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This architecture enables users to perform both Cosmos and EVM formatted transactions, allows developers to scale EVM dApps cross-chain via IBC, and supports tokens and assets from multiple independent sources. Cosmos EVM enables these key features by:
  • Leveraging modules and other mechanisms implemented by the Cosmos SDK.
  • Implementing CometBFT’s Application Blockchain Interface (ABCI) to manage the blockchain.
  • Utilizing geth as a library to promote code reuse and improve maintainability.
  • Exposing a fully compatible Web3 JSON-RPC layer for interacting with existing Ethereum clients and tooling (MetaMask, Remix, etc.).
These features enable developers to leverage existing Ethereum ecosystem tooling and software to seamlessly deploy smart contracts that interact with the rest of the Cosmos ecosystem.

Cosmos SDK

Cosmos EVM enables the full composability and modularity of the Cosmos SDK. It includes standard modules from the Cosmos SDK that work side by side with EVM-specific modules. Check out the list of modules to get an overview of what each module is responsible for.

CometBFT & ABCI

CometBFT consists of two core technical components: a blockchain consensus engine and a generic application interface. The consensus engine ensures that the same transactions are recorded on every machine in the same order. The application interface, called the Application Blockchain Interface (ABCI), enables transactions to be processed in any programming language. CometBFT has evolved into a general-purpose blockchain consensus engine that can host arbitrary application states. Since it can replicate arbitrary applications, it can be used as a plug-and-play replacement for the consensus engines of other blockchains. Cosmos EVM is an example of an ABCI application replacing Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake consensus via CometBFT’s consensus engine. Another example of a cryptocurrency application built on CometBFT is the Cosmos Hub. CometBFT simplifies blockchain design by offering a simple API (the ABCI) between the application process and consensus process.

EVM Compatibility

Cosmos EVM enables EVM compatibility by implementing various components that together support all the EVM state transitions while ensuring the same developer experience as Ethereum:
  • Ethereum’s transaction format as a Cosmos SDK Tx and Msg interface
  • Ethereum’s secp256k1 curve for the Cosmos Keyring
  • StateDB interface for state updates and queries
  • JSON-RPC client for interacting with the EVM
Most components are implemented in the VM module. However, to achieve a seamless developer experience, some components are implemented outside of the module. To learn more about how Cosmos EVM achieves EVM compatibility as a Cosmos chain, explore the following concepts:

Contributing

You can contribute to the Cosmos EVM open-source codebase through issues on GitHub using the Cosmos EVM Contributor Guideline.
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