The Cosmos ecosystem comprises a network of independent Layer-1 blockchains that are designed to be interoperable with each other. While unique and innovative in design, projects deployed on Cosmos have had to contend with issues such as recruiting validators which is costly and technical. With that in mind, Replicated Security is a shared security system that recently launched on Cosmos’ main blockchain – the Cosmos Hub.

Serving as the central hub, Replicated Security was designed to allow the Cosmos Hub (known as the provider chain) to provide security through its validators to an economic zone of smaller chains (known as the consumer chains). This allows the consumer chain to borrow a validator set from the Hub, and the Hub in exchange receives a percentage of the gas fees as revenue, as part of a flexible security agreement.

This is seen as a huge upgrade for Cosmos as it lowers the barrier to entry for projects looking to deploy within the “ATOM economic zone”, subsequently accruing further value to the wider Cosmos ecosystem. Looking outwards at the wider ecosystem, Replicated Security is set to change the security architecture within this central economic zone.

While Replicated Security was approved by vote back in March 2023, Neutron (a YAP Global client) is slated to become the first-ever consumer chain to deploy through Replicated Security in the coming weeks, signalling a new era of development and utility.