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How it worksThe BigFile Chain - Our L2 Settlement & Logic Layer

The BigFile Chain: Our L2 Settlement & Logic Layer

The heart of the BigFile ecosystem is the BigFile Chain, our custom-built, high-performance Layer 2 (L2) network. This is not just a set of smart contracts on a shared blockchain; it is a sovereign, application-specific chain (appchain) that serves as the "brain" for all protocol operations. All marketplace transactions, provider rewards, and core protocol logic execute here instantly and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional Layer 1.

This document details the architecture of our L2, explaining why we chose this path and how it provides a secure, scalable, and verifiable foundation for the future of decentralized infrastructure.

Why a Layer 2? The Architecture of Choice

In designing BigFile, we faced a critical choice: build a new Layer 1 from scratch or leverage the security of an existing one. Building a new L1 requires bootstrapping a global network of validators, a process that is incredibly expensive and takes years to secure.

Instead, we chose the modern, more secure, and capital-efficient approach: building a Layer 2 ZK-Rollup with the Polygon CDK. This strategy provides the best of both worlds:

  • Ethereum-Grade Security: Our L2 anchors its security directly to the Ethereum mainnet, the most secure and decentralized smart contract platform in the world.
  • Sovereignty & Customization: As an appchain, we have full control over our execution environment. This allows us to implement custom features, manage network parameters, and, most importantly, use the BIG token as the native gas token for all transactions.
  • Extreme Scalability: By processing transactions off-chain and only posting proofs to the L1, we can achieve thousands of transactions per second (TPS) at a minimal cost.

The Engine: How Our ZK-Rollup Works

A ZK-Rollup is a sophisticated scaling solution that uses Zero-Knowledge cryptography to prove the validity of transactions without re-executing them on the L1. Here is the lifecycle of a transaction on the BigFile Chain:

1. Transaction Execution (on L2)

  • A user initiates a transaction (e.g., paying for storage, claiming rewards) on the BigFile L2. The transaction is processed instantly by the network's nodes.

2. Batching & Ordering (by the Sequencer)

  • A specialized node called the Sequencer collects thousands of these L2 transactions and orders them into a "batch."

3. Proof Generation (by the Prover)

  • Another specialized, high-performance node called the Prover takes this batch of transactions and performs the intense computational work of generating a ZK-proof (a ZK-SNARK or ZK-STARK). This tiny piece of data is a mathematical guarantee that every single transaction in the batch is valid and was executed correctly.

4. State Update & Settlement (on L1)

  • This ZK-proof, along with a summary of the state changes, is submitted to a Verifier smart contract on the Ethereum mainnet.
  • The Ethereum contract's job is simple and incredibly cheap: it just verifies the mathematical validity of the proof. It doesn't need to re-run the thousands of individual transactions.
  • Once the proof is verified, the state of the BigFile Chain is finalized and anchored to the immutable security of Ethereum.

The Role of the BIG Token on the L2

In Phase 2, the BIG token evolves from a simple ERC-20 into the native lifeblood of the BigFile Chain:

  • Gas Token: Every transaction on the L2—from a simple transfer to a complex storage agreement—will require a small amount of BIG to be paid as a gas fee.
  • Staking Asset: To become a provider (storage or compute) or a validator/sequencer for the network, users will be required to stake BIG tokens. This secures the network and aligns incentives.
  • Governance: Staked BIG will grant voting power in the BigFile DAO, allowing the community to govern the future of the protocol.

The Benefits of Our L2 Approach

This architecture provides a set of powerful, compounding benefits that make BigFile a superior platform for DePIN.

  • Extreme Scalability & Low Cost: Enables high-volume micro-transactions that are essential for a thriving storage and compute marketplace.
  • Ethereum-Grade Security: Users and developers can build with the confidence that their assets and data are protected by the most secure blockchain in the world.
  • Verifiable by Design: The use of ZK-proofs is not an afterthought; it's the core of our protocol. This allows us to build a truly trustless system where off-chain work is mathematically guaranteed.
  • Future-Proof Interoperability: Our choice of the Polygon CDK positions us to seamlessly connect with the AggLayer, creating a future where BigFile is a foundational infrastructure layer for the entire Web3 ecosystem.