Gate Research: Analyzing Chain Abstraction: An Inevitable Outcome of Web3 Diversification

Abstract

• Background of Chain Abstraction: In the context of Web3’s multi-chain explosive ecosystem development, there are three main conflicts at the user level: (1) Distribution conflicts of investor capital; (2) Capital flow conflicts; (3) User experience conflicts. The explosive growth in the number of chains has not only created friction in capital flow but also complicated investors’ on-chain experience. This mainly manifests in: different chains requiring different wallets to manage; different types of assets in different wallets (different chains mean different tokens); and exposure to capital flow risks (cross-chain vulnerabilities and financial friction in cross-chain transactions).

• The Rise of Chain Abstraction: Chain abstraction has emerged as a solution-oriented framework. If modularization is a vertical integration strategy, then chain abstraction is a horizontal one. Chain abstraction is “a user experience free from manual interactions with multiple chains,” which hides the underlying differences between blockchains (such as consensus mechanisms, Gas fees, native tokens, etc.), allowing users to complete multi-chain interactions without needing to understand specific chain details. Chain abstraction focuses on user intent - the desired outcome - while hiding unnecessary details in the implementation process.

• Architecture of Chain Abstraction: The framework consists of three layers. Account-level abstraction serves as the frontline of user experience, application-layer abstraction provides tools for developers, and blockchain-level abstraction forms the foundation of the system, ensuring technical feasibility.

• Purpose of Chain Abstraction: Within Web3’s diverse ecosystem, chain abstraction simplifies complexity. Think of each blockchain as a country—chain abstraction acts as a universal passport, eliminating the need for “visas” in the metaverse. Rather than offering a single solution, it functions as an overarching framework that optimizes user experience through multilevel collaboration.

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