What is VSL?
Last updated
Last updated
VSL, or the Verifiable Settlement Layer (VSL) is a decentralized validation and settlement network designed to verify and finalize claims across different blockchain ecosystems. In simple terms, this means that the VSL acts as a neutral referee that ensures information from different blockchains are valid and can be trusted.
Instead of relying on a single blockchain’s rules, the VSL provides a universal system where different blockchains, bridges, and decentralized applications (dApps) can submit claims—such as transaction details or state updates—and get them verified in a trust-minimized way.
To do this, the VSL uses a set-based consensus model, which allows multiple claims to be validated at the same time, rather than one after the other like in traditional blockchains. This makes the process faster and more scalable.
A claim is a statement that needs to be verified before it is accepted as truth on-chain. It can represent proof of something happening on a blockchain—such as a transaction being completed, a smart contract reaching a specific state, or consensus being formed.
Claims can also bring off-chain data on-chain in a verifiable way, as seen in oracles, AI agents, and other trust mechanisms.
These claims are submitted to the VSL, where they undergo validation using proofs before being accepted as trustworthy information.
By verifying claims, the VSL ensures that different blockchain networks can rely on the same source of truth, making cross-chain communication and settlement possible without needing to trust a single entity.
The VSL processes different types of claims, each serving a specific purpose:
VSL allows developers to build scalable, interoperable solutions without being limited by specific programming languages or virtual machines.
Below are some use cases of VSL:
VSL provides a unified verification and settlement layer for different blockchain networks. Instead of relying on isolated consensus mechanisms, chains can submit claims to VSL for validation, ensuring correctness and reducing the risk of fraudulent state transitions. This improves interoperability, making it easier for blockchains to communicate and trust each other's data.
dApps benefit from VSL’s ability to verify off-chain and cross-chain transactions. By leveraging VSL, dApps can securely interact with multiple chains, enabling features like:
Cross-chain DeFi: Users can stake assets on one blockchain and use them as collateral on another.
Multi-chain gaming: In-game assets and transactions can be verified across different ecosystems without central control.
Trustless oracles: Data feeds can be validated by VSL, reducing reliance on centralized oracles.
Bridging assets between chains has historically required trust in third-party bridge operators. VSL eliminates this need by enabling multi-chain bridging, where tokens can be transferred securely across blockchains without off-chain intermediaries. This supports:
Token minting and freezing across multiple chains.
Cross-chain liquidity pools for DeFi applications.
VSL provides light client verification, enabling blockchains and rollups to verify consensus and state transitions without downloading full blockchain histories. This makes it an ideal foundation for:
Layer 2 (L2) & Layer 3 (L3) rollups: Developers can build rollups that inherit security from VSL while remaining flexible in their execution environments.
Heterogeneous ZK verification: VSL supports different zero-knowledge proof systems (e.g., RISC-Zero, Cairo), ensuring correctness across various ZK rollups.
By relying on VSL’s light client capabilities, users and applications can efficiently retrieve the state of a target blockchain—such as account balances or contract data—without needing to process its entire history.
The VSL provides blockchain solutions that are:
Interoperable: Verify and finalize claims across different blockchain ecosystems.
Scalable: A set-based consensus model, which allows multiple claims to be validated at the same time, rather than one after the other like in traditional blockchains.
