What is Avalanche's Three Blockchains?
With previously unheard-of speed and scalability, users can design, launch, and administer decentralized apps and digital assets using the ground-breaking distributed ledger platform Avalanche. Avalanche is a permissionless, open-source blockchain platform that uses a special consensus mechanism to achieve fast throughput and short transaction latency.
The three built-in blockchains of Avalanche are the Contract Chain (C-Chain), Platform Chain (P-Chain), and Exchange Chain (X-Chain). These blockchains offer several functionalities that enable users to develop and oversee decentralized apps and digital assets. In this article, we will discuss each of these blockchains and their features in detail.
How does Avalanche work?
The Avalanche network employs its own proof-of-stake protocol, the Avalanche consensus, to validate transactions and reward validators, in contrast to the Bitcoin blockchain, where nodes need proof-of-work to validate transactions and "mine" bitcoins.
In essence, avalanche consensus asks a staked validator to choose a random subset of validators and inquire as to whether a transaction is accepted.
Validators are randomly subsampled again and again until the algorithm gains sufficient confidence to decide.
The consensus protocol is used across Avalanche’s three built-in blockchains, each performing a different task.
1. The Platform Chain (P-Chain) coordinates validators and facilitates new and active “subnets”.
2. The Contract Chain (C-Chain) creates smart contracts.
3. The Exchange Chain (X-Chain) enables the creation and transfer of digital assets.
1. Platform Chain (P-Chain):
The P-Chain is concentrated on asset management and application development. It is designed to function efficiently with decentralized apps, providing the same advantages in terms of speed and latency as the X-Chain. A specific smart contract language makes customized app development possible.
The Platform Chain, the Avalanche metadata blockchain, manages validators and staking, maintains a record of running subnets, and permits the formation of new subnets. The Platform Chain implements the Snowman consensus protocol.
The Avalanche's Platform Chain (P-chain) is a crucial element. The P-Chain functions as the metadata blockchain within the Avalanche network and carries out other significant functions, including implementing the Snowman consensus protocol, which is Avalanche's consensus process.
It serves as the metadata blockchain within the Avalanche network and has several important roles:
- Coordinating Validators: The Avalanche network's validators are coordinated via the P-Chain. Nodes on the network that take part in the consensus protocol and validate and secure blocks and transactions are known as validators.
- Staking: It oversees the staking process, which is necessary to keep the Avalanche network safe and functional. To support network security and take part in the consensus process, users can stake their tokens.
- Monitoring Active Subnets: In Avalanche, subnets are discrete chains that may have their own tokenized assets and consensus rules. The P-Chain tracks active or inactive subnets.
- Establishing New Subnets: The P-Chain additionally permits the establishment of new subnets within the Avalanche network. Because of its adaptability, unique subnetworks can be created for a range of use cases, including personalized blockchains and token ecosystems.
2. The Contract Chain (C-Chain):
Smart contracts are the C-Chain's area of expertise. It offers a safe structure for drafting and carrying out contracts. Like the other chains, it has low latency and quick transaction support and comes with a specific language for creating customized contracts.
Inside the Avalanche® network is a blockchain called the Contract Chain, or C-Chain. Avalanche's goal is to offer a highly scalable and interoperable platform for blockchain development and decentralized applications (dApps). One of the Avalanche network's blockchain components, the C-Chain, was created especially to run smart contracts that interact with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
Here are some key features and details about the Contract Chain (C-Chain):
- Smart Contracts: Ethereum-compatible smart contracts are the main purpose of the C-Chain. This implies that developers may also use the same programming languages and tools used on the Ethereum blockchain to create and implement smart contracts. Because of this compatibility, developers can more easily transfer their current Ethereum-based dApps to the Avalanche platform.
- Total Ordering: Applications requiring total ordering are best suited for the C-Chain. In applications like financial transactions or any other use case where the order of activities is crucial, total ordering guarantees that transactions are performed in a particular order.
- Avalanche Token (AVAX): The Avalanche network's native token is called AVAX (AVAX). Certain contract addresses pertaining to AVAX tokens are available on both the X-Chain and the C-Chain in the context of the C-Chain. These addresses can be used for a number of things, such as sending and receiving AVAX tokens on the relevant networks.
- Commutative Applications: Avalanche provides an alternative blockchain known as the Exchange Chain (X-Chain), which is more suited for commutative applications (i.e., those in which the sequence of activities is less important). Applications requiring tight total ordering that remains consistent are advised to use the C-Chain.
3.. The Exchange Chain (X-Chain):
The X-Chain's primary function is trading assets. It is perfect for situations involving real-time trading since it allows for speedy and secure transactions. Multi-signature wallets provide an extra layer of security, and an integrated programming language allows users to create unique trade logic.
Here are some key features and details about the Exchange Chain (X-Chain):
Cross-Subnet Transfers: Thanks to the X-Chain, assets can be transferred between various subnets within the Avalanche network. Subnets are distinct chains inside the network, and the X-Chain's capacity to facilitate communication between them makes asset mobility more flexible.
Token Creation: Users and developers can produce new digital assets on the X-Chain. These assets may be tokens or other digital representations of assets (tokenization), among other types of value.
Asset Exchange: It makes it easier for assets to be exchanged along the chain. This makes the X-Chain appropriate for decentralized exchanges and asset trading platforms since users can exchange one asset for another directly on the network without the need for an intermediary.