Sep 12, 2023 Frank Stewskid
Offchain Labs Partners with Espresso Systems to Revolutionize Ethereum Transaction Ordering
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Offchain Labs – the main developers behind Arbitrum have joined forces with Espresso Systems to enhance Ethereum's transaction sequencing capabilities. This partnership aims to incorporate Timeboost, a pioneering transaction-ordering policy, into Ethereum rollups. By doing so, the partnership seeks to bolster the safety, security, and overall user experience on the Ethereum network.
Today, we're excited to announce that we're partnering with @EspressoSys to bring decentralized and open shared sequencing technology to Ethereum rollupshttps://t.co/HAVu6ZVZzJ
— Offchain Labs (@OffchainLabs) September 11, 2023
The Partnership and Shared Vision
The alliance between Offchain Labs and Espresso Systems is driven by a mutual aspiration for a decentralized future on Ethereum rollups. To manifest this vision, both parties will pool resources to develop a production-ready, open-source, and distributed version of Timeboost that can be smoothly integrated into the Espresso Sequencer. The Arbitrum technology stack will also be compatible, allowing any Arbitrum chain to harness this groundbreaking technology.
The Role of Timeboost and Espresso Sequencer
Espresso Sequencer
The Espresso Sequencer, a consensus protocol by Espresso Systems, facilitates various transaction-ordering policies via its Proposer-Builder Separation (PBS) feature. This flexibility empowers Ethereum rollups to either implement specific builder protocols or, by default, utilize PBS.
Timeboost
In contrast to the traditional First-Come, First-Served (FCFS) model, Timeboost introduces an innovative feature that allows transactions to pay a priority fee for a slight "time boost" in the ordering. This addresses harmful forms of Miner Extractable Value (MEV) like frontrunning and sandwiching while accommodating benign forms such as backrunning. This not only enriches the user experience but also assures the punctual execution of transactions.
Why It Matters
When it comes to sequencing and interoperability, adopting neutral and open protocols is imperative for Ethereum's ecosystem. The integration of Timeboost and the Espresso Sequencer into the Arbitrum technology stack marks a significant stride toward this neutrality. But this collaboration has broader implications—it paves the way for any network to adopt Timeboost and to integrate directly with the Espresso Sequencer. This enhances the Ethereum network's security and interoperability, making it more robust and interconnected.
What's Next?
Both Offchain Labs and Espresso Systems have committed to unveiling a detailed roadmap for the development of the Timeboost builder module. This will also outline how to integrate the Espresso Sequencer with Arbitrum technology chains, elevating the entire Ethereum ecosystem to new heights.
