OP Labs has successfully integrated its modular, fail-safe system into the OP Goerli testnet. In a recent blog post dated October 3rd, OP Labs, the team behind the Optimism network, proudly announced the launch of a testnet version of their fault-proof system. Once this rigorous testing phase concludes, it promises to usher in a more decentralized and highly efficient Superchain ecosystem. The newly developed system is currently being deployed on the Optimism Goerli network.
In the past, OP Stack-based networks relied on centralized sequencers to bundle transactions and submit them to Ethereum. However, this reliance on a centralized entity posed a potential vulnerability. Users lacked the ability to counteract fraudulent submissions by the sequencer if inaccurate data was presented. This created a concerning situation where malicious actors could potentially confirm fraudulent transactions if they gained control. L2Beat, in a report on Optimism, has raised concerns about this risk, highlighting the need for users to trust block proposers for the submission of correct L1 state roots.
OP Stack-based networks, including Optimism and Base, were envisioned as optimistic rollups, a specific type of layer 2 solution deeply integrated with Ethereum’s security infrastructure. In a January 2021 essay, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin made a compelling argument that optimistic rollups must empower users to submit fraud proofs, acting as a safeguard against fraudulent withdrawals to Ethereum, in order to truly claim to be decentralized.
In November 2022
Buterin acknowledged that certain rollups might initially require some centralization while they establish robust fraud-proof systems. However, he encouraged them to strive for full decentralization.
OP Labs asserts that their innovative fault-proof system is a significant step towards achieving decentralization within OP Stack networks. The system is carefully designed to eventually enable secure bridging without relying on central fallback mechanisms.
Moreover, the system’s modularity is a notable feature, allowing each network to create its unique fraud prevention system. This modular system consists of three distinct components: a fault-proof program (FPP), a fault-proof virtual machine (FPVM), and a “dispute game protocol.” This modularity empowers each network to build its own fault-proof system tailored to its specific requirements.
According to the blog post, this approach will promote diversity within the Optimism Superchain, ultimately enhancing the overall ecosystem’s security. Networks may even choose to utilize zero-knowledge proofs (ZK-proofs) as a form of fraud-proof, which is not commonly seen in Optimistic rollups where ZK-proofs are typically associated with zero-knowledge rollups.
OP Labs has been diligently working to create a tightly interconnected web of blockchain networks known as the “Superchain.” To realize this ambitious vision, they introduced the OP Stack, a comprehensive set of software tools designed to facilitate the creation of custom blockchain networks. Avail network has also contributed to this effort with their “OpEVM” software, which shares the same objective but builds upon Avail as the base layer instead of Ethereum. Other competitors in the Superchain space, such as Polygon’s ZK Supernets and the zero-knowledge Ethereum Virtual Machine Hyperchain, further demonstrate the growing landscape of interconnected blockchain ecosystems.
