What do we mean by 'vertical' scaling?

Layer 2 solutions greatly increase the blockspace available in the Ethereum ecosystem. They allow reduced transaction cost and expand the use cases for smart contracts. They drive innovation and allow builders to connect with users in new and exciting ways.

Layer 2 solutions also fragment the Ethereum ecosystem, carving liquidity into disparate silos. Users are left tracking assets across a range of chains and contract addresses. Complexity increases, and the user experience suffers. While there are other proposals for reducing this fragmentation, all of them seem years away from delivering a solution.

A key metric for Layers 2s is TVL (total value locked), with projects competing to lock as much value as possible on their Layer 2. A Layer 2 ‘wins’ when it pulls the most value into itself, regardless of the health of the ecosystem as a whole.

It’s easy to see this as horizontal scaling. Total capacity has been increased by the addition of numerous silos running side-by-side above Ethereum mainnet. There are more places to transact, but they are all doing so separately, with little overt involvement of other chains.

At the same time, users generally want mainnet assets. They naturally want low transaction fees. But at the end of the transaction they would like to hold mainnet assets.

Blessnet is an entirely new type of chain, with the express aim of delivering vertical scaling to Ethereum. Blessnet’s infrastructure supports transactions that either originate from or settle assets on other chains. Blessnet is a chain where you do things, with your valuable assets residing on other chains.

Blessnet therefore works in direct partnership with existing chains; it’s aim being to enhance the overall ecosystem, and build as little TVL on itself as possible.