Application-specific blockchain, also called Appchain, It refers to a blockchain designed to operate a specific application, and the corresponding public blockchain is designed for multiple applications to run together.
Compared with public blockchains, application chains can enable application developers to gain better customizable space, ownership and performance advantages in the design and development of applications.
To develop applications on a public blockchain, developers need to adapt to the code language, consensus algorithm, economic model, governance framework, etc. of the selected public blockchain. By choosing the application chain, developers are not subject to the above restrictions and have more freedom in application development. At the same time, the developers of the application chain can update the application chain at the appropriate time, while the update process of the public blockchain is longer because developers cannot control the consensus.
In general, applications deployed on public blockchains must compete with other applications for the computing power and storage space of the blockchain. By using the application chain, competition with other applications can be avoided, and the service performance of the application will be improved accordingly.
However, compared to application chains, public blockchains also have their relative advantages. Public blockchains generally have larger developer and user groups, as well as more resources and tools for developers to use. At the same time, applications deployed on public blockchains will be relatively easy to port to compatible blockchains.
Cosmos is a blockchain network composed of many application chains using the Tendermint consensus mechanism. Each application chain in the network is called a "Zone". The core application chain Cosmos Hub is developed by the Cosmos development team and is the first blockchain in the Cosmos network. Other application chains are developed using the Cosmos SDK and connected through the IBC inter-chain communication system. Each application chain has independent verification nodes and native tokens, and transaction execution and settlement are completed on the application chain. Cosmos SDK is an open source development toolkit that helps developers build customizable Cosmos Zones. Any developer can build a Cosmos Zone through the Cosmos SDK.
Projects using the Cosmos Zone application chain include:
Polkadot is an EVM-compatible hub-and-spoke zone In the blockchain network, the core of the network is the Relay Chain, and other application chains in the network connected to the Relay Chain are called Parachains. Parachains in the Polkadot network are only responsible for collecting transaction information, and then uploading transactions to the relay chain for verification and confirmation. Polkadot has the capacity to accommodate up to 100 parachains, and developers need to qualify to use parachains through an auction process that is open regularly. The qualification to use the parachain has a time limit. If the developer does not renew it after the expiration, the application chain will be separated from the relay chain, leaving space for new application links to connect.
Projects using the Polkadot Parachain application chain include:
Avalanche It is a public blockchain using the Avalanche consensus mechanism. Avalanche Subnet is essentially an application chain that randomly selects some validators from the Avalanche main network to participate in maintenance and verification. The set of validators will also be dynamically rotated to ensure decentralization and security. Any developer can use Avalanche Subnet services by staking Avalanche’s native token $AVAX.
Projects using the Avalanche Subnet application chain include:
Polygon Supernet is a customizable application chain network developed by Polygon and is EVM compatible like Polygon. In order to help application developers build blockchains more easily, Polygon developed Polygon Edge, which is similar to the Cosmos SDK, a toolkit to help developers customize Supernet. Supernet developers can recruit validators themselves, or choose to receive Polygon validator services. They can also choose to use the PoS or PoA consensus mechanism according to their needs. Supernet is connected to each other through the Polygon PoS side chain, and indirectly connected to the Ethereum main network through the Polygon PoS side chain.