The problem Zarathustra solves

Our novel bridging solution, powered by Eigenlayer, offers a protocol-agnostic framework that enables seamless, efficient, and secure cross-chain fund transfers. This architecture leverages and introduces a robust validation and attestation mechanism through Autonomous Verification Systems (AVS).

One of the standout features of our solution is its ability to interface with any network, allowing users to transfer funds across a diverse range of chains without worrying about compatibility issues. This broad coverage is crucial in today's fragmented crypto landscape, where multiple blockchain protocols coexist but lack interoperability.

Users can now move funds from any chain (Chain A) to any other (Chain B) through a simple, intuitive frontend website. The user interacts with a smart contract known as the 'vault', requesting to move funds from Chain A to Chain B. This smart contract emits a bridging request which is then picked up by an AVS. The AVS determines whether or not the transaction is valid or not. If the transaction is valid, the AVS writes an attestation to the vault smart contract confirming the validity of the transaction. This attestation event can be picked up by any other in order to release the bridged tokens on the destination chain for a small economic reward.

This streamlined process significantly reduces the time and complexity involved in cross-chain transactions. Users no longer need to navigate multiple interfaces or perform complex operations; the entire process is handled seamlessly by the smart contract and AVS.

Our solution minimizes costs by automating the attestation processes. Traditional cross-chain transfers often involve multiple intermediaries, each adding their own fees, or long settlement periods. By eliminating these intermediaries and leveraging smart contracts for automation, we reduce the overall cost for users and achieve fast settlement.

Challenges we ran into

Building our novel bridging solution powered by Eigenlayer presented several challenges due to the complexity and novelty of the technology involved. Here are the key hurdles we encountered:

EIP-712, which standardizes typed structured data hashing and signing, is relatively new and has limited documentation. While the specification is officially on V4, comprehensive examples and best practices are scarce. This lack of resources meant our team had to spend considerable time on experimentation and debugging to ensure accurate and secure implementation.

Cross-chain messaging is an inherently difficult challenge due to the unique architecture and transaction validation processes of each blockchain. In this challenge, ensuring seamless communication between different chains requires sophisticated interoperability protocols while maintaining security and reliability.

Getting comfortable with Eigenlayer was another significant hurdle. Its decentralized validation approach offers substantial economic value but also introduces high stakes. Mis-steps could have severe consequences, both financially and in terms of system integrity. Leaving the security of a single blockchain ecosystem for a multi-chain environment added additional security risks that needed careful management.

Ensuring the credibility and reliability of the Autonomous Verification Systems (AVS) was paramount. The slashing mechanism, essential for maintaining trust, added complexity and ultimately still limits the throughput achievable swapping across chains to similar orders of magnitude as the economic staked and slashable on Eigenlayer. Designing a system that balanced incentives and penalties required careful consideration to avoid unintended consequences.