Traditional blockchain packages data storage, transaction execution, and consensus mechanism on a single chain, leading to the "impossible triangle" dilemma - Ethereum's throughput of 15 transactions per second and high gas fees highlight performance bottlenecks. Modularization blockchain, through "functional splitting + cross-module collaboration", splits the blockchain into independent modules such as data layer, execution layer, and consensus layer, achieving elastic scaling of on-demand combinations and becoming the core solution to break through performance limits. How does this architecture achieve 100,000 + TPS throughput? And in which scenarios does it reshape the application boundaries of blockchain?
Core Architecture: Layered Collaborative "Blockchain Lego"
The core of Modularization blockchain is functional decoupling and cross-layer communication , which realizes efficient collaboration through three modules:
- Data availability layer : responsible for storing transaction data and proving availability, without processing execution logic. Celestia uses data sharding technology to disperse block data storage, and nodes only need to verify data integrity, greatly reducing hardware barriers.
- Execution layer : Focus on transaction processing and smart contract operation, and can flexibly choose virtual machines such as EVM and WASM. Optimism, as the execution layer module of Ethereum, uses Rollup technology to batch upload transactions to the chain, and the TPS is increased to 1000 +;
- Consensus layer : Ensure cyber security and finality, and can be iterated independently of other layers. Polygon's PoS consensus layer provides security for multiple execution layers, and the block generation time is shortened to 2 seconds.
Cross-layer communication relies on interoperability protocols (such as IBC, XCMP) to ensure trusted data transmission between modules. For example, Avalanche's subnet, as the execution layer, can access Celestia's data layer to form a customized blockchain combination.
Key technologies and application scenarios
- Core technology of dynamic expansion
- Elastic module combination : Users can choose modules as needed, DeFi applications choose high throughput execution layer + security consensus layer, and privacy scenarios add zero-knowledge proof module;
- Decentralized sorting : Sequencer nodes sort transactions and submit them to the execution layer. Arbitrum's Decentralized Sequencer ensures fairness through token staking and avoids single-point manipulation.
- Data compression and verification : The zk-Rollup execution layer compresses transaction data through zero-knowledge proofs, reducing the amount of information submitted to the data layer by 90% and reducing storage costs.
- Application Scenario and Practice
- High Concurrency Trading Scenario : HashKey Exchange uses Modularization architecture to separate the compliance transaction execution layer from the public chain data layer, supporting 500 transactions per second while meeting the on-chain traceability requirements of the Hong Kong Securities Supervision Commission through the data layer.
- Enterprise-level customization : A certain supply chain alliance chain will deploy private modules at the execution layer, and the data layer will be connected to the public chain to ensure tamper-proof, achieving a balance between business privacy and compliance transparency;
- Cross-chain asset transfer : Modularization cross-chain bridge processes asset exchange through the execution layer, and the consensus layer guarantees the finality of transactions, compressing the cross-chain transfer time from 10 minutes to 30 seconds.
Modularization blockchain breaks the performance shackles of traditional architecture by "splitting and decoupling + collaborative efficiency". With the maturity of projects such as Celestia and EigenLayer, this "building block" architecture will promote the evolution of blockchain from a single functional chain to a multi-module ecosystem, clearing technical barriers for large-scale commercial applications.