Leading the Data Availability Revolution: Current Status and Future Prospects of the DA Track

Data Availability (DA) is becoming a hot topic in the blockchain industry. With the rise of modular blockchain concepts, more and more projects are starting to focus on providing DA solutions. This article will delve into the current state of the DA track, the main participants, and future development trends.

The Origin of DA Issues

Data availability refers to the complete transaction data released by block producers for validators to download. If the data is fully downloadable, it is referred to as available; if part of the data is hidden, it is referred to as unavailable.

The key to the DA issue is:

1. Ensure that the verification mechanism is conducted securely.
2. Reduce the cost of publishing data

Currently, mainstream L2s gain security and availability guarantees by publishing data to Ethereum, but this brings significant cost pressure.

Mainstream DA Solutions

On-chain Solutions

Continue to use Ethereum as the DA layer and reduce costs through technological upgrades.

Off-chain solution

Looking for more economical alternatives, including:

• Validium: Using off-chain DA
• Data Availability Committee ( DAC ): Responsible for data storage and provision by the committee.
• Volition: Allows users to choose on-chain or off-chain DA
• Universal DA: Provides independent DA network services

Comparison of Major DA Projects

Celestia

• Technical Features: Data Availability Sampling ( DAS ), Namespace Merkle Tree ( NMT )
• Advantages: Launched, rich ecosystem, potential airdrop opportunities

EigenDA

• Technical Features: Based on EigenLayer re-staking, utilizing Ethereum Blob
• Advantages: No need for a new validator set, deeply integrated with Ethereum

Avail

• Technical Features: Utilizes KZG Polynomial Commitment
• Advantages: Supports large-scale verification nodes, light client network as a backup

Near DA

• Advantages: Low cost, inherits the security of the Near network.

Covalent

• Features: Provides long-term DA services, permanently stores L2 state data

DA and Blockchain Modularization

The DA layer is a functional layer that has been gradually abstracted out in response to the demand for blockchain scalability. Modular blockchains decouple the functions of a monolithic chain, achieving more refined division of labor.

Four main functional layers:

• Execution Layer
• Data Availability Layer
• Consensus Layer
• Settlement Layer

Outlook on the Future of DA

1. The DA layer will present a decentralized pattern, possibly coexisting with 7-8 major providers.

2. Choosing a DA plan requires weighing the cost and security; the higher the value of the service, the higher the security requirements for DA.

3. Ethereum may specifically build a DA layer in ETH 3.0 or introduce a proprietary storage chain similar to sharding.

4. From a modular perspective, the future combination of blockchain will be more diverse.

Overall, the DA track is in a rapid development phase and will play an increasingly important role in the future in the trends of blockchain scalability and modularization. Each solution has its advantages and disadvantages, and the final landscape still needs to be tested by the market.