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Inter-chain Confirmation Facility (ICCF)

The Inter-chain Confirmation Facility (ICCF) enables communication between blockchains that operate in different dapp clusters. While ICMF handles communication within a single cluster, ICCF facilitates secure interaction across separate cluster boundaries.

Overview​

Blockchains running in different dapp clusters cannot exchange messages directly due to network isolation and security boundaries. The ICCF protocol solves this challenge by acting as a trusted intermediary that can relay validated information between clusters.

How ICCF works​

ICCF functions as a client application that acts as an intermediary between blockchains in different clusters:

The ICCF process​

  1. Transaction submission: ICCF submits a transaction on the source blockchain (blockchain_#1)
  2. Validation waiting: ICCF waits for the transaction to be validated and included in a block
  3. Proof generation: ICCF constructs cryptographic proof of the validated transaction
  4. Proof presentation: ICCF presents the proof to the target blockchain (blockchain_#2)
  5. Transaction construction: The proof enables construction of a valid transaction on the target blockchain
  6. State update: The target blockchain updates its state based on the verified information

Cross-cluster architecture​

┌───────────────────┐                    ┌───────────────────┐
│   Dapp Cluster A  │                    │   Dapp Cluster B  │
│                   │        ICCF        │                   │
│ ┌───────────────┐ │ ←──────────────→   │ ┌───────────────┐ │
│ │ Blockchain #1 │ │                    │ │ Blockchain #2 │ │
│ │               │ │                    │ │               │ │
│ │ • Submit TX   │ │                    │ │ • Verify proof│ │
│ │ • Get proof   │ │                    │ │ • Update state│ │
│ └───────────────┘ │                    │ └───────────────┘ │
└───────────────────┘                    └───────────────────┘

Use cases​

Cross-cluster asset transfers​

The most common use case for ICCF is transferring assets between accounts on different clusters:

  1. Initiate transfer: User wants to move assets from account on cluster A to account on cluster B
  2. ICCF intervention: ICCF client initiates the asset transfer process
  3. Source validation: Transfer is validated and recorded on the source blockchain
  4. Proof creation: ICCF constructs proof of the validated transfer
  5. Target execution: ICCF submits the proof to the target blockchain
  6. Balance update: Target blockchain updates the account balance based on the verified proof

State synchronization across clusters​

  • Synchronize critical state information between clusters
  • Maintain consistency for cross-cluster applications
  • Enable complex multi-cluster workflows

Cross-cluster governance​

  • Implement governance decisions that affect multiple clusters
  • Coordinate updates across the entire network
  • Enable decentralized decision-making processes

External integration​

  • Connect Chromia clusters with external blockchain networks
  • Bridge assets to and from other blockchain ecosystems
  • Enable interoperability with DeFi protocols

Learn more​

For detailed implementation examples and step-by-step guides, see the ICCF use case documentation.

For hands-on learning, check out the Confirm events across blockchains course on Chromia Learning.