StarkWare Integrates IBC Protocol for Starknet

StarkWare, a key developer of Ethereum Layer 2 Starknet, is set to integrate the inter-blockchain communication (IBC) protocol, a vital part of the Cosmos ecosystem, to enhance interoperability between independent blockchains. This effort is being carried out in partnership with Cosmos contributor Informal Systems.

Currently, Starknet and Cosmos operate on separate codebases. Starknet is a permissionless decentralized ZK-Rollup functioning as a Layer 2 network on Ethereum, leveraging STARK proofs to deliver high throughput, low transaction costs, and maintain the security of the Ethereum mainnet. Cosmos, on the other hand, is an ecosystem made up of multiple chains developed using the Cosmos SDK, which communicate through the IBC protocol and utilize the Tendermint consensus mechanism.

The upcoming integration will enable Starknet to connect with any IBC-compatible chain, encompassing all Cosmos chains and other external chains that adopt this feature.

StarkWare noted that this collaboration with Informal Systems will focus on enhancing decentralization and expanding the interoperability of Starknet. “This partnership aims to achieve two primary goals for Starknet: enhancing decentralization and interoperability through exploration of the Tendermint consensus algorithm and the IBC protocol,” the company stated.

A crucial aspect of IBC’s efficiency is the use of light client verification, which enables two chains to communicate without needing to validate the entire state of the other chain. Instead, they use light clients—simplified versions of blockchain nodes—to authenticate the cryptographic proofs related to transactions on the counterpart chain.

In the past year, StarkWare has engaged in various research and development projects, including the implementation of STARKs on Bitcoin, the ZKThreads framework for fractal scaling, and advancements in parallel transaction execution.