Full-Stack Parallelization: A New Breakthrough for EVM Layer 1

Recently, an innovative concept called full-stack parallelization has attracted attention in the blockchain field. This idea aims to comprehensively enhance the scalability of blockchain and provide predictable performance for decentralized applications (DApps).

Predictable performance refers to providing a predictable transaction processing capacity of ( TPS for DApps. This is crucial for certain business scenarios. DApps running on public chains often need to compete for computational resources and storage space with other applications. During network congestion, high transaction fees and delays can severely restrict the development of DApps. Imagine a decentralized instant messaging application; if the underlying blockchain network is occupied by other applications, causing user messages to be unable to be sent and received in a timely manner, it would have a disastrous impact on user experience.

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To address this issue, the industry has proposed two main solutions: application chains and elastic block space.

Application chains are blockchains specifically created to run a single DApp. Developers can customize virtual machines, consensus mechanisms, etc., to meet specific needs. The advantages of this approach include independent sovereignty, controllable performance, and high customizability. However, the disadvantages are also quite obvious: the need to solve security issues independently, lack of cross-chain interoperability, and high infrastructure costs. For startups, these disadvantages are often difficult to overcome.

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Elastic block space is a concept that dynamically adjusts block resources on the existing Layer 1 to meet the demands of DApps. This concept draws from the elastic computing model in cloud computing, allowing for automatic adjustments to block capacity based on network congestion levels. Some projects have already implemented this solution to address how validator nodes can coordinate horizontal scaling to support elastic computing. As the number of protocol users and throughput grows, elastic block space can be subscribed to manage the load.

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The implementation of elastic block space is divided into real-time and non-real-time modes. Some projects adopt a non-real-time approach, which means that after detecting the need for expansion, it completes the expansion only after a certain epoch. This approach has a lower implementation difficulty and can meet the actual needs of most DApps.

![Predictable Performance of DApps: From Application Chains to Elastic Block Space])https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-4da966633981453e8fa6509dc327bb63.webp(

It is worth noting that elastic block space requires transactions to be parallelizable. Only by increasing transaction parallelism is it necessary to horizontally scale node resources to enhance throughput. This solution is difficult to apply to public chains like Ethereum, which have serial transactions. However, for high-performance public chains that support parallel transactions, elastic block space can effectively respond to demand peaks, ensuring predictable DApp performance while avoiding spikes in fees and congestion across the entire network.

![Predictable Performance of DApps: From Application Chains to Elastic Block Space])https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-6a19a9d54ba69fe6a259c8f4b13d0c5f.webp(

Whether it's application chains or elastic block space, they are essentially aimed at solving the different performance requirements of various DApps on the blockchain. Each solution has its advantages and disadvantages, and the applicable scenarios also vary. Application chains are more like "thin protocols", allowing the application layer to fully customize the underlying layer, but they are costly and have limited security. Elastic block space, on the other hand, is a "fat protocol" that serves as an extension of Layer 1, lowering the threshold for participants with predictable performance needs, while the protocol layer can also capture application value, forming a positive cycle.

![Predictable Performance of DApps: From Application Chains to Elastic Block Spaces])https://img-cdn.gateio.im/webp-social/moments-1ce62500654a5ac264303402744904e1.webp(

With the continuous evolution of blockchain technology, it is believed that more innovative solutions will emerge in the future to address the performance needs of DApps, driving the entire industry forward.