A multichain is a blockchain system or app that connects two or more separate blockchains, allowing them to share data and value. This means one app, token, or service can run on several blockchains at the same time, letting users from different networks interact with it.
Most blockchains operate independently and do not connect with each other. This separation makes it harder for people to use tokens or apps in different places and can slow down new ideas. Multichain systems were created to help move assets and information between networks and to ease congestion by spreading activity across several chains.
Projects use a few main methods to make multichain work. One way is to launch the same decentralized app on several blockchains, so users on each network can access the same service. Another method splits the system into layers: a base layer for security and an application layer that can run on different chains. These setups let apps share data or move assets between chains without putting everything on one ledger.
People often use 'multichain' and 'cross-chain' as if they mean the same thing, but there is an important difference. Cross-chain solutions move value or messages between separate blockchains, often by making wrapped or synthetic tokens that can be used on other networks. Multichain systems are designed so chains and apps work together more smoothly, letting the same project run on several networks and making it easier for users to interact across them.
Multichain systems are used in many ways. Stablecoins and popular tokens are often found on several blockchains at the same time, so people can use the same asset on Ethereum, Solana, or other networks. Developers use multichain designs to help decentralized apps reach users on different blockchains, and businesses use them to handle more transactions or to connect private and public chains.
Using more than one blockchain can help reduce congestion and make things faster by sending work to less busy networks. It also lets projects choose the best features from each chain and spreads out risk, so if one chain has a problem, everything does not stop. However, moving assets between chains can create security risks when bridges or other tools are used, and adding more chains makes things more complex for developers.
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