{"id":15021,"date":"2023-01-23T15:52:27","date_gmt":"2023-01-23T15:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/?p=15021"},"modified":"2022-08-21T19:50:09","modified_gmt":"2022-08-21T19:50:09","slug":"what-is-ethereum-plasma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-ethereum-plasma","title":{"rendered":"What is Ethereum Plasma?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Alternar tabla de contenidos\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #ffffff;color:#ffffff\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-ethereum-plasma\/#how_does_ethereum_plasma_work\" >How does Ethereum Plasma work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-ethereum-plasma\/#mapreduce\" >MapReduce<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-ethereum-plasma\/#evidence_of_fraud\" >Evidence of fraud<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-ethereum-plasma\/#mass_exit\" >Mass exit<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Tiempo de lectura:<\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutos<\/span><\/span><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The scalability<\/strong> of the blockchain has always been one of the main problems in the Ethereum network. This blockchain faces <strong>limitations<\/strong> every day in terms of <strong>capacity and speed<\/strong>. Such limitations prevent the network from growing globally.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For this reason, <strong>Vitalik Buterin<\/strong>, who is the co-founder of the network with Joseph Poon, sought a solution and made the <strong>Ethereum Plasma<\/strong> proposal. The beginnings of this concept date back to August <strong>2017.<\/strong> Ethereum Plasma is an <strong>off-chain scalability<\/strong> technique or in other words, a framework for developing <strong>scalable applications<\/strong>. This framework can be implemented in various ways by different research groups or companies.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below we&#8217;ll tell you all about how Ethereum Plasma works.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"how_does_ethereum_plasma_work\"><\/span><strong>How does Ethereum Plasma work?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The main goal behind the creation of Ethereum Plasma, as we have already mentioned above, was to build <strong>a framework<\/strong> from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-a-sidechain\/\">sidechains<\/a> that interact and communicate as little as possible with the main chain. In the case of Ethereum Plasma, the main chain will be the <strong>Ethereum <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/10-blockchain-use-cases\/\">blockchain<\/a><\/strong>. This framework is oriented to operate as a blockchain tree, which is hierarchically organized with the goal of <strong>developing numerous smaller chains<\/strong> on top of the main blockchain. Such chains are referred to as<strong> secondary or child chains<\/strong>, although they are also referred to as <strong>plasma chains or child chains.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The construction of the Plasma structure is based on the use of <strong>smart contracts<\/strong> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-a-merkle-tree\/\">Merkle trees<\/a>. Both make it possible for the network to create an<strong> unlimited number<\/strong> of sub-chains. It should be noted that these sub-chains are copies of the main blockchain, the Ethereum network. On top of each minor chain, more chains can be erected to form a tree-like structure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simply put, each Plasma child chain is a fully <strong>customizable<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-a-smart-contract\/\">smart contract<\/a>. Such a contract can be designed to participate in the network in a unique way to solve different problems and needs. This system allows blockchains to coexist together and, in turn, operate <strong>independently<\/strong>. In some cases, Ethereum Plasma will allow companies and businesses to implement scalability solutions in a variety of ways, all by adapting to their specific context and needs.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means that after the implementation of Ethereum Plasma in the network, the core network may be<strong> less congested<\/strong> if the implementation is successful. This is because each Plasma chain will be <strong>configured<\/strong> to work differently to achieve the main objectives of the implementation framework. It should be noted that not all objectives will be related to those of the main network. Simply put, the plasma chains will be responsible for alleviating the<strong> overall workload<\/strong> of the main network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14030 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ethereum-plasma-01.png\" alt=\"Ethereum plasma\" width=\"768\" height=\"526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ethereum-plasma-01.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ethereum-plasma-01-300x205.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"mapreduce\"><\/span><strong>MapReduce<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we look at the Ethereum Plasma whitepaper, i.e. its whitepaper, we will see how it has an interesting application on \u00ab<strong>MapReduce computations<\/strong>\u00ab. MapReduce is, roughly speaking, a set of functions oriented to organize and compute data from multiple databases.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">MapReduce, adapted to the Plasma context, are a database on the blockchain. These present a tree structure that offers the possibility of <strong>applying MapReduce<\/strong> itself to achieve<strong> ease of verification<\/strong> of the data found within the chain tree. This mechanism greatly increases the efficiency of the network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"evidence_of_fraud\"><\/span><strong>Evidence of fraud<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The communication between the <strong>child chains and the root chain<\/strong> is supported by what are known as <strong>fraud proofs<\/strong>. Thanks to this, the root chain is responsible for <strong>maintaining the security<\/strong> of the network. It also punishes <strong>malicious actors<\/strong> who attempt to corrupt the network.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Each child chain has its own <strong>block validation mechanisms<\/strong>. In addition, they also have <strong>a particular implementation of fraud-proof<\/strong> that can be developed in various consensus algorithms. The most common is to develop it in <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-proof-of-work-the-bitcoin-consensus-protocol\/\">Proof of Work<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-proof-of-stake-and-how-does-it-work\/\">Proof of Stake<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-a-proof-of-authority\/\">Proof of Authority<\/a>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If for some reason there is malicious activity, fraud testing will allow users to report the dishonesty of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-a-node-its-importance-in-cryptocurrencies\/\">nodes<\/a>, thus protecting their funds and abandoning the transaction. This implies an interaction with the <strong>main chain<\/strong>. After all this explanation we can understand that fraud proofs work as a mechanism that allows a Plasma child chain to impose a complaint to its <strong>root chain<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-14025 size-full aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ethereum-plasma-02.png\" alt=\"Ethereum plasma\" width=\"768\" height=\"526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ethereum-plasma-02.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ethereum-plasma-02-300x205.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"mass_exit\"><\/span><strong>Mass exit<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>The Mass Exit<\/strong> problem is one of the main concerns related to Plasma. This problem reports a scenario where numerous users try to exit their Plasma chain <strong>at the same time<\/strong>. The consequences of this is the flooding of the <strong>root chain<\/strong> and the generation of heavy network congestion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This situation can occur as a result of <strong>fraudulent activities<\/strong>, as well as a network <strong>attack<\/strong> or any other type of critical <strong>failure<\/strong> that a Plasma child chain, or group of chains, can pass through.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In short, Ethereum Plasma is an<strong> open source<\/strong> project. It is an <strong>off-chain solution<\/strong> that seeks to significantly increase the overall performance of the <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-ethereum-eth-and-how-does-it-work\/\">Ethereum<\/a> network<\/strong>. All this by developing a new structure of numerous smaller chains <strong>in the form of a tree<\/strong>. These chains will be in charge of decreasing the workload of the main network, which will lead to the handling of a greater amount of <strong>transactions per second.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Ethereum Plasma is an open-source project whose repository is available on GitHub. In addition to Ethereum, there are other projects and repositories working on Plasma. Some examples are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/en\/what-is-omisego\/\">OmiseGO<\/a>, FourthStateLab and Loom Network.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Tiempo de lectura:<\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 4<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutos<\/span><\/span>The scalability of the blockchain has always been one of the main problems in the Ethereum network. This blockchain faces limitations every day in terms of capacity and speed. Such limitations prevent the network from growing globally. For this reason, Vitalik Buterin, who is the co-founder of the network with Joseph Poon, sought a solution [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":14203,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[185],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15021","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blockchain-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15021","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15021"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15021\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bitnovo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}