RPGF Retrospective: Building OP-Nethermind

Why OP Stack in the Nethermind Client?

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One of the key advantages of integrating OP Stack support directly into the Nethermind client is that, all improvements and performance optimizations made by our core team benefit OP Stack nodes running on our client. Unlike other OP Stack implementations developed as forks, which must manually merge updates from the base client, Nethermind’s unified codebase ensures that enhancements in the main client are immediately available to OP Stack nodes. This seamless integration streamlines development and maintenance, reducing the risk of bugs and inconsistencies.

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Some of the features we’re currently developing, which will be available to OP Stack chains immediately upon their release in the client, include:

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• Paprika — A custom storage engine of Nethermind, benefiting from the alignment of the underlying data structure with the layout of State & Storage trees of Ethereum.
• IL-EVM — A contract precompiler that aligns EVM execution with .NET runtime that Nethermind runs with.

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This approach also fosters a more cohesive developer community, where contributions to the Nethermind client have a broader impact, benefiting both Layer 1 and Layer 2 solutions simultaneously. By maintaining a single codebase, we accelerate innovation and drive collective progress, creating a stronger and more efficient blockchain infrastructure.

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The impact of RPGFs in Nethermind Client development

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In the ever-evolving world of blockchain technology, funding and resources play a crucial role in driving innovation and development. For Nethermind, a leading Ethereum client, the Optimism Retroactive Public Goods Funding (RPGF) grants have been instrumental in our journey to integrate and expand the Optimism (OP Stack) within our offerings. Here’s a look at how these grants have fueled our progress:

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Initial Funding and Development

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Our journey began with the receipt of the first RPGF grant (RPGF 1), awarded in recognition of our significant contributions to the Layer 1 (L1) client. This funding provided the necessary resources to start developing the OP Stack plugin within the Nethermind client. This integration was a critical step towards enhancing the functionality and versatility of our client, aligning with the growing demand for Layer 2 (L2) scaling solutions.

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Continued Support and Expansion

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Building on the success of our initial efforts, we were honored to receive a second RPGF grant (RPGF 2). This grant not only acknowledged our ongoing contributions to the L1 client but also recognized the progress we made with the OP Stack plugin. The funding from RPGF 2 was channeled into further development of the OP Stack, enabling us to refine and expand its capabilities within the Nethermind client.

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Deepening Our Commitment to the OP Stack Ecosystem

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Recognizing the potential and importance of the OP Stack ecosystem, we decided to deepen our involvement. To this end, we applied for and successfully secured a grant dedicated to the development of our own OP Stack “CL” (Consensus Layer) Client written in C#. This initiative marks a significant milestone for Nethermind, as it positions us to contribute even more substantially to the Optimism ecosystem, driving innovation and ensuring robust support for developers and users alike.

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Conclusion

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The Optimism RPGF grants have been a crucial source of support for Nethermind, helping us advance our Ethereum client with Layer 2 solutions. Through these grants, we have improved our existing offerings and committed to developing new projects within the OP Stack ecosystem. As we continue to innovate and grow, we are dedicated to building a more scalable and efficient blockchain infrastructure for the community.

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Nethermind ❤️ OP Stack