Blockchains evolved and then diverged. Liquidity spread out over L2s, bridges frequently failed, and “data availability” emerged as the new bottleneck. Avail aims to address all three challenges simultaneously. Established to provide provable, scalable data availability, it now presents itself as a comprehensive unification layer: a DA foundation, Nexus for proof-based interoperability, and Fusion for shared security capable of restaking ETH, BTC, and rollup tokens. The premise is straightforward yet ambitious: developers should build once and scale everywhere; users shouldn’t need to consider the underlying chains at all.
In this CryptoSlate Q&A, Avail co-founder Anurag Arjun discusses how this premise is transitioning from a roadmap to practical implementation. We initiate with a real-world stress test: Sophon’s $60 million node sale, which scaled Avail’s light client to production and hinted at new, verifiable fundraising methodologies for application-specific chains. We then delve into EnigmaDA—encrypted data availability crafted to meet institutional privacy requirements without reintroducing trusted intermediaries—along with how banks and TradFi pilots can harmonize encryption, key management, and auditability on-chain.
Interoperability is another key aspect. Instead of creating yet another bridge, Nexus offers “one SDK, nine chains, no network switching,” aiming to facilitate flows across multichain stablecoin and DeFi liquidity while reducing replay and quorum risks through TEE and ZK verification. On the user side, Avail’s light client is designed to operate at <1 MB/s bandwidth, functioning on phones and browsers via data-availability sampling and validity proofs—bringing “a full node in your pocket” to emerging markets.
We also assess the speed-versus-decentralization trade-offs within TurboDA’s 250 ms pre-confirmations and the team’s “infinity blocks” research objective of achieving 10 GB blocks in ~600 ms; the validator-set growth trajectory from 105 validators and a Nakamoto coefficient of 34; and what Avail learns from flagship implementations like Lens Chain (650k profiles) and Sophon. With over 50 integrations in progress, Arjun explains how Avail prioritizes partners based on technical compatibility, ecosystem value, and compliance—plus how community growth (600k+ members in year one) rests on builder activity rather than superficial metrics.
If Avail’s vision is accurate, the next era of crypto will not involve “L2 vs. L2” but application-centric rollups communicating in a shared, proof-based language—privacy-aware when necessary, credibly neutral by design, and finally usable at internet scale. Continue reading for the complete dialogue.
Sophon adapted Avail’s light client to power its $60 million node sale. What insights did this deal provide regarding Avail’s scalability and developer experience, and what additional “real-world money” milestones can we anticipate next?
The Sophon collaboration was transformative; they required tailored light client infrastructure capable of managing extensive scale for their node sale and supporting their validium architecture, which Avail successfully provided. This demonstrated that our technology not only supports live networks but also expands Avail’s potential, presenting a concrete way to assist projects with fundraising.
It illustrated that our validity proof-based architecture can scale to bring mathematical certainty to all net participants. Networks can fundraise and scale on this technology, even with basic technical proficiency (typically, running verifying nodes necessitates server infrastructure and command-line experience). The developer experience allowed Sophon to enhance the existing light client and incorporate features seamlessly.
This has initiated a trend with more projects seeking Avail’s light client architecture to not only fulfill verifiable data needs but also broaden fundraising applications initially introduced by Sophon.
EnigmaDA allows rollups to submit fully encrypted blobs while proving data integrity. How does this align with TradFi privacy regulations (KYC, trade confidentiality) without reinstating central points of trust?
Rollups can submit entirely encrypted data blobs while cryptographically demonstrating data integrity and availability. The encryption is applied at the application layer, ensuring that sensitive information remains concealed from the public, satisfying regulatory requirements.
Nonetheless, it still utilizes Avail’s public infrastructure as the network for data movement and verification, even without knowledge of the contents or public exposure of the data. This way, L2s can determine their privacy frameworks while utilizing Avail’s public DA infrastructure. This offers institutions blockchain advantages without introducing new trust assumptions or centralized vulnerabilities.
Avail now promotes itself as a full-stack unification layer (DA + Nexus + Fusion). What challenges prompted you to broaden your scope instead of focusing solely on DA?
The aim of Avail has always been to foster a connected and thriving blockchain ecosystem. We initially focused on a scalable and cryptographically verifiable DA layer because it was the most pressing bottleneck at that time. However, once that issue is resolved, we face a plethora of L2s and an intensified fragmentation challenge. How will all this liquidity interconnect? Nexus provides a solution to this situation, permitting both native Avail ecosystems and external ones to interoperate freely.
The inaugural version of Nexus enables interoperability among nine networks on mainnet, with only Sophon being native to Avail. Thus, through this integration, Sophon (and other Avail-native chains) can automatically access the multi-chain liquidity facilitated by Nexus ($145 billion in multichain stablecoin TVL and $95 billion in multichain DeFi TVL). That’s what authentic scaling entails.
Bridges may fail; Nexus asserts “one SDK, 9 chains, no network switching.” How does Nexus, internally, mitigate the replay, quorum, and liquidity-fragmentation concerns that afflict most bridge technologies?
Nexus will furnish a comprehensive cross-chain solution leveraging TEE and ZK verification that guarantees that resolving fragmentation does not compromise the trust and security that underpin the value of blockchains. More details will be shared in the upcoming months.
The outcome is a system where a single SDK integration provides access to multiple chains without requiring users to switch networks, manage multiple wallets, or navigate complex bridging interfaces. Developers integrate once to gain immediate access to users and liquidity across all connected chains, while users experience seamless cross-chain interactions without leaving their preferred interface.
Is the future a network of “app-centric L2s” all communicating through Nexus-style proofs? What prevents competing DA layers from forking the concept?
The future we envision focuses on app-centric rollups conversing through proof-based interoperability protocols. Consider this evolution akin to TCP/IP becoming the universal communication standard for the internet—a standardized mechanism that enables smooth interactions across diverse systems without the need for them to comprehend each other’s internal frameworks. This meta-interoperability layer simplifies blockchain complexities while preserving the security and decentralization benefits that make blockchain technology invaluable.
This approach will become the new norm, as it aligns with essential market demands. Developers frequently express a desire to build once and scale everywhere instead of reconstructing applications for every blockchain environment. Users expect fluid experiences without needing to know which chains power their applications, just as internet users do not concern themselves with which servers host websites. Economic efficiency arises through shared liquidity pools and composability across chains, creating beneficial network effects for all ecosystem participants.
While forking an idea is simple, solid foundations are essential. Avail offers the most refined, production-ready scaling foundation available, eliminating infrastructure centralization and bottlenecks while paving the path for mass adoption. Avail’s technology has been in development for over four years, and that institutional knowledge is not easily replicated.
Your community achieved over 600k members in its first year, quite an accomplishment in a challenging market. What specific programs or narratives fueled that growth, and how do you avoid community bloat that leads to hollow hype?
The backbone of our 600k+ member community was established through thorough developer education, which included extensive resources, hackathons, and grants that empowered builders to create applications they couldn’t elsewhere. Members joined because our infrastructure provided genuine utility, from Lens Protocol’s social applications to Sophon’s gaming ecosystem, differentiating us from mere speculative aspirations.
Transparent communication has been vital for our authentic growth. Instead of relying on pure marketing tactics, we provide regular updates on technical advancements, discussing both breakthroughs and hurdles. This transparency builds trust and attracts community members who recognize the technology’s real potential. Additionally, our ecosystem benefits accrue tangible value for community members, who perceive direct advantages from our partnerships and integrations, ensuring their involvement is meaningful beyond token appreciation.
To curb hype bloat, we maintain a relentless focus on engagement metrics over superficial figures. The activity of developers building on our infrastructure, impactful partnerships driving actual usage, and legitimate transaction volume carry much more significance than follower counts. Our community programs are crafted to reward genuine contributions, whether through development, education, or ecosystem building, rather than just participation.
With 11 chains operational and over 50 queued, what criteria dictate who gets integrated next? How do you assess TradFi-focused dApps for compliance before they utilize EnigmaDA?
With more than 50 chains pending integration, we uphold selective standards centered on quality and strategic alignment rather than simply maximizing numbers. Our chain integration assessment considers four critical areas: technical compatibility to ensure new chains support our proof systems and security model; ecosystem value that contributes unique use cases or substantial user bases to reinforce the overall network; development maturity, indicated by active development teams with clear roadmaps; and community alignment with values mirroring our vision for unification rather than fragmentation.
Our technical review monitors proper implementation of EnigmaDA’s encryption features, confirming that sensitive data remains secured while maintaining cryptographic assurances. We mandate security audits for applications handling sensitive or institutional cases, establishing ongoing compliance tracking and reporting capabilities to meet regulatory standards.
The principal objective is not the sheer quantity of integrations, but cultivating an ecosystem where every addition fortifies the entire network. Every new chain or application should boost interoperability, attract new users or use cases, and align with our goal of seamless blockchain connectivity.
Avail’s light client claims to operate on phones, smart-watches, and browsers with <1 MB/s bandwidth. What cryptographic efficiencies enable this, and how significant is this for adoption in emerging markets?
This capability is essential for decentralized technologies. The Avail Light Client introduces an entirely innovative approach. It utilizes Data Availability Sampling (DAS) to verify validity proofs derived from KZG Polynomial commitments. In layman’s terms, it employs mathematics to ascertain the network’s proper functioning, allowing your phone to independently detect any issues. This innovation transfers full-node capabilities to the user’s pocket.
Conventional light clients depend on a trusted full node, but with DAS and validity proofs (in addition to erasure coding and other technologies), we eliminate the need for Avail light clients to be connected to a trusted full node; instead, they directly sample the network. We believe this is the only viable method to create a scalable blockchain ecosystem extending full node functionalities to every network user.
Speed is appealing, but do reduced block times compromise liveness or validator diversity? Where is the balance between user experience and decentralization?
TurboDA offers a rapid pre-confirmation that delivers immediate UX advantages; however, Avail’s current block time remains at 20 seconds. There exists a constant tension between user experience and decentralization, but the goal is to advance decentralized technology to a level where user experience is not hindered.
That’s why our infinity blocks roadmap has embraced a distinctly innovative approach to achieving scale, speed, and decentralization—aiming for 10GB blocks in 600ms without any centralized infrastructure. This is one of the main focuses for our development team, and we have already begun laying the necessary groundwork.
For banks exploring tokenized deposits, how can encrypted blobs, key management, and auditability cohabit on EnigmaDA?
Through EnigmaDA, Avail’s encrypted Data Availability upgrade, institutions can encrypt their data prior to posting it to the base layer, preserving the confidentiality of sensitive transaction data while ensuring public availability and verifiability.
Lens Chain (650k profiles) and Sophon both leverage their core infrastructure on Avail. What challenges have these deployments revealed as the next technical bottlenecks?
Avail DA is robust and dependable. Although we have several initiatives in progress aimed at enhancing throughput, speed, and interoperability, our existing DA infrastructure remains exceedingly solid.
You currently have 105 validators and a Nakamoto coefficient of 34. What’s the strategy for tripling those figures without sacrificing performance?
The Nominated Proof of Stake architecture that constitutes Avail’s mainnet has the capability to accommodate a higher count of validators, which will continue to increase as the ecosystem expands.
Benchmarks indicate 128 MB today with aspirations for 10 GB / 600 ms tomorrow. What engineering advancements (erasure coding, blob markets, state pruning) must occur before that becomes mainnet ready?
