diff --git a/src/pages/about/info/faq.mdx b/src/pages/about/info/faq.mdx index f18c2d088..7095ca840 100644 --- a/src/pages/about/info/faq.mdx +++ b/src/pages/about/info/faq.mdx @@ -70,25 +70,121 @@ manage assets on any or all connected chains, or some combination thereof. No, ZetaChain is an L1 smart-contract-enabled blockchain that has chain-agnostic interoperability built in. It is not a sidechain, rollup, or bridge. -### How does ZetaChain compare to other solutions? - -ZetaChain is, at the time of writing, unique in its support for chain-agnostic -omnichain dApps. No other blockchain enables fully interoperable smart -contracts. This feature allows an unbounded platform to build omnichain and -cross-chain applications that function as if everything lived on a single chain. -Although some systems like Cosmos offer interoperability within the IBC -ecosystem, ZetaChain brings seamless interoperability to all chains, including -non-smart-contract chains like Bitcoin and Dogecoin. As a blockchain and smart -contract platform, ZetaChain provides a fully public, transparent, decentralized -interoperability solution that supports both omnichain messaging and smart -contracts. Developers on ZetaChain only need to implement their dApp logic, -while ZetaChain handles the transaction of data and value across chains in a -trust-minimized way. Rather than outsourcing security to third-party oracle and -relay like LayerZero to transfer data/value across chains -- which requires full -trust from the users in the applications and relayer + oracle -- ZetaChain -provides a simpler and more robust trust model to transact across chains where a -developer and user alike need only trust the network for the delivery of their -data and value. +### How does ZetaChain compare to LayerZero? + +ZetaChain is a full Layer 1 blockchain with native cross-chain capabilities +built into its consensus layer, while LayerZero is a messaging protocol that +connects existing blockchains through external verifiers and executors. + +Key differences: + +- Architecture: ZetaChain operates as a hub-and-spoke with its own validators + using Proof-of-Stake consensus. LayerZero acts as lightweight messaging + middleware between chains. +- Security: ZetaChain uses validator consensus with Byzantine Fault Tolerance + and Threshold Signature Schemes (TSS). LayerZero relies on customizable + Decentralized Verifier Networks (DVNs) and Executors that you choose. +- Bitcoin support: ZetaChain natively supports Bitcoin and non-smart-contract + chains through its validator observation system. LayerZero requires smart + contracts on both chains, so Bitcoin isn't supported. +- Developer experience: With ZetaChain, you deploy one Universal Smart Contract + that can interact with any connected chain. With LayerZero, you deploy + separate contracts on each chain and handle message passing between them. + +Why choose ZetaChain: For developers building omnichain applications that +require Bitcoin integration, gas abstraction, or complex multi-chain logic, +ZetaChain offers a fundamentally simpler approach. Deploy once on ZetaChain's +EVM and orchestrate atomic cross-chain interactions—including native Bitcoin +transactions—from a single contract with automatic rollback handling. +LayerZero's customizable security model works well for simple EVM-to-EVM token +bridging, but ZetaChain's unified execution layer eliminates the complexity of +deploying and synchronizing contracts across multiple chains, while uniquely +enabling Bitcoin-native DeFi without bridges or wrappers. + +### How does ZetaChain compare to Axelar? + +ZetaChain is a Layer 1 blockchain with native cross-chain execution built into +its consensus layer, while Axelar is a messaging and token-routing network that +connects blockchains through General Message Passing (GMP) and gateway +contracts. + +Key differences: + +- Architecture: ZetaChain executes cross-chain logic natively on its own + blockchain through Universal Smart Contracts, enabling true atomic + composability. Axelar routes messages between chains where application logic + runs separately on each source/destination chain, requiring manual state + synchronization and coordination. +- Security: Both use PoS validator networks, but ZetaChain validators directly + control external chain addresses via TSS with full on-chain consensus. Axelar + relies on gateway contracts to verify attestations, adding an extra trust + layer at each destination. +- Bitcoin support: ZetaChain offers genuine native Bitcoin integration through + validator-run full nodes and TSS—no bridges, no wrappers, no intermediaries. + Axelar requires intermediary layers like Stacks and Babylon partnerships, + which don't provide direct Bitcoin protocol interaction. +- Developer experience: ZetaChain dramatically simplifies development—deploy one + Universal Smart Contract that orchestrates atomic cross-chain logic from a + single location with automatic rollback on failure. Axelar requires deploying + separate contracts on each chain, managing asynchronous message passing, and + manually handling state synchronization and retries. +- Gas handling: ZetaChain's ZRC-20 gas abstraction provides a unified fee model + across all chains, dramatically improving UX. Axelar's Gas Service requires + prepayment management and still consumes gas on multiple chains. +- Deployment complexity: ZetaChain offers single-deployment omnichain apps with + built-in composability. Axelar requires multiple deployments across chains + with fragmented state and asynchronous coordination overhead. + +Why choose ZetaChain: For developers building the next generation of omnichain +applications, ZetaChain's unified execution model delivers superior simplicity, +true atomic composability, and native Bitcoin access without intermediaries. +Unlike Axelar's messaging middleware approach that requires multi-chain +coordination, ZetaChain provides a purpose-built execution layer where you can +orchestrate across all chains—including Bitcoin—with the ease of single-chain +development. + +### How does ZetaChain compare to Wormhole? + +ZetaChain is a Layer 1 blockchain with native cross-chain execution built into +its consensus layer, while Wormhole is a messaging middleware network that +connects blockchains through off-chain Guardian attestations. + +Key differences: + +- Architecture: ZetaChain operates as a purpose-built Layer 1 with its own + Proof-of-Stake validators using CometBFT consensus. Wormhole acts as messaging + middleware where 19 permissioned Guardians sign Verified Action Approvals + (VAAs) off-chain. +- Security: ZetaChain uses on-chain Byzantine Fault Tolerant consensus with + cryptoeconomic staking and slashing—validators have real capital at risk. + Wormhole relies on a Proof-of-Authority model where 13 of 19 Guardians must + sign messages, based on reputation rather than economic stake. +- Bitcoin support: ZetaChain natively supports Bitcoin through direct validator + observation and TSS signing—no Layer 2s or intermediaries required. Wormhole + integrates Bitcoin indirectly through Stacks Layer 2, meaning assets must + first exist on Stacks before bridging, adding an additional trust layer. +- Developer experience: With ZetaChain, you deploy one Universal Smart Contract + that orchestrates atomic cross-chain logic with unified state and automatic + revert handling. With Wormhole, you deploy separate contracts on each chain + and manually coordinate asynchronous message passing with state reconciliation + across multiple instances. +- Consensus model: ZetaChain achieves cryptographic finality through on-chain + consensus where two-thirds of validators must agree. Wormhole uses off-chain + Guardian signatures with a fixed permissioned validator set controlled through + governance. + +Why choose ZetaChain: For developers building omnichain applications that +require native Bitcoin support, atomic cross-chain execution, or unified state +management, ZetaChain provides fundamentally stronger infrastructure. Its +single-deployment model eliminates the complexity of coordinating contracts +across chains, while cryptoeconomic security through staking and slashing +creates real financial consequences for misbehavior. Most critically, +ZetaChain's direct Bitcoin integration enables true Bitcoin-powered DeFi without +Layer 2 intermediaries, while Wormhole requires assets to first exist on Stacks +L2 before bridging. ZetaChain delivers purpose-built blockchain infrastructure +for the omnichain future with mathematically proven Byzantine Fault Tolerance, +versus Wormhole's off-chain messaging layer secured by a small permissioned +Guardian set. ### Is ZetaChain a bridge? How is it different from a bridge? @@ -129,19 +225,22 @@ Check out the validator docs [here](/nodes/start-here/requirements). ## Testnet and Mainnet -### When will mainnet be released? +### Is ZetaChain mainnet live? -We will be releasing a full schedule for the launch of our testnet and ZetaChain -mainnet soon. Stay tuned on our Twitter, Discord, and Telegram for updates. The -current testnet is live, and you can develop dApps with that. +Yes, ZetaChain mainnet is live and fully operational. You can build and deploy +Universal Apps to production today. Mainnet supports cross-chain transactions +across multiple connected blockchains including Ethereum, Bitcoin, BNB Chain, +Polygon, Base, Sui, TON, and others. For development and testing, use our +testnet environment which mirrors mainnet functionality or Localnet environment +for faster development. ### How do I get ZETA? You can request testnet ZETA in the faucet channel on our Discord server or use the faucet on the command line, learn more in the [faucet -docs](/reference/faucet). This testnet ZETA does not and will -never have any monetary value. It is solely for testing purposes, so that people -can experience the use and power of ZetaChain. +docs](/reference/faucet). This testnet ZETA does not and will never have any +monetary value. It is solely for testing purposes, so that people can experience +the use and power of ZetaChain. ### Does testnet ZETA have any value?