Blockchain Interoperability Challenges, Requirements, and Solutions

This research attempts to understand How can different blockchain networks communicate and exchange information or assets with each other in a secure, scalable, and decentralized way? This is the vision and challenge of blockchain interoperability, the capability that can unlock the full potential of distributed ledger technology (DLT). This paper provides a comprehensive and systematic overview of interoperability solutions and frameworks in this field. We use a literature review method to collect and analyze relevant papers from academic journals and conferences. We classify the existing solutions into four categories: trusted intermediaries (e.g., oracles), cross-chain swaps (e.g., atomic swaps), relay chains (e.g., Polkadot), and sidechains (e.g., Plasma). We compare their performance, security, and scalability using criteria such as trust assumptions, communication overhead, latency, finality, and throughput. We reveal the trade-offs and gaps between them. We also discuss some potential applications and future directions for interoperability research. We conclude that blockchain interoperability is a promising but complex topic that requires further investigation and experimentation.