The developer stack that powers Cosmos-based blockchains suits the needs of many protocols developed currently, according to Marko Baricevic.
The Ethereum layer-2 blockchain narrative could benefit the modularity work of projects built with the Cosmos software development kit (SDK), says Marko Baricevic, product lead of the Cosmos SDK at Binary Builders. As rollups use Cosmos SDK-based structures like Celestia for data availability, Cosmos might be propelled again into the limelight.
“Our approach has never been saying we are better, we try not to compare ourselves,” stated Baricevic. “In the Cosmos stack vision, we are working towards taking advantage of the rollup narrative in the sense of offering Cosmos SDK, IBC [inter-blockchain communication], and Comet.”
The IBC is the cross-chain message infrastructure from the Cosmos SDK that can connect different blockchains without the need for a bridge, while Comet centralizes sequencing for different blockchains.
Baricevic also explains that the Cosmos Hub, which is the chain on the Cosmos ecosystem capable of lending security through its validators to other networks, can also boost the rollups using both Cosmos SDK and Ethereum infrastructures.
“I think Cosmos Hub is changing to be a provider of security not only for Cosmos chains but different forms of rollups and chains,” he says.
Cosmos and zero-knowledge
Two major next steps for Cosmos SDK are to keep making the software adaptable to market conditions, which translates into modularity, and the implementation of zero-knowledge (ZK) technology. According to Baricevic, projects are working and getting started to dive into ZK.
“There are a lot of ideas around ZK that some teams are implementing, but they don’t really have the best go-to-market. We have the distribution power of users of the Cosmos SDK and new users coming in, and if we’re able to take advantage and develop ZK technology, ZK account, and ZK account aggregation, those are super exciting stuff. But there’s so much more that once we get ZK into the software everyone will start being able to play and develop more complex applications than what they’re developing today.”
Furthermore, this ZK foray can also unlock a new user group that doesn’t link Cosmos and ZK in the same sentence. Although it is not necessary as a narrative, it is an exciting tech to explore, Baricevic stated.
Rise of appchains
Cosmos is known to be home to notorious specific application blockchains (appchains), such as dYdX, which is a decentralized exchange with its own blockchain infrastructure. Baricevic assesses that those appchains will become more popular, replacing the existing general-purpose rollups.
“If we look at the roll-up space, everyone’s building generalized chains. And it’s okay, but how many generalized chains can we actually have until there aren’t users anymore? There’s the point system, everyone’s farming points, the airdrop happens, and everyone goes to the next rollup. […] It’s not sustainable. I still think that specific appchains, or little generalized app chains or rollups will start becoming a thing, and then the whole kind of owning the stack will come back into play.”
I think it’s like we’re taking a bit of a backseat right now, but it’s not like we’re three cars behind. I think it’s like Ethereum’s driving the car and we’re in the backseat following along and having fun along the ride.
Moreover, by offering a foundation for appchain building, cross-chain messaging, and shared security, Cosmos is more than ever in the same conversation as many other projects, said the team member of Binary Builders.
However, even if this proximity with what’s being currently built in the blockchain industry doesn’t put Cosmos in the limelight, Baricevic thinks its infrastructure is here to stay.
“I don’t think we have to be at the forefront, in the limelight. We don’t have to lead Ethereum. We don’t have to lead Polkadot. We don’t have to lead Solana. As long as we’re participating and we’re there providing stuff to users that they possibly can’t do elsewhere. And I think that’s good enough,” he concluded.
