MAP Overview

Introduction

MAP Protocol is a Bitcoin layer 2 protocol that focuses on cross-chain interoperability, aiming to provide an infrastructure for interoperability between blockchain-based assets, storage, and computation. Its core technology is ZK-LightClient technology, which makes cross-chain operations more secure and efficient without any trusted third party entity.

MAP Protocol allows for the interoperability of assets and data between different blockchains through innovative multi-chain architecture, smart contracts, and encryption technology, achieving a secure, efficient, and trustless cross-chain bridging protocol.

The main features and advantages of MAP Protocol:

• Peer-to-peer interoperability: MAP Protocol uses a peer-to-peer interoperability solution that avoids reliance on third-party bridging services, ensuring decentralization and security of the system.
• Multi-chain compatibility: MAP Protocol enables seamless interconnection between the Bitcoin Layer 2 network and blockchain solutions using third-party bridges. It has successfully achieved peer-to-peer interoperability between Conflux and other Bitcoin Layer 2 solutions.
• Wide-ranging interoperable network: With ZK-LightClient technology, MAP Protocol has achieved interoperability between mainstream blockchains such as Ethereum, BNB Chain, Polygon, Near, Klaytn, and the Bitcoin network. This technological breakthrough makes it possible to build decentralized applications (dApps) compatible with multiple chains.
• Decentralized application development platform: MAP Protocol provides an integrated Bitcoin ecological decentralized application development platform, serving as the entry gateway for Web3 users. It offers developers the ability to connect to a wide blockchain ecosystem, enabling all operations to be completed on-chain.
• Cross-chain control of user data and assets: MAP Protocol allows users to fully control their data and assets across multiple chains, providing greater flexibility and security. This feature is crucial for achieving a truly decentralized Web3 future.

Through MAP Protocol, developers can easily integrate components from different blockchains to build seamlessly interconnected applications, providing users with higher quality decentralized services. MAP Protocol is paving the way for a truly interoperable Web3 future and driving further development of blockchain technology.

Currently, the Relay Chain mainnet of MAP Protocol was launched at the end of August 2022, covering both EVM and non-EVM chains. In addition, the MAP Protocol team is actively advancing a series of full-chain ecological construction plans for developers and the community. These plans aim to reward and incentivize developers and community members who make positive contributions to the MAP Protocol full-chain ecosystem and the broader Web3 ecosystem.

MAP Protocol（Source:MAP Protocol）

Background and Financing

Based on the current development of blockchain technology, due to the lack of interoperability between various chains, developers are facing challenges such as low operational efficiency, inadequate user resources, and high costs. The emergence of MAP Protocol is aimed at addressing these challenges and providing critical infrastructure for the transition of billions of Web2 users to the Web3 world.

In terms of financing, MAP Protocol has completed two rounds of financing so far, including strategic investments from Waterdrip Capital and DWF Labs on December 7, 2023, as well as a $50 million investment from Bitrise Capital on January 17, 2024.

Three-layer structure of MAP

The structure of the MAP protocol is divided into three layers: the MAP protocol layer, the MAPO service layer (MOS), and the MAPO application ecosystem layer.

MAP protocol layer

The MAP protocol layer builds the Omnichain network infrastructure, which includes the MAP relay chain, light clients, and inter-chain maintainers programs for updating and maintaining the light client state.

The relay chain extends support for heterogeneous blockchains through virtual machine, achieving efficient light client verification network. The light clients deployed on various chains have self-verification and verification termination functions to ensure the security of cross-chain assets and data.

The inter-chain maintainers are responsible for updating the state of the light client and preventing malicious attacks through mechanisms. For example, after a transaction on the Bitcoin chain is completed, the maintainer will update the state of the light client on the Ethereum chain to ensure the synchronization of transaction information; in addition, the light client has independent self-verification function to ensure the security of cross-chain transactions. Even if malicious maintainers attempt to tamper with the data, the light client can recognize and prevent malicious attacks.

MAPO Service (MOS) layer

The MAPO Service (MOS) layer is a key component provided by the MAP protocol, aiming to lower the barrier for cross-chain Dapp development. While it cannot meet all the needs of cross-chain Dapps indefinitely, MOS provides many common modules required by cross-chain Dapps, such as cross-chain bridges and cross-chain exchanges. These modules can handle the transfer of fungible or non-fungible assets across chains, further reducing the complexity for developers and allowing them to focus on specific business logic such as trading.

The MOS layer includes the Messenger and Vault & Data modules. The Messenger is an independent inter-chain program that listens to events on the source chain and establishes corresponding proofs, and then passes the event information and proofs to the Vault or Data on the destination chain. The Messenger requires prepayment of gas fees and receives rewards from the application. The Vault & Data module receives assets or data on the source chain, triggers events for the Messenger to listen to, and verifies cross-chain transactions on the relay chain or destination chain. All of these components make the development of cross-chain Dapps more convenient and secure.

MOS provides a robust and trustless AssetVault module for managing and securing cross-chain assets. This module consists of bulletproof smart contracts that ensure that all asset-related operations (e.g., minting, burning) must be triggered by a valid cryptographic proof (e.g., Merkle proof) to prevent any malicious attacks. In the case of Alice, she can transfer 100 USDC from Ethereum to Binance Smart Chain (BSC) via the MAP protocol. The entire process is handled entirely by the messenger in a trustless manner, Alice only needs to send a single transaction, and the messenger does the rest through cryptographic proofs and cross-chain messages.

Explanation of the MAP Full-Chain Service (MOS) Layer (Source:MAP Protocol)

Through the MOS layer, developers can deploy the Vault & Data modules and share the liquidity of asset pools or data pools, significantly reducing technical challenges and security risks, making the construction of the MAP ecosystem more efficient and robust.

MAPO application layer

The application layer of MAPO is an important part of the MAP protocol, aimed at achieving seamless operation and scalability of decentralized applications (Dapps) by providing cross-chain interoperability. Through the MAPO application layer, developers can easily build and deploy powerful and highly interoperable Dapps, providing users with a more convenient and efficient cross-chain experience. Here are some key features and advantages of the MAPO application layer:

• Cross-chain lending: The traditional cross-chain lending process is complex, requiring multiple steps and fees. Through the MAP protocol, users can collateralize assets on one chain, borrow and farm on another chain, simplifying the traditional lending process and reducing bridge and transaction fees.
• Omnichain Swap: The MAP protocol allows developers to build decentralized cross-chain exchanges where users can swap any token from any chain on one platform. By optimizing cross-chain transactions through aggregating the liquidity of major DEXs and connecting to the best cross-chain DeFi protocols, users can exchange tokens at lower costs.
• Omnichain GameFi: The GameFi project can deploy tokens on multiple chains through the MAP protocol to attract users from different chains, allowing users from other chains to efficiently and securely transfer their assets to the chain of their project. For example, a GameFi project on the BNB chain can deploy its tokens on the Polygon and WAX chains; users from Polygon and BNB can use cross-chain bridges to transfer their assets to WAX and participate in GameFi, thereby multiplying the user base.
• On-chain oracle and derivatives: The MAP protocol solves the accuracy and timeliness issues of decentralized derivatives and synthetic assets through a cross-chain data network. The on-chain oracle market allows derivative and synthetic asset applications to obtain reliable multi-chain data.
• Interoperable Token and NFT Bridges: With MAP's cross-chain validation network and developer service package, bridge developers can easily build NFT or homogenous token bridge applications. MAP Protocol supports tokens and NFTs issued on multiple chains, avoiding the creation of the same asset in different forms during the all-chain process.

MAP's NFT full-chain application (Source:MAP Protocol)

Token $MAPO

MAP Protocol has its native token, $MAPO. $MAPO plays a core role in the MAP ecosystem, with multiple functions: it can be used to maintain network security, pay transaction fees, and allow holders to participate in the governance process of the protocol. The above token use cases promote the wide application of the MAP protocol and the prosperity of its ecosystem. Users holding $MAPO can participate in network construction and decision-making, jointly promoting the progress and innovation of the MAP protocol.

In terms of fees, MAP Protocol will only charge gas fees generated on the MAP relay chain for each cross-chain transaction. No additional fees will be charged for other services to developers, and maintainers can obtain additional rewards by updating and maintaining lightweight clients from MAP Protocol.

As a cross-chain messaging program, Messenger is an important component of MAP Omnichain Services. Messenger needs to prepay the gas fees for MAP relay chain and target chain for all-chain users, and these fees cannot be estimated in a decentralized way. Therefore, MAP Protocol opens Messenger SDK to developers. The application layer provides flexibility for dApp developers to determine the standard for cross-chain transaction fees, rewards for messengers, and their entry requirements.

The Vault & Data deployed on each chain is also an important part of MAP Omnichain Services, responsible for managing assets (such as fungible tokens and NFTs) and data on each chain. For developers of Vault & Data, MAP Omnichain Services will not charge any fees. Applications can independently determine the fee structure for sharing liquidity of vaults and data pools.

$MAP total supply is 10,000,000,000, and as for token distribution:

• Team (15%): Used for MAP Protocol developers: the lock-up period is from 2019 to 2024;
• Foundation (12%): Used for the operation of the MAP Protocol, including team salaries, office expenses, legal and compliance costs, as well as funding for MAP Protocol related projects and activities, such as technical development, community events, and marketing.
• Ecosystem DAO (21%): Currently, 3.11% has been released to community members, and the remaining 17.89% is owned by the DAO treasury. This portion of tokens is used to incentivize developers, stimulate cross-chain liquidity pools, expand markets, communities, etc.; and will be distributed through DAO governance. Community members can participate in community proposals, participate in DAO governance through voting, and receive token rewards to share the benefits of community governance.
• Mining (30%): Rewards validators and maintainers on the MAP relay chain, used to update light clients, with 70% for rewarding validators and 30% for rewarding maintainers.
• Institutions and Partners (22%): Used to reward investors and supporters, while attracting more strategic partners to build a strong partner network.

Token Distribution (Source:MAP Protocol）

Conclusion

As a Bitcoin layer 2 protocol focused on cross-chain interoperability, MAP Protocol has multiple projects such as LessGas, Butter Network, Meson, and Hiveswap utilizing MAP Protocol's technological advantages to promote their own development within the MAP ecosystem.

As a token platform, LessGas is deployed on BTC L2 and utilizes the interoperability provided by the MAP Protocol to enhance the security and efficiency of its services. Butter Network, on the other hand, builds an interoperability hub for global DApps, providing users with accessibility and data availability through the integration with ZK technology, promoting freedom and security in cross-chain transactions. Meson, as a stablecoin trading protocol, facilitates the free flow of stablecoins between Ethereum, Layer 2, and major high-performance public chains, ensuring fast confirmations, low fees, and zero slippage through its product design and technical stack. Hiveswap, on the other hand, is a decentralized exchange (DEX) in the Bitcoin ecosystem that provides liquidity services for assets in the Bitcoin ecosystem using the MAP protocol, covering assets on Bitcoin L1, the MAP protocol interoperability layer, and various assets on Bitcoin L2.

MAP Protocol has brought revolutionary changes to the Web3 field with its innovative full-chain interoperability protocol. Through its unique three-layer structure - the MAP protocol layer, MAPO service layer (MOS), and MAPO application layer - MAP Protocol not only solves the complexity of cross-chain communication but also provides developers with a secure, efficient, and decentralized full-chain infrastructure. This not only greatly reduces the development threshold but also brings users a seamless cross-chain experience.

Looking ahead, MAP Protocol will continue to drive technological innovation, expand the boundaries of cross-chain applications, and develop more DApps compatible with multiple chains. With more and more developers and community members joining the MAP Protocol ecosystem, we have reason to believe that MAP Protocol will become an important pillar in the Web3 field, leading the entire industry towards a more open, interconnected, and co-governed direction.