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The Rollup

Where digital assets and finance converge. Live from the financial capital of the world.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Latest Episodes:

Is Shared Security A Myth? With Toghrul Maharramov Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to episode 10 of EigenLayer Unlocked, for a much more broad overview of what shared security really is, how to think about the concept of shared security, and where EigenLayer fits in.

Following up on his earlier thoughts around modularity being a meme, we decided to bring Toghrul on to discuss his mental model for shared security and restaking.

In the crypto world, shared security is often misunderstood as a term. In today's presentation, Toghrul walks us through why the lack of full shared security isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and how it opens up more opportunities for experimentation across L2s, restaking protocols, and other onchain systems. He also made a point to define the four key characteristics of shared security as it relates to cryptoeconomic systems.

We touched on the idea of avoiding full interdependence amongst two separate systems which means individual failures are isolated, ensuring the wider ecosystem remains secure. However, this also breaks the core messaging for shared security, lending itself to a "partial shared security" terminology.

Overall, this was a really good talk and towards the end we got into usecases, risks, and how Toghrul is viewing the restaking landscape.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗠𝗘𝗥: 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘳𝘺𝘱𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘋𝘦𝘍𝘪 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘬, 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦. 𝘈𝘵 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘭, 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘱, 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮, 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦. 𝘞𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘳𝘴.

Why Fast Finality Can Enhance Cross-Rollup Transactions With Nuffle Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to episode 9 of EigenLayer Unlocked, with a focus on utilizing a fast finality layer to improve cross-rollup interop and avoid the long finality delays on Ethereum L1.

Today, we’re taking a closer look at Nuffle Labs’ fast finality layer, NFFL, an EigenLayer AVS that addresses state fragmentation, user experience issues, and security concerns amongst L2s. Nuffle Labs, led by founders Altan and Firat, comes from a strong technical background, starting with NEAR DA, and they’re known for making things faster, cheaper, and easier for rollups.

But, that didn't stop Andy from grilling them about their tradeoffs, how they are going to write their slashing contracts, what the slashing rules are, and where there are chokepoints in their design.

Their latest focus, NFFL, leverages the security of Ethereum through EigenLayer to give rollups a universal finality layer, slashing costs and improving interoperability. By using of restaked ETH, rollups can rely on cryptoeconomic security for faster state attestations.

They also hinted at an upcoming product, which was partly a tease, albeit quite interesting.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Everything You Need To Launch An AVS With Othentic Oct 23, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to episode 8 of EigenLayer Unlocked, for a deep dive into the core infrastructure you need to launch an AVS.

Othentic’s journey started with building their own AVS, and along the way, they faced every complexity imaginable. So, they created the Othentic Stack, making it easier for builders to get their AVSs off the ground without having to reinvent the wheel.

So, what exactly is an AVS? Think of it as a decentralized computing service that performs complex tasks off-chain while verifying the results on-chain. This approach aligns with Ethereum's modular roadmap, where computations are offloaded to reduce onchain load, yet still securely validated. Unlike rollups, which focus on state transitions, AVSs are ideal for services where computation needs validation without the need for continuous state agreement.

AVSs open doors for a variety of use cases—from oracles to machine learning models. Othentic simplifies the entire setup, letting teams focus on their core products while the stack takes care of everything on the infra side.

Our chat also explores how AVSs differ from rollups and why this distinction matters for developers choosing between the two (or better yet, use both!). With more than 30 builders already using the Othentic Stack, it’s clear there’s a lot happening here.

If you're a builder looking to launch an AVS, you need to speak to Othentic.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

How Espresso Aims To Solve The L2 Fragmentation Problem Oct 22, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to Episode 7 of EigenLayer Unlocked, where we’re exploring the concept of cross-chain composability -- and in particular, the fragmentation of the modular ecosystem.

This is the key to unlocking the full vision of Ethereum's rollup-centric roadmap facilitating coordination between different chains, and Espresso is at the forefront of making it happen. Robbie had a very technical conversation with Ellie, a researcher and engineer at Espresso, who shared insights into how their protocol is addressing one of the modular ecosystems biggest challenges: bringing true composability to rollups and app chains.

Espresso’s approach centers around a sequencing marketplace and a fast finality layer. These two products enable different rollups to coordinate sequencing without sacrificing their sovereignty. Rollups can sell their sequencing rights through a combinatorial auction, allowing them to maximize revenue while still maintaining control over their operations.

The addition of EigenLayer’s restaking mechanism further enhances this process, simplifying sequencing while leveraging Ethereum’s strong economic security for guarantees.

Fast finality is another key feature of Espresso, reducing latency for cross-chain transactions. Their consensus protocol, Hotshot, ensures transactions are finalized in less than four seconds, providing strong guarantees for atomic cross-chain operations without waiting for Ethereum settlement.

Espresso’s marketplace also ensures that sovereignty is preserved by redistributing auction proceeds back to the rollups (if you watched the ASS podcast, then you know we are extremely bullish on redistributing this to apps). Rollups can set floor prices to ensure they’re always getting the revenue they deserve, even if they opt to sequence themselves.

This piece will give you a detailed look at how Espresso is rethinking composability and making appchains a more viable option in the current semi-isolationist reality we live in onchain today.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

What is zkTLS & why is it capturing large mindshare right now? Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

Join us live for an in-depth exploration of ZKTLS, the tech reshaping how data is verified on the internet.

We’re hosting a special panel as part of the Ion Layer Unlocked event, featuring Madhavan Reclaim Protocol and Dawufi from Opacity.

Discover why ZKTLS is gaining traction, its potential use cases, and how it enhances privacy and security by making data transfer provable without revealing sensitive information.

𝗪𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵-𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗻𝗼𝗻-𝗯𝗶𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺. 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀:

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Why ZK Verification is Ethereum's Final Frontier with Aligned Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to episode 4 of EigenLayer Unlocked, for a focus into the final frontier of Ethereum scaling: Inexpensive and lightning fast zk proof verification.

In today’s presentation, we break down how ZK proofs allow us to compress complex computations into small, verifiable proofs, drastically reducing the need for re-execution across Ethereum. We were joined by Diego Kingston of Aligned Layer to explain how this helps solve one of Ethereum’s biggest challenges: scaling while keeping proof verification costs managable.

One of the core ideas we discussed is proof recursion, where multiple proofs can be bundled together into one, reducing verification overhead and making onchain processes more efficient.

We also explore how EigenLayer plays into this, enabling projects to offload proof verification from Ethereum’s main layer to a more specialized layer without sacrificing security. This allows Ethereum to avoid bottlenecks and avoid competing for block space, all while keeping costs lower and scaling higher.

ZK verification might seem like a niche area, but it’s rapidly becoming a foundational piece of infrastructure for onchain apps which want to benefit from the security guarantees of validity proofs, as well as EigenLayer.

Lets dive in.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

The Next Evolution of Crypto App Experiences with Lagrange Oct 20, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the 5th episode of EigenLayer Unlocked!

Today’s pod, live from Singapore, dives into the evolving world of onchain incentives and how projects like Lagrange are setting the stage for more interactive, long-lasting, personalized crypto experiences.

We got to hear from Ismael, Gajesh Naik, and Luca Netz on this special episode.

Lagrange’s ZK coprocessor is redefining how data flows between apps, enabling active reward distribution that goes beyond traditional airdrops. This isn't just about rewards; it's about keeping users engaged, offering continuous incentives, and building features that crypto enthusiasts have long been waiting for (which we are all used to in Web2).

We discussed Lagrange’s collaborations with projects like Azuki, leveraging the coprocessor to deliver more dynamic, real-time incentives that mirror the engagement models from Web2.

The ability to integrate onchain applications with these tools opens doors for everything from cashback rewards to personalized offers, bridging the gap between crypto and everyday consumer habits.

In the chat, the team explained how they’re tapping into deeper layers of user behavior, creating integrations that align with each community's needs.

We really enjoyed this insight into the next era of crypto apps. Enjoy!

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

How Stateless Apps Enable New Cross-Chain Possibilities with Skate Oct 19, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to our first EigenLayer Unlocked podcast from Singapore.

Over the next few weekends, you can expect dynamic, high-quality, fast paced conversations from Andy and builders within the EigenLayer ecosystem.

Today, we’re diving into the idea of stateless apps with Siddharth Lalwani, CEO of Skate.

Skate’s approach focuses on solving the liquidity fragmentation issue we see across multiple chains. They’re building a unified AMM model as well as the underlying technology for apps to exist across many chains.

By leveraging EigenLayer’s as an AVS, Skate uses cryptoeconomic security to ensure cross-chain transactions and build an ecosystem of “stateless” apps.

Andy dives into Siddharth’s background, why they have chosen to use EigenLayer, how the design works, and where Skate is headed.

With all the buzz around apps, this was a refreshing conversation about one potential way we’ll see apps be construed across the inevitable future consisting of thousands of chains.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Decentralized Sequencing, Fast Finality, and Challenger Networks with AltLayer Oct 17, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the 3rd episode of EigenLayer Unlocked. In this episode we take a deep dive into the evolution of restaked rollups with a focus on significant improvements to the state of L2s today, using AVS technology.

Alongside Amrit Kumar, we walk through the three main pillars of AltLayer's future vision: Squad, a decentralized sequencer set; Vital, a challenger network for fraud detection; and Mach, a fast finality layer that ensures rollup transactions are confirmed more quickly.

We took technical stabs at the risk vectors for these operations, the demand from operators to provide restaked capital to the rollups, where the technical tradeoffs exist, and much more.

Amrit provided well thought answers.

These components are modular, so rollup builders can pick and choose what fits their needs. The flexibility of the system means projects aren’t locked into a one-size-fits-all solution. Whether it’s reducing reliance on centralized sequencers or speeding up finality times without needing Ethereum’s long wait periods, restaked rollups provide a wide range of tools. Amrit also emphasizes how this approach can make an impact on the current lackluster utility of L2 tokens, potentially giving them utility beyond governance.

This one was a technical dive into some of the core concepts which comprise rollups, and how utilizing EigenLayer's AVS technology, we can see improvements to their technical designs.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl

Why ZK is Perfect for Offchain Computation with Brevis Oct 16, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to episode #2 of EigenLayer Unlocked, for a dive into a technical exploration of something that’s set to quietly improve how developers build smarter, more scalable DeFi applications: ZK-coprocessors.

The magic of ZK is being able to conduct complex off-chain computations and then verifiably attest to their validity onchain. This is the thesis for coprocessors.

Brevis is introducing a solution that tackles one of the most frustrating bottlenecks for DeFi builders—limited onchain computational power. With Brevis, developers can offload complex computations to off-chain environments, keeping blockchain efficiency intact while still remaining verifiable using ZK proofs.

Have you heard of the saying verifiable computation? This is what ZK enables.

During today’s breakdown, we’ll explore how Brevis works hand-in-hand with EigenLayer, leveraging their AVS system for enhanced security and cost-efficiency. Brevis' ZK coprocessor also allows DeFi protocols to easily access historical onchain data, unlocking features like dynamic fee adjustments based on user trading history—amidst others.

We ask Mo, where he anticipates the yield coming from, the demand for Brevis, as well as how he is thinking about slashing, slashing rules, and slashing contracts.

Website: https://therollup.co/

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1P6ZeYd..

Podcast: https://therollup.co/category/podcast

Follow Rob on X: https://www.x.com/robbie_rollup

Follow Andy on X: https://www.x.com/ayyyeandy

Join our TG group: https://t.me/+8ARkR_YZixE5YjBh

The Rollup Disclosures: https://therollup.co/the-rollup-discl