Chain Abstraction: The Transformative Path of Web3 User Experience

Although blockchain technology has developed for many years, Web3 still faces a core issue: ordinary users find it difficult to get started. The current Web3 environment requires users to handle various wallets, signatures, cross-chain operations, complex address formats, and different interaction logics. To truly popularize blockchain, the underlying complexity must be hidden, allowing users to operate as naturally as they would with Web2 applications, without considering the underlying chains, cross-chain transactions, or security measures. Chain abstraction was created for this purpose, aiming to break the fragmentation of multiple chains and simplify the interaction between users and chains.

More and more projects are beginning to practice chain abstraction. Some platforms provide infrastructure support for chain abstraction at the protocol layer through specific protocols and security models. This article will delve into the concept, technical paths, and practical significance of chain abstraction, analyzing the exploration directions of different projects.

Core Concept of Chain Abstraction

The core of chain abstraction is to allow users and developers to freely use cross-chain applications and assets without needing to understand or operate the underlying blockchain structure. As an industry insider said, users do not care which cloud service the restaurant uses when ordering takeout; they just want to enjoy their meal. Web3 should be the same way, enabling users to perform various operations freely without needing to understand the underlying chain or protocol.

Although current native crypto users are familiar with the potential of blockchain, Web3 will struggle to achieve widespread adoption if the barriers to entry remain high. Chain abstraction is the key to solving this issue.

It is worth noting that chain abstraction is different from account abstraction. Chain abstraction focuses on the hidden processing of cross-chain interactions, allowing users to operate multiple blockchains through a unified interface. Account abstraction, on the other hand, emphasizes the flexibility of transaction authorization methods, such as enabling smart contracts to automatically execute transactions. The two can be used together to promote more convenient user interactions.

The Value and Application of Chain Abstraction

Enhance Web3 user experience

Currently, Web3 users often have to operate multiple wallets and cross-chain bridges, dealing with complex signing processes, making asset transfer daunting. Chain abstraction integrates complex cross-chain operations in the background, providing users with a unified and smooth interface, greatly simplifying the experience.

An industry expert mentioned that the cross-chain application of stablecoins is a typical case where chain abstraction has been realized. As reserve assets, people hope that stablecoins can be conveniently used in any scenario, and the combination of bridges and stablecoins perfectly meets this demand.

Solve the issues of blockchain fragmentation and interoperability.

With the increase of public chains, Rollups, and Appchains, inter-chain liquidity and user experience are becoming increasingly fragmented. Without chain abstraction, users have to manually bridge and manage multiple wallets, facing inconsistent interfaces and experiences. Chain abstraction can connect these "information islands" and enable smooth circulation of assets and operations across different chains.

Although stablecoins and perpetual markets have become increasingly "chain-abstracted", certain scenarios still face significant resistance, indicating that while the development of chain abstraction is accelerating, there are still challenges.

Change Liquidity and Resource Management

Layer abstraction can bridge the gap between chains, allowing assets to flow freely and reducing liquidity fragmentation. In recent years, "liquidity abstraction" has made significant progress, enabling users to operate balances and deploy funds directly without considering the chain where the assets reside. This also helps developers avoid the disconnection of users and liquidity caused by multi-chain deployment.

Key Technologies and Security Risks

Key technologies for achieving chain abstraction include cross-chain communication protocols, various types of cross-chain bridges, orchestration tools for coordinating cross-chain operations, and account abstraction solutions that support flexible authorization models. Some platforms support chain abstraction from the underlying protocol level by "aggregating security and message communication," which distinguishes this model from peer-to-peer interconnection.

Security has always been one of the core issues. It is crucial to build highly reliable smart contracts, and users should avoid relying on opaque off-chain agents to execute operations. A safer approach is to construct trusted smart contracts and orchestration systems using specific mechanisms, providing users with a truly controllable and reliable cross-chain interaction experience.

The Technical Implementation of Chain Abstraction

Currently, the leading projects in the field of chain abstraction include several platforms focused on cross-chain communication, smart contract orchestration, asset management, and other directions. They all have their strengths in the "user-centered" chain abstraction direction, although there are differences in technical architecture and philosophy.

With the explosion of Appchains, people have realized the necessity of cross-chain abstraction, as the number of chains has become too large to ignore.

Challenges Facing Chain Abstraction

Despite strong development momentum, chain abstraction still faces many technical challenges:

• There are significant differences in execution environments among different chains.
• The finality time of transactions (especially on certain networks) is long
• High Gas fees
• Some ecological interoperability is still relatively weak.
• The technical threshold for building cross-chain intention and orchestration systems is relatively high

Currently, the infrastructure is continuously improving, but more complex cross-chain interactions still require further exploration and optimization.

Summary: The essence of chain abstraction is user experience

The ultimate goal of blockchain abstraction is to provide users with a seamless experience comparable to Web2. Users want to easily stake, trade, lend, buy NFTs, or manage investment portfolios without constantly worrying about chains, bridges, and wallets.

The "shared security + central communication + pragmatism" model proposed by some platforms is considered the path closest to this goal. Although challenges remain, the multi-chain future is accelerating from vision to reality.