Blockchain networks and cryptocurrencies have experienced remarkable growth, fueling optimism within the crypto community. Ethereum Layer-2 (L2) networks, in particular, have achieved a significant milestone, reaching a new all-time high.

According to data from L2Beat, the total value locked (TVL) in these networks has surged by an impressive 138% over the past year, underscoring the rapid adoption of L2 solutions. Yet, in a crypto landscape brimming with various L2 networks, what steps are essential to creating a network that stands out and remains stable?

Amid the buzz of a bustling event, Sasha Ivanov, the visionary founder of Units Network, exuded enthusiasm as he shared insights into his ambitious project. With passion lighting up his eyes, Ivanov spoke candidly about the origins of Units Network and its mission to carve a niche in the dynamic and competitive world of blockchain networks.

In this exclusive interview, Ivanov delves into his vision for the project, highlighting the innovative technology and scalability strategies that set Units Network apart. He paints a vivid picture of how the network aims to thrive in the fast-evolving blockchain ecosystem, offering a glimpse into a future shaped by decentralized innovation and resilience.

What inspired the launch of the Units Network mainnet, and how does it align with the overall vision of the Waves Blockchain Ecosystem?

Basically, the idea is to create a very simple process for launching your own blockchain. I don’t see a similar solution on the market right now. Usually, it’s quite complicated, with a lot of sophisticated solutions. I want to create a very simple, turnkey way to launch your own chain.

At the same time, it needs to finalize this Layer 2 narrative. It’s a way to scale blockchain by creating one foundational layer and connecting other layers to it. This is probably the best way to make blockchain work really fast right now. There are some other approaches, but this one is the most decentralized.

I want to ensure we can reach a kind of endgame for this narrative, where it’s very easy to launch your own chain, and all those chains are interconnected in a decentralized way. Currently, Layer 2s exist, for example, but they’re all disconnected. You need some kind of bridge to connect one chain to another.

We want to create an ecosystem where all those chains are seamlessly interconnected. This is my goal, and this is what we are trying to achieve. The crypto market has especially come into the spotlight. It’s been in the spotlight in the past, but ever since Bitcoin hit $100k and the recent US elections, it has been under even more scrutiny.

We are trying to tap into different narratives. So, we’re going to have AI blockchains, RWA chains, and DeFi chains. Essentially, we aim to reach out to all possible users.

It’s what we call an agnostic platform, capable of working with a variety of users. This is our go-to-market strategy because we’re not focusing on just one sector—we’re trying to be everywhere.

How does the Units Network distinguish itself from other blockchain networks, particularly in terms of technology and scalability?

We can have as many chains as we want because we believe there is significant demand for new chains. Essentially, new validators and miners can join the network and support these chains, making the ecosystem ingeniously scalable.

This is what sets us apart from other chains and platforms. As you know, the current ecosystem already has a lot of blockchain networks, so there will naturally be a lot of competition.

We are focused on making the process of launching your own chain as simple as possible. Some competitors might be better than us, but we’re committed to doing our best. Ultimately, let the strongest and best platform win.

I’ve been in the blockchain space for more than 10 years, and I have a vision I want to implement. I think we’re doing well, and I’m excited to see what the next year brings. I believe we are on track to becoming one of the major platforms for launching your own block space and your own chain.

What role will the community play in Unit Network, and how do you plan to incorporate their feedback into the mainnet development?

The Units Network is based on decentralized governance. It operates as a DAO (Decentralized Autonomous Organization) that oversees everything. For instance, when a new project wants to launch its own network or chain, it must first submit a proposal to the DAO. If the community approves the project, it gets launched.

Approval is entirely dependent on the community. Projects must present a proposal, including incentives like the native token of their chain, to gain the support of validators. The validators, acting as the community, review and approve the proposals.

This decentralized governance model ensures the network is self-sustainable and self-contained. There is no central governing body making decisions; the community itself decides everything, including the platform’s direction and development.

This is the vision I’m trying to implement. I believe crypto introduces entirely new mechanisms for how society can interact in the real world. Decentralized governance can only be achieved with blockchain technology. Without blockchain, it wouldn’t be possible.

Blockchain brings unique opportunities to the table, and I aim to explore these opportunities and make them work in real-world scenarios. That’s my ultimate goal.

Could you elaborate on the specific use cases or industries that Units Network aims to target, and how it plans to drive adoption among businesses and developers?

Actually, our goal is to tap into different areas. We don’t want to focus on one specific sector; instead, we aim to work with a variety of projects across multiple domains. For example, we want to include AI chains and RWA (real-world asset) chains in our network.

This approach is also beneficial for marketing, as it allows us to target different audiences by exploring multiple directions. Instead of concentrating on one area, we want to be present everywhere. This strategy is known as being agnostic, where the blockchain is not tied to a single application but is multifaceted, working with a wide range of projects and areas. This is what we’re striving to achieve.

As for the proof of restaking, the idea is to reuse the consensus established in the base layer of our network. The base layer in our network is our original chain, called Waves, where consensus is already established. Rather than creating new consensus mechanisms for every connected layer, we aim to reuse the consensus from the base layer across all connected layers.

The process involves restaking tokens that are already staked in the base layer to achieve consensus in all the connected layers. Essentially, proof of restaking allows us to leverage the value staked in the base layer to maintain consensus across the entire ecosystem.

In cryptocurrency, there are mechanisms like proof of work and proof of stake. Proof of restake takes this a step further by reusing the staked value from the base layer to establish consensus in all interconnected layers. This creates a more efficient and scalable network.

How does this project fit into the broader goals of the Waves ecosystem?

Yes, it essentially enhances the Waves ecosystem because we use the same community of validators. These validators not only validate the Waves network but also validate all the networks within the Unix Network.

As a validator, you can support multiple chains and earn tokens from all of them. For example, you might earn 5% APY from one chain and another 5% from a different chain. If you support 10 chains, that could add up to 50% annually. This setup allows validators to diversify their support across multiple networks and increase their potential earnings.

This development is highly beneficial for Waves because it creates new utility for the Waves token. To become a validator in Unix, you still need Waves tokens, which enhances their value and utility.

Furthermore, this approach diversifies the community of validators, enabling them to support not only the Waves network but also all the chains connected to Waves. This interconnected structure strengthens the overall ecosystem and expands its capabilities.