Initia: Building a Full-Chain Rollup Ecosystem for Web3

The rise of modular public chains has driven an explosive growth in the number of blockchains. Data shows that there are currently 53 L2 public chains in the market, with another 42 under construction. Although these public chains, designed for different scenarios, meet diverse needs, they also bring about issues of complexity and fragmentation.

Against this backdrop, the modular project Initia launched by the Cosmos ecosystem has attracted widespread attention. Inspired by Apple's design philosophy, Initia transforms blockchain into a format that is as easily accessible and integrable as iPhone applications, aiming to provide users with an intuitive and interconnected blockchain application experience. The product suite of Initia includes multi-chain explorers, wallet tools, cross-chain bridges, centralized application platforms, and on-chain identity systems, dedicated to building a unified and user-friendly blockchain ecosystem.

Currently, the Initia testnet has been launched, and the first round of airdrop plans has started to reward early ecological contributors. It is expected that after completing the testing, Initia will officially launch its mainnet in the third quarter of this year. Its innovative design and complete ecosystem are expected to reshape the blockchain landscape in the Web3 era.

Initia: A Full-Chain Rollup Ecosystem for Web3

The founding team of Initia is composed of senior crypto experts Zon and Stan Liu, and has now grown to a scale of 20 people. These founders and researchers have extensive experience in building multi-billion dollar TVL applications across ecosystems such as Cosmos, Terra, and Ethereum. Zon has served as the chief architect and chief technology officer for several well-known blockchain companies, while Stan Liu is a senior developer in the Ethereum ecosystem and has participated in the development of many well-known DeFi projects.

In October 2023, Initia completed a round of pre-seed financing and established partnerships with projects under its investors, laying a foundation for future development. In February 2024, Initia secured another $7.5 million in seed round financing, led by a well-known investment institution, with several industry-renowned figures also participating. This funding will be used to promote the development of Initia's infrastructure, expand product tools, and nurture key application layer projects, further facilitating the growth of the Initia ecosystem.

Initia's goal is to provide users with a clear and unified full-chain Rollup ecosystem by integrating modular Layer 1 and dedicated Layer 2. It brings together the advantages of multiple mainstream public chains, creating a scalable and efficient application ecosystem for developers and users. Developers can quickly build cross-chain applications using the infrastructure provided by Initia; users can seamlessly enjoy a rich array of DeFi, GameFi, Social, and other application services without having to switch back and forth between different public chains.

To simplify the experience for users and developers, Initia also offers a complete stack of technology and user products, including:

• InitiaScan: An interactive platform for navigation and construction across multiple InitiaRollups, providing insights and tools for developers and users.
• Wallet Widget: The front-end entry point of the Initia wallet solution, providing users with convenient cross-chain wallet signing through an innovative social login method.
• Bridget: Frontend bridge / entry aggregator, directly integrated into the Initia ecosystem's various Rollup application layers, providing seamless asset cross-chain and deposit services.
• Initia Application: A centralized platform that integrates various resources and services within the Initia ecosystem, such as the Initia Wallet, username system, and Bridget cross-chain bridge, providing a one-stop Initia ecosystem experience.
• Initia Username: Provides a simple, convenient, and easy-to-read way to access the account address of each Rollup on the Initia platform.
• Initia Wallet: Serving as the unified center for the Initia ecosystem navigation, it provides features such as social login, cross-chain exchange, and automatic routing, allowing users to seamlessly manage assets across multiple Rollups.

The Initia platform provides a complete set of product-ready Rollup collections, enabling teams to build scalable sovereign systems while eliminating the user experience complexities faced when interacting with a modular multichain universe. Users can freely explore various DApps and services within the Initia ecosystem without worrying about the differences in underlying public chains, enjoying a seamless crypto world just like using a smartphone.

Initia Layered Architecture: A Flexible and Scalable Multi-Chain Ecosystem

Initia adopts a layered modular design architecture, integrating novel L1 with interwoven specific application L2 infrastructure systems, reconstructing the entire tech stack, including components like InitiaScan browser, Wallet Widget tools, Bridget cross-chain bridge, and Initia applications. At the same time, with the help of the layered modular architecture, developers can easily launch a blockchain for specific applications as Initia L2 without needing to understand the complex chain-level infrastructure or operate a validator set.

The Initia architecture is mainly divided into 4 modules:

Initia Orchestration Layer ( Layer 1 ): Initia has a main chain network called L1, which plays a key role in orchestrating and coordinating the entire ecosystem. The L1 layer is responsible for ensuring fundamental functions such as security, liquidity, routing, and cross-chain interoperability throughout the system. Unlike traditional single main chains, Initia's L1 network adopts a more flexible and scalable design, laying a solid foundation for the development of upper-layer applications.

The L1 main chain uses an innovative consensus mechanism that combines the advantages of Proof of Stake ( PoS ) and Proof of Authority ( PoA ). This not only ensures the security and decentralization of the entire network but also guarantees efficient confirmation and finality of transactions. At the same time, Initia has also implemented a mechanism for dynamically adjusting block intervals and the number of validators to meet performance demands in different scenarios. This adaptive design allows the L1 main chain to provide reliable performance guarantees while maintaining a high degree of decentralization.

Initia Rollups( Layer 2): Another key component of the Initia platform is the independent Layer 2 network "Minitia". Each Minitia focuses on specific application scenarios, such as financial services, gaming, or social networks, and can operate independently while maintaining a close connection with Layer 1. This design not only enhances the overall flexibility and scalability of the system but also allows Initia to better meet the needs of different application scenarios.

Minitias is a fully functional CosmosSDK chain that integrates advanced aggregation features and utilizes standard CosmosSDK modules as well as custom modules. Minitias boasts impressive technical specifications and a rich feature set:

1. High throughput of over 10,000 TPS and a block time of 500 milliseconds
2. IBC is used for interoperability in Cosmos and shared security in Omnitia.
3. Support for Celestia data availability, MoveVM, WasmVM, and EVM
4. Various native functions, such as the vested interest program, token rebates, and the Omnitia messaging module.
5. Advanced tools, including InitiaSDK, WalletSDK, and 1-Click Deposit Widget
6. Integrate with third-party services and oracles to enhance functionality and user experience.

OPinit Stack: OPinit Stack is an OR framework built by Initia in the CosmosSDK. This framework leverages Celestia's data availability layer to support secure scaling across different virtual machines such as EVM, MoveVM, and WebAssembly. This means that developers can freely choose the most suitable virtual machine based on their application needs without having to focus too much on the complex chain-level infrastructure.

The OPinit Stack has fraud proof and rollback capabilities, ensuring complete interoperability between various aggregation networks built on it. This innovation brings unprecedented flexibility and scalability to Initia, allowing developers to quickly build product-ready, interoperable applications.

Interoperability/Bridge Middleware: Interoperability/Bridge Middleware is another key component of the Initia platform, including inter-blockchain communication (IBC) protocol and TBA Bridge Provider. IBC supports instant communication and transfers between different blockchains through simple cross-chain messaging, enabling Initia to achieve seamless asset and data transfer across different blockchain networks.

TBA Bridge Provider is another high-performance and secure cross-chain bridging solution that connects Initia's Layer 1 network with the Layer 2 Minitia network. In addition, the protocol integrates efficient aggregation technology, which can significantly enhance the throughput and performance of cross-chain interactions.

The layered design of Initia provides it with scalability and flexibility. The L1 main chain is responsible for core consensus and settlement, while Minitias focuses on performance-intensive applications, both of which are deeply integrated through the OPinit Stack. Meanwhile, interoperability/bridging middleware enables cross-layer asset and data interaction within Initia across different blockchain networks and ecosystems. This layered design not only addresses the complexity and fragmentation issues of multi-chain ecosystems but also greatly enhances user experience, laying a solid foundation for the development of a modular multi-chain universe.

Overview of Popular Ecological Projects

The Initia testnet has been launched, and the incentive airdrop has also begun. As a project committed to becoming the "Apple system" in the blockchain field, Initia has attracted significant attention from the investment community. Some institutions predict that Initia may initiate Series A financing before officially launching its mainnet in the third quarter of this year. At that time, some popular projects within the Initia ecosystem will undoubtedly receive a lot of attention.

Currently, noteworthy projects on the Initia ecosystem include:

Blackwing

Blackwing is a modular blockchain that allows for leveraged trading of long-tail assets without liquidation through an "infinite pool." Utilizing Initia as a foundation, Blackwing enables traders to conduct asset transactions on any modular application chain without the need to transfer funds across networks, significantly saving costs and improving security.

Blackwing completed a $4.5 million financing round in March this year. The testnet Tomcat-1 was successfully launched in May, and the TVL has now surpassed $50 million.

Tucana

Tucana is an intent-centered multifunctional L2 network within the Initia ecosystem. Its core goal is to unify and optimize the transaction experience across various modular networks. The underlying architecture of Tucana is supported by the interwoven Rollups technology of Initia and Celestia, enabling compatibility and integration of transaction needs across different modular networks.

Through Tucana's liquidity layer, users can seamlessly access thousands of modular networks, including limit orders, market orders, and perpetual contracts, enabling seamless trading of multi-chain assets. Tucana is seen as a one-stop shop for the future of modular trading.

Controrg

Controrg is an innovative project in the Initia ecosystem aimed at reshaping trading infrastructure. It seeks to build a brand new trading platform - the GLOB chain, through disruptive technological means.

The GLOB chain adopts a progressive "order flow" execution mechanism, abandoning the traditional "instant order" model. This not only reduces the issues of high-frequency trading and price manipulation but also achieves true price fairness. Furthermore, GLOB realizes a unified global clearing price based on an auction mechanism, where both buyers and sellers trade at this unified price. Users can also freely express their trading intentions, and orders will be executed gradually.