Web3 applications will increasingly be built on custom blockchains, says Ankr’s product manager – Interview Bitcoin News
As blockchain developers compete for traffic and resources for their respective dapps (decentralized applications), the downside of this, according to some in the industry, can be a poor user experience that in turn undermines the cause of mass adoption. Therefore, unless current blockchains – both layer 1 and 2 – can overcome difficult issues such as high gas taxes or poor network speed, it will be difficult to convince traditional organizations that they need the technology, according to Ankr’s Josh Neuroth.
Overcoming blockchain scalability challenges
In cases where an attempt is made to improve a blockchain’s transaction throughput, history has shown that compromises that can affect the security of the chain may have to be made. Alternatively, developers can consider overcoming this problem, known as the blockchain trilemma, by using sidechains or application-specific blockchains (Appchains).
As Josh Neuroth, Product Manager at decentralized Web3 infrastructure platform Ankr explained, the widespread use of Appchains could be the spark needed to kickstart and eventually onboard billions of new Web3 users. In addition, Neuroth also suggested that Appchains can be used as tools that help developers “overcome scalability challenges by working together with other scaling solutions like Layer 2.”
To learn more about Appchains and how they could potentially be a solution to the so-called blockchain trilemma challenge, Bitcoin.com News had a conversation with Neuroth. Below are Neuroth’s remarks.
Bitcoin.com News (BCN): What are application-specific blockchains and why do you think they are necessary?
Josh Neuroth (JN): App-specific blockchains (also known as subnets, sidechains, or appchains) are chains dedicated to serving only one decentralized application. They are subnetted by ecosystems such as BNB Chain, Polygon or Avalanche that support an additional network of these “child chains.” App chains give developers the best in security, scalability, and customizability without having to build an entirely new layer-1 chain from scratch.
BCN: What differentiates them from Tier 1 and Tier 2 chains?
JN: When building on an existing L1 or L2 blockchain, developers compete for traffic and resources with thousands of other projects. This can lead to a poor user experience with slow networks, high gas charges and a lack of customization. Alternatively, Appchains dedicate all resources and infrastructure to support one app – leading to a much improved user experience.
BCN: Why do proponents of custom blockchains believe they will play a key role in the mass adoption of Web3?
JN: Millions of excited new Web3 users are disappointed by high gas fees, slow transactions, hacks and complexity. With a new solution to these scalability issues, developers can focus on providing streamlined Dapps that make all web users want to get involved – so the Web3 can finally bring in billions of new users. In short, custom Appchains will begin to provide all the benefits of Web3 with a better user experience than even established Web2 applications.
BCN: How do Appchains help your dapp developers build custom blockchains that are uniquely suited to their application?
JN: Ankr Appchains is an end-to-end engineering service that allows projects to pick and choose their specifications for a new blockchain (built on ecosystems like BAS) while the Ankr team starts building it. Ankr Appchains are highly customizable for custom programming languages, consensus mechanisms, development frameworks and security features to fit any industry or use case.
BCN: How useful are they for transaction intensive use cases like defi and gamefi?
JN: App chains are best suited to the types of use cases that have extremely high bandwidth and scalability requirements. Building a game directly on Ethereum will mean a pretty slow and expensive experience for your players in terms of gas fees. With a game built on an Appchain, you can provide an experience with always low (or even zero) gas fees with lightning-fast transactions that do not distract from gameplay. The same principle applies to every new Defi protocol or DEX.
BCN: Are custom blockchains the answer to the so-called blockchain trilemma?
JN: App-specific blockchains address and provide a solution for each aspect of blockchain’s scalability trilemma. They improve decentralization by creating a “web of blockchains” with new validators and nodes for diverse infrastructure. They improve security by enabling any customization or enhancement of the security framework that developers can imagine.
And finally, Appchains are extremely good at improving scalability by ensuring that Dapps can support almost any number of users or transactions. App chains are not the end-all-be-all for the complexity of the trilemma, but they are an additional tool that helps us overcome scalability challenges by working with other scaling solutions like Layer 2 that are already doing a good job of improving Web3’s performance.
What are your thoughts on this interview? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
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