In RGB++, isomorphic binding is a trustless mechanism that links state changes and asset management between the Bitcoin blockchain and the Nervos CKB blockchain. It does so by mapping Bitcoin's Unspent Transaction Outputs (UTXOs) to CKB's Cells (an extended UTXO design of Nervos CKB, more to read: What is Cell Model), facilitating synchronized operations across both blockchains without the need for a centralized authority or trust in intermediaries.
How Isomorphic Binding Works
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Mapping of UTXOs to Cells: In RGB++, each Bitcoin UTXO is mapped to a corresponding Cell on the Nervos CKB blockchain. This mapping is established through a cryptographic commitment that includes the UTXO's details and the intended operation (e.g., state change or asset transfer).
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Transaction Verification: When a UTXO is spent on the Bitcoin network, a commitment to this transaction is included in a Bitcoin transaction, usually within an
OP_RETURNoutput. This commitment links the Bitcoin transaction to a specific state change or operation on the CKB blockchain. -
Cross-Chain Verification: Nervos CKB verifies that the Bitcoin UTXO has been spent through a light client mechanism. This light client imports and verifies Bitcoin block headers, enabling it to confirm the inclusion of the Bitcoin transaction that spends the UTXO and carries the commitment.
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State Update on CKB: Upon successful verification of the Bitcoin transaction and the spent UTXO, the corresponding Cell on CKB is updated to reflect the intended state change or asset transfer, completing the isomorphic binding process.
Why It Is Trustless
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Decentralized Verification: The process relies on cryptographic proofs and the decentralized verification of Bitcoin block headers by the Bitcoin light client protocol running on CKB. This protocol checks the PoW (proof-of-work verification) of each imported block header to ensure it meets the required difficulty level of the Bitcoin network, effectively validating the authenticity and chain of the blocks. This eliminates the need for trust in central authorities or intermediaries.
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Security of Underlying Blockchains: The integrity and security of the operation are ensured by the consensus mechanisms of both the Bitcoin and CKB blockchains. Bitcoin's proof-of-work consensus guarantees the finality and immutability of UTXO spending, while CKB's (also a ASIC stage PoW) consensus mechanism secures the execution and verification of operations on its network.
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Cryptographic Commitments: The use of cryptographic commitments to link UTXO spending with state changes on CKB ensures that operations are transparent, verifiable, and tamper-proof. This mechanism ensures that only valid and verified state changes are executed on CKB in response to actions taken on the Bitcoin blockchain.
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No Central Points of Failure: The entire process is designed to operate without reliance on centralized services or points of failure. It uses decentralized network protocols, cryptographic methods, and the inherent security properties of the blockchains involved.
Isomorphic binding is the cornerstone of RGB++'s ability to perform synchronized and trustless operations across both blockchains, allowing for the creation and management of digital assets and smart contracts with unprecedented flexibility and security:
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Cross-Blockchain Asset Management: Assets issued on Bitcoin can now be seamlessly managed and interacted with on the Nervos CKB platform, maintaining Bitcoin's robust security model while utilizing CKB's advanced smart contract functionalities.
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Trustless Operations Across Chains: This binding ensures that operations on one blockchain reflect accurately and securely on the other, without the need for intermediaries or centralized bridges, preserving the decentralized ethos of blockchain technology.
Learn more about RGB++ & Cell Model ⬇️
https://talk.nervos.org/t/rgb-protocol-light-paper-translation/7790