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The Hyperlane Cosmos SDK Module is now live, empowering Cosmos chains to expand to new ecosystems outside Cosmos with open, permissionless interoperability. KYVE Network, a decentralized data protocol built on the Cosmos SDK, is the first chain to adopt the Hyperlane Cosmos SDK Module.
Why Does Cosmos Need Another Interop Solution?
KYVE, a decentralized data protocol, set out to expand its reach beyond the Cosmos ecosystem by bridging its $KYVE token to Ethereum as an ERC-20. However, they quickly realized their options were limited. The Cosmos IBC protocol currently only supports communication between Cosmos chains. Other interoperability providers offered solutions that were either too permissioned or would make KYVE too dependent on third-parties.
What KYVE needed was a solution that could integrate deeply into their chain, remain trust-minimized, and give them full control over their interoperability stack. As the KYVE team realized other Cosmos chains faced similar challenges it became clear they needed an open, permissionless framework to build their own solution - and so they came to Hyperlane.
Hyperlane already supports CosmWasm today, powering interoperability across top Cosmos chains like Osmosis, Neutron, Injective, Sei, Stride, and Mitosis. However, because not all Cosmos chains adopt CosmWasm - including KYVE - Hyperlane did not have a way to reach the broader Cosmos ecosystem. That is, until now.
Introducing The Hyperlane Cosmos SDK Module
The Hyperlane Cosmos SDK module is an open framework for connecting Cosmos chains to external ecosystems such as the EVM. Think of modules as building blocks — they’re chunks of code that add specific features to Cosmos SDK chains.
Now with Hyperlane, Cosmos chains have a building block for open, permissionless interoperability to chains and ecosystems beyond the Cosmos.
What’s New For Cosmos Chains?
By implementing the Hyperlane Cosmos SDK module, Cosmos chains get:
- Multi-VM Interoperability: Cosmos chains can connect with the 150+ chains and 5+ VMs supported by Hyperlane, including both EVM and SVM chains.
- App-Chain Sovereignty: Cosmos chain developers maintain full ownership over any applications they deploy on the module. This means Cosmos chains can maintain their own custom security preferences - namely how incoming messages from other chains are verified - when connecting to new chains and ecosystems.
- A Truly Open, Permissionless Framework: Any Cosmos chain developer can read the Hyperlane Cosmos SDK module code, and deploy and customize it all on their own terms - no permissions or specific chain connections required.
What’s In The Module?
The Hyperlane Cosmos SDK module is a complete 1:1 implementation of the Hyperlane protocol, tailored specifically for Cosmos chains:
Messaging Layer
- Mailbox - Contracts for sending and receiving messages on chains. A mailbox is deployed on every Hyperlane-connected chain.
- Hooks - Contracts that automatically trigger actions when a message is received from another chain.
Security Layer
- Interchain Security Module (ISM) - A Submodule for verifying that messages being delivered on a destination chain were actually sent on the origin chain. ISMs represent the security layer of the Hyperlane protocol, and their modular design allows developers to easily add their own custom ISM logic.
Transport Layer
- IGP (Interchain Gas Payment) – Submodule that allows a message sender to pay fees to deliver a message on the destination chain. This allows messages to deliver messages to another chain without needing to deal with gas payments on that chain.
- MerkleTreeHook - A hook for grouping messages that have already been sent into a Merkle tree so other chains can easily and securely verify they were sent. Merkletreehooks are required for specific ISM types supported by the Hyperlane Cosmos SDK module.
Application Layer
- Warp - A token bridging application built on top of Hyperlane’s messaging layer. Warp enables tokens to be bridged between chains Hyperlane-connected chains, and for tokens to be created via minting. At launch, two token types will be available: Collateral, which locks tokens as collateral on the source chain, and Synthetic, which mints new tokens on the destination chain to represent the original tokens.
The Hyperlane Cosmos SDK module provides a complete end-to-end interoperability solution that chain and application developers on Cosmos can easily plug in and start using today. For more technical details, see the Hyperlane Cosmos SDK Module docs.
What’s Ahead?
The Cosmos SDK module is now live, available for all Cosmos chains to start expanding to new chains and ecosystems. More than just a solution to KYVE’s business needs, the Hyperlane Cosmos SDK module is a major unlock for the entire Cosmos ecosystem.
Want to start building with the Hyperlane Cosmos SDK module?
- Dive into the docs, or contact us for help with your implementation.
More chain integrations to be announced soon.
Cosmos Expansion.
More about Hyperlane
Hyperlane is the open interoperability framework. It empowers developers to connect anywhere onchain and build applications that can easily and securely communicate between multiple blockchains. Importantly, Hyperlane is fully open-source and always permissionless to build with.
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