Exploring Blockchain Interoperability: Frameworks, Use Cases, and Future Challenges
Stanly Wilson, Kwabena Adu-Duodu, Yinhao Li, Ellis Solaiman, Omer Rana, Rajiv Ranjan
TL;DR
The paper surveys interoperability frameworks for heterogeneous blockchains, distinguishing cross-chain communication protocols CCCP and cross-blockchain communication CBCP, and evaluating major platforms. It provides platform-level overviews of Ethereum, Hyperledger, Cosmos, Ark, Harmony, Avalanche, Near, Solana, Cardano, Algorand, and Polkadot and their interoperability enablers. A supply chain case study based on Polkadot parachains demonstrates practical benefits for multi-organization data sharing, provenance, and atomicity of cross-chain transactions. Finally, the paper highlights data management, indexing, privacy, security, scalability, and standardization as critical open challenges for realizing broad cross-chain ecosystems.
Abstract
Trust between entities in any scenario without a trusted third party is very difficult, and trust is exactly what blockchain aims to bring into the digital world with its basic features. Many applications are moving to blockchain adoption, enabling users to work in a trustworthy manner. The early generations of blockchain have a problem; they cannot share information with other blockchains. As more and more entities move their applications to the blockchain, they generate large volumes of data, and as applications have become more complex, sharing information between different blockchains has become a necessity. This has led to the research and development of interoperable solutions allowing blockchains to connect together. This paper discusses a few blockchain platforms that provide interoperable solutions, emphasising their ability to connect heterogeneous blockchains. It also discusses a case study scenario to illustrate the importance and benefits of using interoperable solutions. We also present a few topics that need to be solved in the realm of interoperability.