Cross-Chain Technology Comparison - Mainstream cross-chain technology solutions can be categorized into three types: Relay Chain/Side Chain, Hash Time Lock/Atomic Swap, and Cross-Chain Bridge (Notary Model) [2] - Relay Chain/Side Chain relies on a central hub to verify and coordinate communication between sub-chains, akin to the "TCP/IP protocol" of blockchains [2] - Hash Time Lock/Atomic Swap ensures that transactions on different chains either succeed or fail simultaneously, maintaining atomicity [2] - Cross-Chain Bridge utilizes a group of trusted notary nodes to monitor events on the source chain and execute corresponding operations on the target chain [2] Trust Models and Challenges - Relay Chain/Side Chain centralizes trust in the security and consensus of the relay chain, while Hash Time Lock is decentralized and does not require trust in third parties [2] - Cross-Chain Bridges face centralization risks as they depend on notary nodes, which may be compromised [2] - The complexity of the relay chain architecture and the reliance on its security can pose challenges for overall network safety [2] Value and Future Trends - The integration of alliance chains with public chains is a strategic choice to overcome limitations and enhance trust and value [3] - Cross-chain interoperability is essential for breaking down "value islands" and enabling asset flow across different chains, which is crucial for the digital economy's growth [3] - Establishing a "trusted institution whitelist" for cross-chain verification nodes can enhance compliance and security, particularly in regulated industries [14] Cost and Governance Considerations - Cross-chain protocols incur high development and maintenance costs due to the need for state synchronization and transaction validation across heterogeneous chains [14] - Governance challenges arise from the need to create unified rules between the strong regulatory models of alliance chains and the community-driven governance of public chains [14] - The potential for significant losses from security breaches in cross-chain bridges highlights the need for robust security measures [14]