Dual VM or Sidechain?
Since permissionless CosmWasm is now live on the Cosmos Hub, a new question naturally emerges: Should the Hub eventually support both CosmWasm and EVM? If yes, should that happen directly on the Hub through a dual-VM architecture (similar to Injective), or would a dedicated EVM sidechain secured by the Hub be a better approach? This isn’t a proposal, but rather an open discussion about the long-term evolution of the Hub. Where we are today The Hub already supports permissionless CosmWasm, allowing developers to deploy applications directly on the Hub. That opens the door to native DeFi, infrastructure, automation, treasury management and many other applications. The remaining question is whether adding EVM compatibility would significantly increase the Hub’s attractiveness. Why this discussion matters now This discussion also fits into the broader conversation around the Hub liquidity layer. In the recent Hub Weekly update, the liquidity layer was described as an open design conversation. Two possible directions were mentioned: a Hub-native orderbook with third-party DEX plugins, and an intents-based settlement layer. The orderbook design is especially…
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I’ve had something on the back burner that will bring EVM liquidity to the Hub. My solution is designed to live on the Hub.
This is great, @Guinch_Roze , and it touches on many of the key points we’ve been thinking about as well. More to come in this cycle of calls, where we will touch on the topic. Personally, though: “EVM is about expanding the addressable market” is a great way of thinking, and I can add that it is also about compounding. Unlike CosmWasm, the compounding effect on EVM is, at the tech or commercial level, greater. Generally, the widespread adoption means there are thousands of teams, resources, and assets you can choose from and get support for. Sometimes, certain pieces of tech get “close enough” between each other technically that the perks are more in those layers than in the performance itself. As for dual vs side-chain: You’re spot on about the fact that regardless of the choice, the newly formed Ecosystem team at Cosmos Labs (with the acquisition of Mintscan) will act as the main maintainer. There might also be a third option here, where we have a side-chain, but we abstract the experience to have it feel and behave like a single chain. After all, Ethereum is, in a way, really 2 very well interlinked chains. That, however, would most likely take away the complexity…
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