Initia: Building a Full-Chain Rollup Ecosystem to Reshape the Web3 Landscape

With the rise of modular public chains, the blockchain industry is experiencing explosive growth. Currently, there are over 50 L2 public chains in operation in the market, with more than 40 in development. Although these public chains, designed for different scenarios, can meet diverse needs, they also bring about issues such as 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 an easy-to-use and integrated form similar to iPhone applications, allowing users to enjoy an intuitive and interconnected blockchain application experience. The product suite of Initia covers multi-chain browsers, wallet tools, cross-chain bridges, centralized application platforms, and on-chain identity systems, aiming to build 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 ecosystem contributors. It is expected that after completing 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 consists of seasoned crypto experts Zon and Stan Liu, and has now grown to 20 members. These founders and researchers have extensive experience in building large-scale TVL applications across ecosystems such as Cosmos, Terra, and Ethereum. Zon previously served as the chief architect and chief technology officer of a blockchain company, while Stan Liu is a senior developer in the Ethereum ecosystem and has participated in the development of several well-known DeFi projects.

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

Initia aims to provide users with a clear and unified full-chain Rollup ecosystem by integrating modular Layer 1 and proprietary Layer 2 solutions. It brings together the advantages of multiple mainstream public chains, creating a scalable and efficient application ecosystem for developers and users. Developers can leverage the infrastructure provided by Initia to quickly build cross-chain applications; users can seamlessly enjoy a variety 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 provides a complete stack of technology and user products, including:

• InitiaScan: This is a user-centric interactive platform for navigating and building across multiple InitiaRollups, providing valuable insights and tools for developers and users alike.
• Wallet Widget: As the front-end entry point of the Initia wallet solution, it provides users with the convenience of cross-chain wallet signing through an innovative social login method.
• Bridget: As a front-end bridge/entry aggregator, Bridget is directly integrated into various Rollup applications within the Initia ecosystem, providing seamless asset cross-chain and deposit services for these Rollups.
• Initia Application: This is a centralized platform that integrates various resources and services within the Initia ecosystem, such as the Initia wallet, Initia username system, Bridget cross-chain bridge, etc., providing users with a one-stop Initia ecosystem experience.
• Initia Username: The Initia username system provides a simple, convenient, and easy-to-read way to access the account addresses of each Rollup on the Initia platform.
• Initia Wallet: The Initia Wallet offers unparalleled convenience as a unified hub for navigating the Initia ecosystem. With features like social login, cross-chain swaps, and automatic routing, users can seamlessly manage their assets across multiple Rollups.

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

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

Initia adopts a layered modular design architecture that integrates innovative L1 with intertwined dedicated L2 infrastructure systems, reconstructing the entire technology stack, including components such as the InitiaScan browser, Wallet Widget wallet tool, Bridget cross-chain bridge, and Initia applications. At the same time, with the help of the layered modular architecture, developers can easily launch dedicated blockchains as Initia L2 without needing to understand complex chain-level infrastructure or operate a set of validators.

The Initia architecture is mainly divided into 4 modules, specifically:

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 the overall system's security, liquidity, routing, and cross-chain interoperability. 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 the efficient confirmation and finality of transactions. At the same time, Initia has 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 (such as AuthZ and Feegrant) as well as custom modules (such as POB from the Skip Protocol). 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 features, such as loyalty programs, token rebates, and Omnitia messaging module

5. Advanced tools, including InitiaSDK, WalletSDK, and 1-Click Deposit Widget

6. Integration with third-party services and oracles to enhance functionality and user experience

OPinit Stack: OPinit Stack is an OR framework built by Initia within the CosmosSDK. This framework utilizes 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 the needs of their applications, without needing to focus excessively on complex chain-level infrastructure.

OPinit Stack features fraud proof and rollback capabilities, ensuring complete interoperability between various aggregation networks built on it. This innovation brings unprecedented flexibility and scalability to Initia, enabling 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 transfer across different blockchains through simple cross-chain messaging, enabling Initia to achieve seamless asset and data transfer between 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, this protocol integrates efficient aggregation technology, which significantly enhances 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, with both being deeply integrated through the OPinit Stack. At the same time, interoperability/bridge middleware enables cross-layer asset and data exchange within Initia across different blockchain networks and ecosystems. This layered design not only addresses the complexities and fragmentation issues of multi-chain ecosystems but also greatly enhances the 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 started. As a project dedicated 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 great attention.

Currently, notable projects on the Initia ecosystem include:

Blackwing

Blackwing is a modular blockchain that enables uncollateralized leveraged trading of long-tail assets through an "infinite pool." Utilizing Initia as its foundation, Blackwing allows traders to transact assets on any modular application chain without the need to transfer funds across networks, significantly reducing costs and enhancing security.

Blackwing completed a $4.5 million funding 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 a multifunctional L2 network centered around intention 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 intertwined 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 regarded as a one-stop shop for the future of modular trading.

Controrg

Controrg is Init