What does Catalyst's announcement of becoming the only bridge between altVMs mean?

Written by: Biteye

Ethereum's performance has fallen short of expectations, and an increasing number of chains are beginning to introduce different virtual machines (VMs) — these are referred to as "altVMs."

In contrast, public chains like Solana and Sui have stood out, and the rise of meme coins has exceeded expectations, showcasing the competitive and collaborative potential of different virtual machines (altVMs). Against this backdrop, what does @CatalystSystem's announcement of becoming the only bridge between altVMs mean? 👇 🧵

1. What is altVM? Why are they important?

We all know that virtual machines (VMs) are the core components for executing smart contracts. Ethereum's EVM is one of the earliest and most popular virtual machines, but it is not the only option. AltVM refers to those virtual machines that operate outside of Ethereum's EVM, typically designed as optimized solutions for specific needs.

For example, Solana, Sui, and Aptos are well-known altVMs that offer higher speed, greater scalability, and even better security than Ethereum's EVM through different architectures and technologies. The emergence of these altVMs provides developers with more choices and diversifies on-chain application scenarios.

Despite the unique advantages of these altVMs, achieving smooth asset transfers and interoperability between them remains a significant challenge. This is why cross-chain protocols have become a hot topic.

2. Catalyst: Building a Cross-Chain Bridge for altVMs

To enable users to easily traverse different altVM ecosystems, Catalyst has emerged.

Unlike other cross-chain solutions, the current cross-chain issues from EVM to EVM have been resolved. Catalyst is the first bridge built specifically for altVM ecosystems such as Bitcoin, SVM, TON, Move, and Cosmos, connecting users outside of EVM.

The advantage of Catalyst lies in its rapid deployment and adaptability, allowing it to support newly emerging altVMs within just a few months, quickly providing users with a brand-new cross-chain experience. Most importantly, Catalyst's design allows users to access other altVM ecosystems as easily as they would operate on Ethereum, significantly lowering the technical barriers for cross-chain operations.

3. CrossCats: One of the Core Components of Catalyst

So, how does Catalyst integrate with altVMs? This brings us to CrossCats. CrossCats is an intent-based cross-chain exchange protocol.

Through CrossCats, users can transfer assets from one altVM to another, or even from traditional blockchains like Bitcoin to more modern virtual machines. This cross-chain interoperability greatly enhances the liquidity of users' assets.

For example, suppose a user wants to exchange their Bitcoin for a token on a certain altVM. CrossCats will ensure that this transaction is completed smoothly through its unique protocol, providing a more efficient and convenient cross-chain operation experience than Ethereum's EVM.

4. What does it mean for users?

So, what does CrossCats mean for ordinary users?

On one hand, users can transfer assets more easily, especially for exchanges between virtual machines and Bitcoin. Other cross-chain operations often require multiple tools, wallets, and cross-chain bridges, but with CrossCats, users can exchange Bitcoin for a token on an altVM within a single environment, facilitating cross-chain trading, lending, or DeFi.

On the other hand, as CrossCats connects different altVMs, developers can deploy dapps across multiple chains. This means users can experience more applications and services from other ecosystems, no longer limited to the Ethereum ecosystem.

✅ The CrossCats mainnet was launched on November 27, for more details visit:

https://crosscats.xyz/

5. Conclusion

In summary, the relationship between altVMs, Catalyst, and CrossCats is as follows:

• AltVMs emerged to address the limitations of EVM, providing more efficient solutions for specific applications.
• Catalyst provides a bridge connecting altVMs, making cross-chain operations simpler.
• CrossCats is a core component within the Catalyst architecture.

Currently, cross-chain operations between altVMs and between BTC and altVMs are still relatively novel. As the only connecting bridge, @CatalystSystem has gained significant attention in foreign communities and is worth following.

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