Blockchain & Web3. LayerZero v2 Protocol Architecture. Part 1
LayerZero is an immutable, censorship-resistant, and permissionless protocol that allows any blockchain user to send, verify, and execute messages on a supported destination network.
The documentation says that, but what that means is hard to understand. LayerZero is NOT a separate blockchain or a bridge between them. Moreover, as Brian Pellegrino (CEO of LayerZero Labs) states, it is not a standard for exchanging messages between blockchains but a protocol for transferring data (which is transmitted as messages). In addition to exchanging data, the protocol provides the infrastructure for executing and verifying this data in transit.
Globally, the protocol offers its vision of a decentralized solution to the problem of blockchain interoperability. It emphasizes extensibility, flexibility in security settings, and separation of data verification and execution functionality, distinguishing it from other solutions. The second version of the protocol positions itself as an omnichannel solution (Omnichain Messaging Protocol—OMP).
Interoperability is the ability of a product or system with completely open interfaces to interact and function with other products or systems without restrictions on access and implementation.
In short, cross-chain is about the interaction of two different blockchains via bridges; multichain implies the deployment of a specific DApp in other blockchains, which also includes modular blockchains; omnichain is the creation of a base layer (Layer 0) on top of which various blockchains and DApps can be located. The advantage of omnichain solutions is the universal logic of message transmission and flexible security settings for each network.
Cross-chain (left): Networks are connected via separate bridges between chains. The critical point is that each link must be configured individually, and interactions between different compatibility groups (e.g., “Compatibility Group A” and “Compatibility Group B”) require additional layers of security and integrations. These are essentially disjointed connections between chains, which increases the complexity of managing connections and security.
Omnichain (right): In this approach, each chain can directly interact with any other in the network via unified network semantics. In LayerZero, each link between chains is unified, but the security for each link can be configured individually.
LayerZero Principles
The OMP (Omnichain Messaging Protocol) is based on two main principles: security and universal semantics.