecture, refers to a blockchain system that is designed with various components or modules that can be easily interchanged, upgraded, or customized. This approach offers several advantages in terms of flexibility, scalability, and maintainability.

Some of the key traits of modular blockchain:

Modular Design: In a modular blockchain architecture, the system is broken down into distinct modules, each responsible for specific functions or tasks. These modules can include layers such as Consensus, Settlement, Data Availability and Execution.

Customizability: Modular blockchains are highly customizable, letting developers adjust the system to fit their needs. They can pick and set up modules that work best for their application, making blockchain networks optimized for performance, security, or other needs.

Scalability and Performance: Breaking the blockchain into modules makes it easier to scale parts independently. This boosts performance and scalability because developers can focus on optimizing specific modules for handling more transactions or traffic.

The Different Layers of a Modular Blockchain

In a modular blockchain architecture, the system is typically organized into different layers, each serving a specific purpose and containing various components or modules. Here's a simplified breakdown of the typical layers in a modular blockchain:

Consensus Layer: The backbone of every blockchain network, this layer fulfills the crucial task of enabling nodes to reach consensus on the accurate state of the blockchain.
Settlement Layer: This layer is primarily responsible for validating proofs and resolving disputes within rollups. Additionally, it may offer supplementary functionalities like liquidity provision or acting as a bridging hub for rollups.
Data Availability Layer: The layer tasked with both storing and ensuring consensus on the accessibility of blockchain data.
Execution Layer: It primarily hosts smart contracts and facilitates transaction execution. A prevalent instance of an execution layer is a rollup.

AELF as the Consensus Layer

Within a modular blockchain framework, aelf can function as the consensus layer. Explore aelf's consensus mechanism . Learn about the advantages of employing aelf in this pivotal role below:

Fast Finality: Fast finality in blockchain refers to the speed at which transactions are confirmed and considered irreversible. Using the DPoS, aelf is able to reach finality faster than other blockchains.
1. Improved User Experience: With fast finality, users experience shorter confirmation times for their transactions. This means they don't have to wait as long for their transactions to be confirmed, leading to a smoother and more responsive user experience.
2. Faster Settlement: Fast finality enables quicker settlement of transactions, allowing users to receive goods or services and complete financial transactions more promptly. This is particularly advantageous in time-sensitive scenarios or when dealing with high-frequency transactions.
3. Reduced Risk: Transactions confirmed with fast finality are less susceptible to double-spending attacks or transaction reversals. Once a transaction is finalized, it is considered immutable and cannot be reversed, reducing the risk of fraud or manipulation.
Decentralised: aelf nodes are hosted by numerous validators who are voted by token holders.
1. Resilience to Single Points of Failure: Decentralization spreads control and across many network nodes. This prevents a single failure from taking down the whole system. Even if some nodes fail or are attacked, the network stays operational because other nodes keep the system intact.
2. Resistance to Censorship and Manipulation: Reduce the chance of censorship and manipulation because no single entity can control the network.
Secure:
1. High Total Value Locked (TVL): The high staked value in aelf's Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) serves as a deterrent against attacks on the blockchain by aligning the incentives of network participants with the security and integrity of the network.
2. Proven Reliability: Since its establishment in 2017, aelf has demonstrated its resilience. Its mainnet, operational since 2020, has remained secure, with no major successful attacks reported.
Low Cost:
1. Efficient Consensus Mechanism: aelf utilizes a delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism, which is inherently more efficient than other mechanisms used by networks like Ethereum. DPoS requires less computational power and energy consumption, resulting in lower transaction fees.
2. Scalability Solutions: aelf employs various scalability solutions, such as sidechains and parallel processing, to increase transaction throughput and reduce congestion on the main blockchain. By distributing transaction processing across multiple chains, aelf can handle a higher volume of transactions without significantly increasing gas fees.
3. Resource Management: aelf's architecture allows for efficient resource management, optimizing the allocation of computing resources to prioritize essential tasks and minimize overhead costs. This helps keep gas fees low while maintaining network performance.

AELF as the Data Availability Layer

AELF as the Execution Layer

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Last updated 1 year ago

The Different Layers of a Modular Blockchain

Consensus Layer: The backbone of every blockchain network, this layer fulfills the crucial task of enabling nodes to reach consensus on the accurate state of the blockchain.

Settlement Layer: This layer is primarily responsible for validating proofs and resolving disputes within rollups. Additionally, it may offer supplementary functionalities like liquidity provision or acting as a bridging hub for rollups.

Data Availability Layer: The layer tasked with both storing and ensuring consensus on the accessibility of blockchain data.

Execution Layer: It primarily hosts smart contracts and facilitates transaction execution. A prevalent instance of an execution layer is a rollup.

AELF as the Consensus Layer

Within a modular blockchain framework, aelf can function as the consensus layer. Explore aelf's consensus mechanism . Learn about the advantages of employing aelf in this pivotal role below:

Fast Finality: Fast finality in blockchain refers to the speed at which transactions are confirmed and considered irreversible. Using the DPoS, aelf is able to reach finality faster than other blockchains.

Improved User Experience: With fast finality, users experience shorter confirmation times for their transactions. This means they don't have to wait as long for their transactions to be confirmed, leading to a smoother and more responsive user experience.
Faster Settlement: Fast finality enables quicker settlement of transactions, allowing users to receive goods or services and complete financial transactions more promptly. This is particularly advantageous in time-sensitive scenarios or when dealing with high-frequency transactions.
Reduced Risk: Transactions confirmed with fast finality are less susceptible to double-spending attacks or transaction reversals. Once a transaction is finalized, it is considered immutable and cannot be reversed, reducing the risk of fraud or manipulation.

Decentralised: aelf nodes are hosted by numerous validators who are voted by token holders.

Resilience to Single Points of Failure: Decentralization spreads control and across many network nodes. This prevents a single failure from taking down the whole system. Even if some nodes fail or are attacked, the network stays operational because other nodes keep the system intact.
Resistance to Censorship and Manipulation: Reduce the chance of censorship and manipulation because no single entity can control the network.

Secure:

High Total Value Locked (TVL): The high staked value in aelf's Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) serves as a deterrent against attacks on the blockchain by aligning the incentives of network participants with the security and integrity of the network.
Proven Reliability: Since its establishment in 2017, aelf has demonstrated its resilience. Its mainnet, operational since 2020, has remained secure, with no major successful attacks reported.

Low Cost:

Efficient Consensus Mechanism: aelf utilizes a delegated proof-of-stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism, which is inherently more efficient than other mechanisms used by networks like Ethereum. DPoS requires less computational power and energy consumption, resulting in lower transaction fees.
Scalability Solutions: aelf employs various scalability solutions, such as sidechains and parallel processing, to increase transaction throughput and reduce congestion on the main blockchain. By distributing transaction processing across multiple chains, aelf can handle a higher volume of transactions without significantly increasing gas fees.
Resource Management: aelf's architecture allows for efficient resource management, optimizing the allocation of computing resources to prioritize essential tasks and minimize overhead costs. This helps keep gas fees low while maintaining network performance.

AELF as the Data Availability Layer

L2 rollups, also known as the Execution Layer, are designed to enhance the scalability and efficiency of Ethereum and other blockchains. However, they often face a crucial need for a reliable data availability layer. This layer ensures that transaction data processed on the rollup can be securely stored, accessed, and verified by users. To address this challenge, aelf has developed a solution called the .

AELF as the Execution Layer

aelf can serve as the execution layer in a modular blockchain architecture by offering a robust platform for hosting and executing smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps). This is achieved through its , which enables the creation of specialized sidechains tailored for dApps, along with roll scaling capabilities provided by . Aside from these, other types non-smart contract executions are possible to realize. Examples are via zkWasm and AI model training.