What is the Cosmos Interchain, and how does its model address scalability and sovereignty challenges?
The Cosmos Interchain is a network of multiple blockchains, including the Cosmos Hub, Celestia, dYdX, and Injective, which are interconnected through the Cosmos technology stack, particularly the Cosmos-SDK and Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol. These blockchains, often referred to as “Cosmos” chains, are fully interoperable, allowing assets to easily move between them, hence the term “Interchain.”
The definition of what constitutes “Cosmos” can vary, with some considering it limited to the Cosmos Hub and chains aligned with its ecosystem, while others include any blockchain utilising the Cosmos technology stack, such as the Cosmos-SDK, IBC, or Tendermint.
In terms of sovereignty, blockchains within the Interchain benefit from the Cosmos-SDK, a developer toolkit that enables the creation of customised blockchains, granting projects a high degree of autonomy. For scalability, many chains in the Interchain use the Tendermint Consensus Algorithm, known for its speed, security, and reliability within the crypto space.
How does the CosmWasm smart contract framework differ from traditional platforms, and how does it support the Cosmos Interchain ecosystem’s interoperability?
CosmWasm is the smart contract framework used within the Cosmos ecosystem, with chains like Neutron taking advantage of its capabilities. It allows the development of smart contracts on Cosmos-SDK-based blockchains, which is essential as, without it, developers would face significant limitations when building products on a Cosmos chain.
However, CosmWasm itself does not directly facilitate interoperability. Instead, interoperability within the Cosmos Interchain is managed by the IBC protocol, which enables communication and asset transfer between different blockchains.
What are the medium to long-term goals for Cosmos, and how do you envision its evolution in the coming years?
The Cosmos ecosystem is on the brink of seeing some of its chains achieve large-scale success beyond the current Cosmos community. Projects like Celestia, Injective, and dYdX are well-positioned for significant growth.
Additionally, several innovative projects focusing on areas such as Bitcoin integration and tokenization are expected to launch soon. For example, Babylon is working on Bitcoin staking, while Mantra is focused on the tokenization of real-world assets (RWA).
Moreover, with projects like Union, the IBC protocol—considered one of the most secure bridging technologies—is being adopted across the wider crypto industry, including by ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana.
In the future, we are likely to see multiple projects achieve large-scale success using the Cosmos tech stack, particularly the Cosmos-SDK and IBC. The adoption of IBC could eventually become widespread across the crypto industry, leading to the steady integration of the Cosmos technology stack.
What can attendees expect from this year’s Cosmoverse conference in Dubai?
The upcoming Cosmoverse conference at the Grand Hyatt in Dubai will showcase the diverse range of projects within the Cosmos ecosystem. Various initiatives are using the Cosmos technology stack to tackle challenges beyond the traditional scope of the ecosystem.
To emphasise this diversity, the conference will feature tracks—dedicated segments within the mainstage presentations, workshops, hacker lounge, and exhibition area. For example, we recently announced a Bitcoin Track focused on Bitcoin staking, BTCfi, Bitcoin L2s, and more. All these tracks are designed to allow attendees to concentrate on specific topics, making the conference experience more productive and tailored to their interests.