Discussion Details
Deploy XPort, Wanchain's cross-chain data transfer protocol, to Cardano
wanchain
Description
Blockchain interoperability is essential for the growth and adoption of decentralized technologies. As a leading blockchain network, Cardano has established itself as a secure, scalable, and research-driven ecosystem. However, interoperability with other blockchains remains limited. Wanchain’s XPort protocol offers a decentralized, secure, and efficient cross-chain data transfer solution, making it an ideal candidate to bridge Cardano with external blockchain ecosystems. This proposal is for the deployment of XPort to Cardano, enabling seamless cross-chain data transfers between Cardano and other blockchain networks.
About Cross-Chain Data Transfer Protocols
Cross-Chain Data Transfer Protocols enable data to be passed from one blockchain to another. Rather than only moving fungible and non-fungible tokens, which are a specific type of data structure, Cross-Chain Data Transfer Protocols can move any type of data. Importantly, Cross-Chain Data Transfer Protocols can feed data into 3rd party smart contracts to seamlessly execute on-chain logic and create novel cross-chain applications.
The basic flow of all Cross-Chain Data Transfers Protocols is as follows:
- A user or smart contract records arbitrary data on the source chain
- The off-chain component detects these data
- The off-chain component records these data on the destination chain
- A smart contract executes on-chain logic on the destination chain using these data
About XPort
True to its legacy, XPort is deceptively simple. It essentially just detects data on a source blockchain then exports it to the destination chain in the correct format.
XPort is composed of two basic elements: one robust off-chain relayer and a set of rudimentary on-chain smart contracts called Cross-Chain Gateways.
-
The off-chain relayer is the same Bridge Node Group that secures all cross-chain transactions executed using the Wanchain Bridge. These permissionless Bridge Nodes are rotated and re-elected monthly. They use Multiparty Computation and Shamir’s Secret Sharing cryptography to transfer messages and arbitrary data across chains.
-
A smart contract, called a Cross-Chain Gateway, is deployed on each supported blockchain. These Cross-Chain Gateways have limited functionality — they can essentially only send and receive data. They serve as the point of contact for all 3rd party developers.
Importantly, XPort is designed to be compliant with the Enterprise Ethereum Alliance’s Distributed Ledger Technology Interoperability Specification, co-authored by Wanchain’s VP on Engineering Dr. Weijia Zhang.
More technical information about XPort: https://docs.wanchain.org/latest-major-updates/xport-wanchains-cross-chain-data-transfer-protocol-development-handbook
Problem Statement
Seamless cross-chain communication is a challenge for permissionless blockchains due to their inherent lack of interoperability. This limitation is rooted in their trustless nature, as blockchains need a mechanism to verify the authenticity of data before processing it. When dealing with heterogeneous blockchain networks, each with their own distinct ruleset and security guarantees, cross-chain communication is currently impossible without the intervention of an off-chain component.
In many ways, this problem is just the oracle problem. The oracle problem, for those who are unfamiliar, refers to a blockchain’s inability to access external data, rendering it isolated. An additional piece of infrastructure — whether you want to call it a bridge, an oracle or a relayer — is needed to connect the blockchain and the off-chain data. With cross-chain communication, the problem is the same. The data that needs to be accessed just happens to be on another blockchain!
Cross-Chain Data Transfer Protocols enable data to be passed from one blockchain to another. Rather than only moving fungible and non-fungible tokens, which are a specific type of data structure, Cross-Chain Data Transfer Protocols can move any type of data. Importantly, Cross-Chain Data Transfer Protocols can feed data into 3rd party smart contracts to seamlessly execute on-chain logic and create novel cross-chain applications.
This proposal is to deploy XPort, Wanchain's cross-chain data transfer protocol, to Cardano.
Proposal Benefit
Once deployed, XPort will allow arbitrary data to flow between Cardano, any EVM, and select non-EVM networks. This will enable developers to develop applications that span multiple blockchains. It will also empower developers to shift their focus from extracting value out of a blockchain to importing execution logic into one.
Other potential benefits include but are not limited to:
- Improved interoperability between Cardano and the of the industry
- Expanded access to liquidity and assets on other chains
- Greater abstraction to improve UX
- Reduced bridge risk
- Improved developer experience
- More modular application design/New types of applications
Key Proposal Deliverables
-
XPort interface definition adjustment to support Cardano
-
XPort deployed on Cardano Pre-Production
-
XPort deployed on Cardano Mainnet: developers will be able to build applications that seamlessly span multiple networks using XPort
Cost Breakdown
25% up front, 75% on delivery.
Up front: $100,000 On delivery: $300,000
Resourcing & Duration
Budget: 400,000 USD Team size: ~30 Duration: 9 months
Experience
Wanchain has already deployed cross-chain value bridges to Cardano. Wanchain has also already deployed XPort on other networks.
Maintenance & Support
Wanchain will provide ongoing maintenance.
Supplementary Endorsement
Wanchain is the longest running cross-chain bridge in the blockchain industry and is the primary cross-chain value bridge currently servicing the Cardano mainnet. It has received good support from the Cardano community (multiple approved Catalyst proposals) and Cardano Dapps (like Liqwid).
Roadmap Alignment
Does your proposal align with any of the Intersect Committees?
Product Committee
Does this proposal align to the Product Roadmap and Roadmap Goals?
Architectural Excellence
Administration and Auditing
Would you like Intersect to be your named Administrator, including acting as the auditor, as per the Cardano Constitution?
Yes
Ownership Information
Submitted On Behalf Of
CompanySocial Handles
https://x.com/wanchain_org, https://x.com/TemujinLouieKey Dependencies
No dependencies
Supporting Links
Comments (18)
Conecptually I agree with the the utility of projects like XPort. Bridges are often only for assets, whereas often time bridging data is more powerful and more flexible and I've often run into this need when building applicatitons myself. At the same time, I think there are some subtle tricks on how to handle this given Cardano's UTXO model that I would like to see more fleshed out in this proposal.
I think if you resubmitted this proposal in the future with a more concrete architecture plan with an app that plans to leverage this, it would be easier to support this. Otherwise, given the number of treasury budget proposals, it's a bit hard to prioritize this for the first budget
From a workshop, the North American Community Hub gathered and summarized feedback praising XPort’s interoperability potential for diverse data payloads. However, concerns include missing execution details, weak community integration, and a budget misaligned with team size. External dependency risks maintenance costs. Better suited for Project Catalyst to refine plans. Signed: North American Community Hub
Bridging protocols are a known attack vector. Trusting external relayers to inject cross-chain data into Cardano smart contracts exposes our ecosystem to risk — especially without a Cardano-native standard or governance framework in place.
This project seems like it falls squarely under Innovation (aka, catalyst). How come this is being submitted here instead through project catalyst? As a DRep, it is important that we have efficiency points that makes accountability more probably to enforce. In my mind this means less than 10 direct treasury withdrawal a year to the likes of Intersect, Catalyst, and other MBOs that can then manage specific line items. I suggest you work with one of these group to include your project on their budget.
Interoperability is an important theme for Cardano I would like to know the following:
・How XPort can leverage Cardano's technical advantages ・About KPI measurements when implementing XPort on Cardano
-
What are the concrete Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) after deploying XPort to Cardano?
-
How will the KPIs be measured, at what intervals, and by what method of validation?The proposal mentions that developers will be able to use XPort.
-
How many developers or projects are expected to actually adopt it?
-
How will claims like “improved developer experience” or “better UX” be quantified and validated?
-
Has this proposal been sufficiently socialized on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and other social media, and does it have broad support within the Cardano community? What evidence can you provide?
-
Can you show quantitative indicators of past community support or reputation from earlier Catalyst proposals or collaborations (e.g., engagement metrics, upvotes, forum discussions)?
-
Will the codebase of this proposal be open-sourced? Where and how will development progress be tracked and audited?
-
Can you share the technical performance or usage data from XPort deployments on other chains?
Costing is inaccurate -
If Ada to USD is 1.47, then USD amount would be $647,930
Are You Ready to Participate?
Building Together to Drive Cardano Forward.