Analysis of the underlying architecture of blockchain - nodes, sharding, cross-chain, Layer 2 expansion - web3 series Section 13

In the past few years, I have contacted many friends, and most of their interest in blockchain remains in "currency price" and "investment". But when you really dig into the technical layer, you will find that the underlying architecture of the blockchain is actually the core that drives the entire industry forward. Today I want to talk to you about a few key points: nodes, sharding, cross-chain and Layer 2 scaling. Whether you are a developer, investor or operator, this knowledge can help you better understand the operating logic of the blockchain.

Node: the basic unit of the blockchain

Node is the cornerstone of the blockchain network. Simply put, each node is a computer participating in the network. Together they maintain a decentralized ledger.

node type

1. Full Node: Save complete ledger data and independently verify transactions. For example, a Bitcoin full node needs to synchronize 400GB+ data.
2. Light Node: Only the necessary data is downloaded, and the ledger is not saved completely. It is more suitable for devices with limited resources.
3. Validator Node: Under the PoS (Proof of Stake) mechanism, responsible for packaging transactions and maintaining consensus.

👉Case 1: Ethereum node runningOnce when I helped a seller deploy a payment plug-in, I discovered that their backend relied heavily on nodes. In order to ensure the speed of payment confirmation, they chose to run a light node on cloud servers in different countries. As a result, the payment experience was 20% faster than relying solely on third-party nodes.

Inspire: If enterprises want to apply on-chain applications, deploying light nodes themselves can effectively improve user experience.

Sharding: Extending the “horizontal thinking” of blockchain

When users and transaction volume surge, blockchain networks face performance bottlenecks. Just like a highway with only two lanes, if there are too many cars, it will be blocked.ShardingIt means extending the road to multiple lanes.

The principle of sharding

• Divide the blockchain network into multiple "shards".
• Each shard handles only a subset of transactions and data.
• Ultimately, the main chain coordinates data consistency between shards.

👉Case 2: Sharding design of Ethereum 2.0Ethereum plans to process transactions in parallel through 64 shards, and theoretically TPS (transactions per second) can be increased to thousands or even tens of thousands. This means a smoother user experience for NFT games and cross-border payment platforms.

Data comparison:

Inspire: Sharding makes the blockchain “scalable” and DApps will no longer be limited by performance bottlenecks in the future.

Cross-chain: the bridge that breaks the "island"

In the blockchain ecosystem, different public chains are like isolated islands, making it difficult for assets and data to flow freely.Cross-chainTechnology is the bridge to solve this problem.

Common cross-chain methods

1. Relay: Pass data through a relay chain, such as Polkadot’s relay chain.
2. Bridge: The user locks the assets in chain A, and then mints assets of equal value in chain B.
3. Atomic Swap: Directly exchange assets between different chains without the need for intermediaries.

👉Case 3: Cross-chain application of USDTYou may have used USDT, which supports circulation on multiple chains such as Ethereum, TRON, and BSC. One time when I helped clients connect payments, I found that when they used TRC20 (Tron Chain) USDT to transfer in the Latin American market, the handling fee was almost zero, which was more than 90% lower than the transfer cost of ERC20. This allows them to save considerable costs in attracting new users.

Inspire: Cross-chain is not only a technical requirement, but also directly related to cost and efficiency, which is of huge value especially in the field of cross-border payments.

Layer 2 expansion: the “viaduct” in reality

If sharding is "adding lanes", thenLayer 2It's like building a "viaduct" on an existing highway, directing part of the traffic to off-chain processing, and then submitting the results to the main chain.

Mainstream technology of Layer 2

1. State Channel: Users interact off-chain first, and finally only the results are uploaded to the chain. For example, Lightning Network (Bitcoin Lightning Network).
2. Side Chain: Independent chain, interacting with the main chain through bridges.
3. Rollup technology: Pack a large number of transactions into one and submit it to the main chain for verification. Common ones are Optimistic Rollup and ZK-Rollup.

Actual effect:

• Ethereum main chain: 15 TPS
• Optimism Rollup: Thousands of TPS
• ZKSync: 2000+ TPS

Inspire: For NFT trading platforms or cross-border payment applications, using Layer 2 can significantly reduce gas costs and increase confirmation speed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why does the blockchain emphasize "nodes" so much?

A: Because the more nodes there are, the more decentralized the network is and the stronger the security. A small number of nodes can easily be attacked or data tampered with.

Q: What is the difference between sharding and Layer 2?

A: Sharding is "horizontal expansion" within the main chain; while Layer 2 moves some transactions outside the main chain. The two are often used in combination.

Q: Will cross-chain bring security risks?

A: Yes. Cross-chain bridges are hardest hit by hackers. It is recommended to use audited and highly liquid cross-chain tools as much as possible.

Q: I am not a developer, what do these technologies mean to me?

A: If you are a cross-border seller or operator, understanding these technologies can help you better choose payment options, avoid high handling fees, and determine whether a project has long-term development potential.

Summarize

We often say that the future of blockchain lies not only in “on-chain assets” but also in the continuous evolution of the underlying architecture. From the decentralization guarantee of nodes, to the performance breakthrough of sharding, to the ecological interoperability of cross-chains, and the expansion of Layer 2, every step makes the blockchain closer to practical applications.

I believe that understanding these underlying logic can not only help you understand the technology, but also make smarter choices when implementing business. In the next few years, whoever can find a balance between performance, cost and interoperability will be more likely to go further.

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