Ethereum is globally credited with launching the Web3 revolution after it brought the concept of smart contracts to life. However, some in the Web3 community, such as Astar Network’s Sota Watanabe, believe that the protocol cannot “build an innovative future on blockchain alone.” Additionally, some critics point to a language hurdle that they say makes the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) a less than ideal place to build.
Webassembly smart contracts ‘will accelerate Web3 adoption’
It is these and other limitations of the EVM that have led to the creation of an alternative known as Webassembly (WASM). This alternative is said to be a virtual machine of choice for developers, engineers, and academics who are frustrated with the EVM. According to Watanabe, for Web2 developers who want to move to Web3, WASM seems like a logical choice because it “supports a wide range of languages with native performance and high portability.”
To find out more about WASM, Bitcoin.com News reached out to Sota Watanabe, CEO of Astar Network, a multi-chain smart contract platform.
In his written responses to questions sent, he said Astar network The CEO gave his thoughts on Webassembly and the role it will play in accelerating Web3 adoption. Watanabe also explained why Astar Network supports both EVM and WASM.
Below are Watanabe’s responses to questions sent to him via Whatsapp.
Bitcoin.com News (BCN): In very simple terms, can you explain to our readers what WASM is?
Sota Watanabe (southwest): Webassembly, more commonly called WASM, is a portable assembly target for programming languages. WASM supports a wide range of languages with native performance and high portability. At Astar, we support a WASM smart contract environment, just like the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). What’s nice about WASM is that most Web2 languages are compilable to Webassembly, which isn’t true of Ethereum’s EVM which is based on a specialized programming language called Solidity.
We believe that the increased use of WASM smart contracts will greatly accelerate Web3 adoption. Most of the tech talent is still working in the Web2 space, and if Web2 developers want to get into Web3, they have no choice but to learn a new programming language called Solidity which is used by today’s most popular smart contract platform (EVM). This is a snag. Imagine if they could build Web3 dapps [decentralized applications] using languages they already know. Moreover, make their dapps compatible with EVM easily. This is why WASM smart contracts are considered [going to] Attracting a lot of talent from Web2 to Web3. This is why it is so exciting.
BCN: What are some of the challenges or limitations of EVM and how does WASM overcome them?
SW: Although Ethereum brought us the Web3 revolution with the introduction of smart contracts, it cannot build an innovative future for the blockchain alone. With a specialized programming language, it limits the developer community’s ability to explore and create new, truly interoperable dapps. EVM is blockchain specific, with less support and a specialized programming language, Solidity.
Today, Web3 is off-limits to many Web2 developers because Web2 languages are not compilable in Solidity, the programming language on Ethereum. With Webassembly (WASM), developers can quickly transition from Web2 to Web3 infrastructure, which enables them to spend more time building core features in dapps than learning specialized languages like Solidity.
WASM increases performance because it is closer to the language of machines. It provides near-native performance for web browser applications and allows developers to build high-speed web applications in the language of their choice. Also, WASM has huge potential for the future of the Internet since it is designed for the web.
BCN: Already powered by four major browser engines (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Webkit), WASM is said to be more secure, efficient, fast, debuggable, and open. Can you explain in simple terms why this is important?
SW: you are right. All the things you said about WASM have helped build trust among Web2 developers. And when they can build interoperable Web3 applications using WASM tools, they are more likely to adopt Web3.
Moreover, the development of WASM is already supported by first-class companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla, and can be used with popular programming languages such as C/C++, GO, TypeScript, and RUST, which is popular among Web2 developers.
BCN: Some reports have suggested that Web2 developers who migrate to Web3 are drawn to WASM. Is this suggestion correct? If this is the case, what do you think could be the cause(s)?
SW: The answer will be similar to numbers 2 and 3. I would add:
Over the years we’ve interacted with thousands of Web2 developers who tend to build in Web3, but the lack of familiar tools has been a hindrance. By supporting WASM, making it interoperable with the EVM, and providing developers with all the tools they need to build Web3, Astar Network hopes to give this nascent ecosystem a major boost.
BCN: Rather than encouraging or discouraging the use of either, your Astar Network platform is said to help developers build dapps using both EVM and WASM. What are your reasons for supporting both virtual machines?
SW: Developers in the Web3 space come from a variety of backgrounds – armed with different skill sets, abilities, and preferences. They should not all be forced to bring their vision to life using a single smart contract platform. They deserve to choose, and then it’s up to them to decide which smart contract is right for the project they’re building.
Yes, we support both EVM and WASM smart contracts to give developers flexibility. EVM because it is the most popular smart contract environment with the largest user base. WASM because it overcomes the limitations of EVM while facilitating the entry of a new wave of developers into the space. We believe that having two virtual machines simultaneously and making them interactive is a key success factor for an emerging layer 1 blockchain.
BCN: How does this benefit the broader blockchain ecosystem?
SW: It will significantly expand the blockchain ecosystem by enabling Web2 developers to build innovative, decentralized and interoperable solutions in the Web3 space.
BCN: The Astar Network is said to offer true interoperability with consensus messaging. What does this mean?
SW: We believe in a truly interoperable Web3 ecosystem, and provide developers with everything they need to build truly interoperable dapps. We achieve it through:
Cross-Consensus Messaging (XCM): Allows dapps built on-chains with different consensus mechanisms to securely transfer data and value between each other. Bi-directional exchange. It is made possible because Astar is a semi-chain on Polkadot and they can use this feature as part of our core features.
Cross Virtual Machines (XVM): Provides interoperability between two different smart contract environments such as EVM and WASM. A dapp can use an EVM for its smart contract but can implement WASM smart contract modules and at the same time use features from other notable chain to be integrated into the dapp.
These two innovations will be the beginning of the next wave of innovation in dapps.
What do you think of this interview? Tell us what you think in the comments section below.
Terrence Zemoara
Terence Zemwara is an award-winning Zimbabwean journalist, author and writer. He has written extensively about the economic problems of some African countries as well as how digital currencies can offer Africans an escape route.
Image credits: shutterstock, pixabay, wikicommons
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services or companies. Bitcoin.com It does not provide investment, tax, legal or accounting advice. Neither the Company nor the author shall be liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.