Espresso, Project for Composability Between Blockchains, Pushes Main Product Live

As per the team’s explanation, the confirmation layer is essential for the compatibility between rollups, serving as a bridge that allows two distinct networks to exchange and validate each other’s transaction data blocks. Essentially, a rollup represents an additional, or “layer-2,” network built on top of a primary blockchain, offering a platform for more affordable and swift transactions.

The advantages of Espresso’s latest confirmation layer might include quicker transfer of assets across different networks, moving the essential sequencer component from centralized to decentralized in layer-2 blockchains, and offering economical storage solutions for vast amounts of transactional data. This is based on what the project documentation describes.

In an interview with CoinDesk, Ben Fisch, CEO of Espresso Systems, explained that the protocol we’re referring to is a system for how a rollup sequencer sends its blocks out. Once these blocks are published on the confirmation layer, they become immutable, meaning they cannot be altered – not even if the chain eventually confirms them to Ethereum.

Fundamentally, it functions as a sequencer currently, providing an extra layer of security. Sequencers play a vital role in rollups, gathering transactions from layer 2 users and preparing them to be logged onto the underlying layer 1 platform, such as Ethereum in this case.

Fisch explained that optimism, for instance, requires seven days to become stable in Ethereum. He added that the confirmation layer ensures whatever data was initially posted to the confirmation layer is ultimately published and settled on L1. This implies that any node reading from the confirmation layer’s published blocks can execute them and precisely know the current state of the rollup.

Centralized sequencers

A potential concern about sequencers is that they’re often controlled by central authorities, making them susceptible to being a single critical point that could fail.

Fisch stated that as long as the sequencer operates honestly without being hacked or compromised, users can simply verify their transactions. This is essentially how it’s used today, but it introduces a significant security risk. Although users of the chain trust it, bridge protocols and applications on other chains do not. The greater the reliance on what the sequencer claims across different chains, the more money a hacker could potentially exploit.

According to the Espresso team, not only does the confirmation layer enhance security with an additional protective measure, but it also facilitates quicker and cost-effective bridging. Moreover, the interconnected nature of the confirmation layer allows for rapid data and state reading across different rollups, as explained in a recent press release.

Gradually, the confirmation layer will start working together with prominent solutions in the layer-2 sector, such as Arbitrum’s Nitro infrastructure, Optimism’s OP stack, and Polygon‘s chain development kit.

In March, Espresso successfully secured $28 million in funding for the development of their products and research initiatives. This fundraising effort was spearheaded by Andreessen Horowitz’s a16z Crypto, a prominent venture capital firm, during the Series B round. Notably, several key developers from leading layer-2 rollup platforms such as Arbitrum, Starknet, and Polygon also contributed to this round.

As a researcher, I am excited to share that our future endeavors with Espresso will primarily revolve around the areas of composability and sequencing within our field. We aim to delve deeper into these aspects, further enhancing the capabilities and potential applications of our technology.