Introduction
What is Wanchain?
Wanchain is both a sustainable Layer 1 PoS blockchain and a decentralised blockchain interoperability solution. The Wanchain Layer 1 PoS blockchain is a full Ethereum-like environment that works with industry standard Ethereum tools, DAPPs and protocols. Wanchain uses a Proof of Stake consensus algorithm called Galaxy Consensus that leverages a variety of cryptographic schemes including distributed secret sharing and threshold signatures to improve random number generation and block production mechanisms. Galaxy Consensus, developed by world-class researchers and academics, is a continuation of Cardano’s Ouroboros.
Wanchain bridges are decentralised, direct, non-custodial bridges that connect both EVM and non-EVM networks without requiring any centralised intermediaries. These bridges use a combination of Secure Multiparty Computation (sMPC) and Shamir’s Secret Sharing to secure crosschain assets. Currently, more than 15 Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks are connected by Wanchain’s wide area network of blockchains.
What problem is Wanchain solving?
Today’s blockchains are trying to create something new, but too many are simply repeating the mistakes of the past. Each blockchain — or in some cases, a cluster of blockchains — exists as a siloed, isolated networks that doesn’t feel connected to Web3 or the future. Wanchain believes that the point of Web3 is to make peer-to-peer interactions the essence of a networked society. And we believe that the point of a networked society is to enable the trustless and permissionless exchange of information.
So, the problem we are trying to solve is: How do we create something that unifies everyone and everything?
The answer? By creating something truly decentralised and interoperable. A wide area network of blockchains.
How is Wanchain secured?
Wanchain’s PoS Validator Nodes reach consensus using a proprietary Proof of Stake consensus algorithm called Galaxy Consensus. It is a continuation of Cardano’s Ouroboros. Nodes need to stake $WAN tokens before they can validate transactions on the network. For detailed information about the Galaxy Consensus, please read the whitepaper.
What blockchains are supported by Wanchain's wide are network of blockhains?
Wanchain has been building its crosschain infrastructure since 2017. In early 2021, it launched the world’s 1st decentralised Bitcoin — Ethereum direct bridge. Wanchain offers decentralised, non-custodial bridges connecting:
Arbitrum
Avalanche C-Chain
Bitcoin
BNB Chain
Dogecoin
EOS
Ethereum
Fantom
Litecoin
Moonbeam
Moonriver
OKC (OKX Chain)
Polkadot Relay Chain
Polygon
Wanchain
XDC Network
XRP Ledger
All of Wanchain’s decentralised crosschain bridges are supported by unified decentralised collateral pools, maintained by Wanchain’s Bridge Nodes.
Note: More networks are always being added to our wide area network of blockchains. Please visit https://www.wanchain.org/ for an up-to-date list.
What are Wanchain Bridge Nodes?
In addition to regular PoS Validator Nodes, Wanchain features Bridge Nodes, sometimes called Storeman nodes. Bridge Nodes are responsible for performing and verifying crosschain transactions.
Bridge Nodes must all stake WAN tokens as collateral. All of Wanchain’s different crosschain bridges are supported by this unified decentralised collateral pool.
At any given time, there are 25 active Bridge Nodes. Together, they form the Bridge or Storeman Group. The Bridge Group is re-elected on a monthly cycle.
Since Bridge nodes are permissionless, anyone can set up a Bridge Node. More details on this process can be found in the setup guide.
How do Wanchain's decentralised crosschain bridges work?
Wanchain offers multiple different kinds of crosschain bridges: Direct Bridges, Layer 2 Bridges and NFT Bridges.
Most of Wanchain’s Direct Bridges use the lock-mint-burn-unlock method. When a user initiates a crosschain transaction, the Bridge Group locks the original asset on the source blockchain before minting a wrapped token on the destination blockchain. At any time, the user can burn the wrapped token to retrieve the original asset.
For example, if a user wants to move 1 ETH from Ethereum to Wanchain, 1 ETH is first locked on Ethereum before a new token — let’s call it wanETH — is minted on Wanchain. At any time, 1 wanETH can also be burned to retrieve 1 ETH.
Layer 2 Bridges use decentralised liquidity pools to bridge assets. With this method, both the source and destination blockchains have a pre-existing pool of assets locked in an account controlled by the Bridge Group. When a user initiates a crosschain transaction, they deposit assets into the pool on the source blockchain before the same number of assets is released on the destination blockchain.
For example, if a user wants to move 1 USDT from Polygon to Arbitrum, 1 USDT is deposited into the pool on Polygon before 1 USDT is released to the user on Arbitrum. The mechanism is the same when moving from Arbitrum to Polygon.
NFT bridges are customised to each project, though they more closely resemble the lock-mint-burn-unlock method to bridging. All NFT IDs and attributes are transferred from one blockchain to another.
Roadmap: Wanchain 2022
Upgrade Gwan EVM to support latest EVM Opcodes, gas fees and all Ethereum-based dapps
Migrate Galaxy Consensus to the new Gwan EVM
Apply universal bridges for layer 1 networks, layer 2 networks, sidechains and beyond
All roadmap items are subject to change.
Completed Milestones
Wanchain 2021
Wanchain launches Universal Multichain Bridges With Shared Staking Assets
Wanchain becomes EVM compatable
Leveraging the multichain bridge mechanism, Wanchain integrates Bitcoin, Ethereum, Avalanche, BNB Chain, Dogechain, Fantom, Litecoin, Moonriver, Polkadot and XRP Ledger.
Wanchain 5.0
wanBridges enable trustless cross-chain transactions
Permissionless wanBridge mechanism enables trustless cross-chain transactions between any pair of blockchains
Cross-chain wanBridges secured by trustless staking and delegation mechanism
Enables bidirectional asset transfer between Ethereum and Wanchain
Wanchain 4.0
T-Bridge Framework
T-Bridge framework enables cross-chain connection with private blockchains
T-Bridge enables the exchanges of assets and data between public and private blockchains
Galaxy Consensus
Galaxy Consensus Proof of Stake
Consensus mechanism upgraded to Galaxy Proof of Stake
Permissionless consensus mechanism based on Ouroboros Proof of Stake
Trustless & non-custodial delegation mechanism
Wanchain 3.0
Expansion of cross-chain mechanism to support both BTC and EOS transactions
Cross-chain transactions with BTC
Cross-chain transactions with EOS
Wanchain 2.0
Storeman group powered Wanchain — Ethereum cross-chain transactions
Cross-chain transactions with Ethereum
Permissioned Storeman groups enable cross-chain transactions
Wanchain 1.0
Mainnet Launch
Wanchain launches an independent blockchain focused on developing the interoperability features which are prerequisites for the future of digital finance
Theoretical blueprints for interoperability features completed
Features smart contracts at launch with work on interoperability features underway
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