In this episode of The Rollup, which took place on February 21, 2024, Robbie, Andy, and Nick discuss Fuel, Modular Rollups, and more. Read our notes below to learn more.
Background
- Robbie (Host) – Merkle Tree Maxi, Co-Founder of The Rollup
- Andy (Host) – zkProof Maxi, Co-Founder of The Rollup
- Nick (Guest) – CEO of Fuel Labs
- Fuel – the rollup OS for Ethereum
Fuel’s Rollup Operating System
- Nick introduces the concept of Rollup OS, aligning with the modular Rollup thesis. He adds that Fuel shifted focus to Rollup OS instead of EVM for scaling rollups. He highlights the importance of designing architectures for rollups and modularity in progressing blockchains.
- Fuel plans to launch a rollup based on 4844 DA, offering flexibility in wallet choice and security features. Fuel allows users to choose their DA solutions, connect with any wallet, and launch their own rollup using Proto-Danksharding.
Fuel’s Technology Implementation
- Nick says that Fuel is designed to be extensible, allowing users to add codes and features without rebuilding everything. Interoperability between different rollups is a key feature. Fuel’s unique position in the optimistic space for interoperation is emphasized, offering insights into its design and functionality.
- He adds that the purpose-built virtual machine, Fuel VM, offers parallelization for transactions and a custom programming language called Sway. The VM is designed to be slightly lower level than EVM but still allows parallel processing using UTXOs while maintaining compatibility with Ethereum tools.
- Nick discusses the need for a cleaner blockchain language that offers control over the environment, highlighting issues with existing languages like Solidity. A new programming language integrated into Fuel VM is introduced as a flexible solution that incorporates newer ideas from systems like Rust while supporting various environments.
Learning Resources for Developers
- Nick mentions ongoing efforts to enhance deployment processes for faster setup. He emphasizes the availability of cheat sheets and solutions to streamline system deployment.
- He encourages users to provide feedback for continuous improvement. He highlights the significance of engaging with the forum.fuel.network for inquiries and support.
Understanding Rollup Dynamics
- Nick says that various teams are actively competing to migrate $ETH from layer-1 to their rollups quickly. There is competition among different rollups is likened to a market share capture phenomenon. There is a shift towards scaling Ethereum through advanced interoperability features like shared sequencing.
- He adds that Fuel fits into this landscape and plans for interoperability with other rollups.
Fuel’s Unique Approach
- Nick says that Fuel aims to offer a niche solution that focuses on quality over quantity in project partnerships. Fuel targets users dissatisfied with current blockchain standards, offering an improved experience.
- He emphasizes deep curiosity, high performance, state sustainability, and customizability as key aspects of Fuel’s technology.
Discussion on the Future of Rollup
- Nick discusses the early stages of rollup development and how it differs from traditional builds, emphasizing its potential to advance blockchain projects.
- He emphasizes that choosing an EVM chain may not be ideal for scalability and user experience in the long run, highlighting the importance of selecting the right architecture for future growth. Fuel is positioned to support projects aiming for scale and enhanced user experiences, attracting numerous projects interested in deploying with them due to their unique capabilities.
Innovation in VM Design
- Nick says that recent months have seen a surge in rollup adoption due to reduced costs, leading to various projects launching or planning to launch on different platforms.
- He forecasts a shift towards deeper functionality beyond just data availability (DA), indicating a significant innovation wave at the VM level with broader implications for developers and users.
Role of Rollups in Blockchain Evolution
- Nick acknowledges the anticipation of abundant block space by planning ahead, ensuring effective utilization without compromising transaction processing volume globally.
- He highlights Fuel’s readiness to leverage increased block space efficiently through strategic design choices focusing on bandwidth over the state, enabling sustainable transaction processing at scale.
Future Landscape of Decentralized Applications (dApps)
- Nick anticipates a surge in innovative dApp solutions as the existing Ethereum block space evolves, offering new opportunities for applications seeking creative freedom without excessive security costs.
- He emphasizes the need for projects to be interoperable, scalable, and done in a certain way. Developers find it empowering, similar to spinning up websites in the early internet days. Mixing security properties of random rollups is cautioned against.
Check out these important links
- Listen to the episode on Youtube
- Follow Robbie on Twitter
- Follow Andy on Twitter
- Follow Nick on Twitter
Show Information
- Medium: Youtube
- Show: The Rollup
- Show Title: Unveiling Fuel Network’s Modular Rollup OS
- Show Date: February 21, 2024