AN OVERVIEW OF INTENT-BASED ARCHITECTURES AND APPLICATIONS IN BLOCKCHAIN

Imagine ordering a pizza. Sources：Intent-Based Architectures and Their Risks I used a $20 pizza order as an example to describe the difference between an intent and a transaction. An intent expresses what the user wants to do (declaration) e.g. Pay $20 for a pizza in Hawaii by 8 pm.You tell the restaurant you want a pizza with specific toppings, delivered to your house by a certain time.You don't dictate which delivery driver takes it, what route they take, or which oven cooks it. Intent-based architectures offer a novel approach to designing, managing, and executing smart contract transactions. They bring efficiency, ease, and transparency to decentralized Web3You simply express your desired outcome – a pizza delivered to your door.This is the essence of intent-based architecture in blockchain. Explore the intent-centric architecture, whose core purpose is to simplify user interaction with the blockchain. This article covers an overview of the architecture, its technical implementation, and application examples.The traditional way of interacting with blockchains often involves complex, step-by-step instructions, like meticulously coding a smart contract for every transaction.However, intent-based architectures offer a novel and user-friendly approach.They allow users to simply express *what* they want to achieve, rather than *how* to achieve it.This shift from ""programmable settlement"" to declarative intent opens the door to a more streamlined and efficient Web3 experience, paving the way for wider adoption. An overview of intent-based architectures and applications in blockchain 3 Like CommentThey offer transformative possibilities by using technologies like zero-knowledge proofs and succinct validity proofs. Abstract Integrating blockchain into software solutions is not straightforward as it requires sophisticated architectural design to connect and orchestrate centralized elements, such as backend logic, with decentralized elements, such as blockchain ledgers and smart contracts.This article will dive deep into the world of intent-based architectures, exploring their fundamental principles, technical implementation, and diverse applications in the blockchain ecosystem.

Understanding Intent-Based Architecture Fundamentals

At its core, an intent-based architecture focuses on simplifying user interaction with the blockchain by abstracting away the complexities of transaction execution. Bottom line: Intent-based applications involve more than just a new message format for interacting with smart contracts, they also involve propagation and counterparty discovery mechanisms in the form of alternative mempools.Instead of crafting intricate smart contract calls, users express their desired outcomes in a clear and concise manner. Anoma is the first intent-centric architecture that breaks free from any existing constraints including if we need a blockchain (for anything outside of settlement) to begin with. Instead, the starting point is to ask ourselves: what do applications need?This declarative approach contrasts sharply with the imperative style of traditional blockchain transactions, where users must specify every step of the process.

What is an Intent?

An intent is a high-level expression of a desired outcome.Think of it as a goal you want to achieve without specifying the precise steps needed to reach it. The document introduces intent-centric architectures, emphasizing that all applications share a common primitive: intent. Unlike traditional blockchain-centric architectures, intent-centric architectures aim to provide a generalized mechanism for completing intents across various applications, enabling greater flexibility and scalability. This approach allows for the creation of decentralizedIn the blockchain context, an intent could be something like ""Swap 1 ETH for USDC at the best available price"" or ""Borrow DAI using ETH as collateral."" The intent describes the desired end-state, leaving the underlying system to figure out the optimal path to achieve it.

Key Components: Solvers and the Intent-Based Protocol

Intent-based architectures typically involve several key components working together:

• Intents: As described above, the user's desired outcome.
• Solvers: Entities responsible for fulfilling intents. Intent-based architectures offer a novel approach to designing, managing and executing smart contract transactions. They bring efficiency, ease and transparency to decentralized Web3 systems.They compete to find the most efficient and cost-effective way to achieve the user's desired outcome.Solvers might be automated bots, market makers, or even other users.
• Intent-Based Protocol: This protocol defines the rules and mechanisms for submitting, processing, and executing intents.It includes how intents are propagated, how solvers discover them, and how the final transaction is settled on the blockchain.

The beauty of this system lies in its flexibility. The adoption of intents represents a shift from an imperative to a declarative paradigm, which promises to improve UX and efficiency loss due to MEV leakage significantly. The demand for these applications is clear and many intent-based applications have been used widely for several years.Multiple solvers can compete to fulfill the same intent, leading to potentially better prices, lower fees, and faster execution times for the user. Overview of Intent-Based Architecture Fundamentals of Intents, Solvers, and The Intent-Based Protocols. eli5defi Novem . Quick Bites.This competition also fosters innovation, as solvers are incentivized to develop more efficient and sophisticated solutions.

The Shift from Imperative to Declarative Paradigm

Traditional blockchain transactions are inherently *imperative*.Users must specify *exactly* how a transaction should be executed, including the precise smart contract functions to call, the parameters to pass, and the gas limits to set. Intent-based architectures look at the real goals behind blockchain transactions and smart contracts. They focus on making decentralized systems more efficient, secure, and flexible.This requires a deep understanding of the underlying blockchain technology and can be a barrier to entry for many users.

In contrast, intent-based architectures embrace a *declarative* paradigm.Users simply declare *what* they want to achieve, and the system takes care of the *how*.This abstraction simplifies the user experience significantly, making it easier for non-technical users to interact with blockchain applications.This declarative paradigm greatly improves User Experience and efficiently reduces loss due to MEV leakage.

Example:

• Imperative (Traditional): ""Call the `swap` function on the Uniswap smart contract, passing in these specific parameters, setting a gas limit of X, and paying a gas price of Y.""
• Declarative (Intent-Based): ""Swap 1 ETH for USDC at the best available price.""

Technical Implementation of Intent-Based Architectures

Implementing intent-based architectures involves several technical considerations:

Alternative Mempools and Propagation Mechanisms

Instead of relying solely on the traditional blockchain mempool, intent-based systems often utilize alternative mempools or dedicated relay networks for propagating intents.These mechanisms allow solvers to discover intents and compete to fulfill them.These specialized mempools facilitate counterparty discovery.

Smart Contract Design and Execution

Smart contracts play a crucial role in intent-based architectures. For more background on intent-based architecture, these resources provide excellent insights: CoinMonks on Intent-Based DeFi Architecture; Cointelegraph s Overview of Intent-Based Applications in Blockchain; TheStreet on the Rise of Intent-Based Architecture; Forbes: How Intents Can Simplify DeFi ComplexityThey are responsible for validating and executing the final transactions that fulfill the user's intent. Introduction The evolution of decentralized applications (dApps) depends on a shift from programmable settlement to intent-based architectures. These systems redefine how applications are built, focusing on generalized intents high-level expressions of desired outcomes. By leveraging zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) and succinct validity proofs, intent-based architectures offer transformativeThese contracts often interact with solvers and other on-chain components to ensure that the intent is executed according to the desired outcome.

Role of Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs)

Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) can enhance the privacy and security of intent-based systems. the range of applications, with everybody talking about the Blockchain Paradigm underlying the technology that enables cooperative economic models and cooperative storage and management of agreements. According to [1], the annual revenue of blockchain-based enterprise applications worldwide will reach $19.9 billion by 2025, up from about $2.5They allow solvers to verify that an intent is valid and that the proposed solution meets the user's requirements without revealing sensitive information about the intent itself.This is particularly useful in applications where privacy is paramount.

Succinct Validity Proofs

Succinct Validity Proofs offer another pathway towards greater efficiencies.They can be used to quickly and efficiently verify the validity of transactions on the blockchain without needing to re-execute the entire transaction.

Applications of Intent-Based Architectures in Blockchain

Intent-based architectures are finding applications in a wide range of blockchain use cases:

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

DeFi is perhaps the most prominent area where intent-based architectures are being adopted. Foreword. Web3 s cumbersome user experience has been one of the reasons that blockchain has been hindered from being adopted on a large scale, and with the recent introduction of 10 potential trends in the crypto space by Paradigm, a well-known venture capitalist in Web3, the concept of Intent-Centric protocols and infrastructures was at the top of the list.They can simplify complex trading strategies, optimize yield farming, and automate portfolio management. Of course, the intent does not only include the preset transaction price. Price is the most frequently used parameter in the intent. In the context of blockchain, intent-based transactions refer to users performing blockchain operations in a goal-oriented manner.For example:

• Automated Trading: Users can specify their desired trading outcomes (e.g., ""Buy ETH when the price drops below $X"") without having to manually execute each trade.
• Yield Optimization: Users can delegate the task of finding the highest-yielding DeFi protocols to solvers, who will automatically allocate their funds to maximize returns.
• Cross-Chain Swaps: Intent-based systems can facilitate seamless cross-chain swaps by finding the most efficient routes and liquidity pools across different blockchains.

Gaming

Intent-based architectures can improve the user experience in blockchain games by simplifying in-game transactions and asset management. Intents have emerged as a solution to simplify Web3 interactions, addressing the complexities that limit broader adoption.Gamers can express their desired actions (e.g., ""Buy this item with my in-game currency"") without having to deal with the complexities of gas fees and transaction confirmations.

Supply Chain Management

Intent-based systems can streamline supply chain processes by automating the execution of contracts and payments.For example, a supplier could express an intent to deliver goods to a specific location by a certain date, and the system would automatically trigger payments upon successful delivery.

Digital Identity

Intent-based architectures can enhance the privacy and security of digital identity solutions. Emerging surveys such as [17], [18] among all have made an important first step towards orderly understanding of the area. However, most of the published surveys are focusing on one system (such as Bitcoin [19], [20]), a particular class of blockchain (e.g, DAG-based [21]), or an individual aspect of blockchain (such as proof-of-X or defense mechanisms against security attacks of a specificUsers can selectively disclose their identity information to trusted parties without revealing unnecessary details.

Advantages of Intent-Based Architectures

Intent-based architectures offer several key advantages over traditional blockchain approaches:

• Improved User Experience: Simplified interactions and reduced complexity make blockchain applications more accessible to a wider audience.
• Increased Efficiency: Competition among solvers leads to better prices, faster execution times, and lower transaction costs.
• Enhanced Flexibility: Users can express their desired outcomes in a more flexible and adaptable manner.
• Reduced MEV Leakage: By abstracting away the details of transaction execution, intent-based systems can mitigate the risk of Miner Extractable Value (MEV) leakage.

Challenges and Considerations

While intent-based architectures offer significant advantages, there are also some challenges and considerations to keep in mind:

• Security Risks: Ensuring the security and integrity of the intent-based protocol is crucial to prevent malicious actors from exploiting the system.
• Complexity: Implementing and managing intent-based architectures can be technically complex.
• Regulation: The regulatory landscape for intent-based systems is still evolving.

Anoma: A Pioneer in Intent-Centric Architecture

Anoma stands out as a groundbreaking example of an intent-centric architecture. This innovative approach promises to make Web3 user-friendly, accelerating blockchain adoption by mainstream users. What is Intent-Based Architecture? 2/ Intent-based architecture allows users to define outcomes without specifying every detail of a transaction. Think: Swap this token for the best price and the system handles the rest.It takes a radical approach by questioning the fundamental need for a traditional blockchain for certain applications. This paper proposes twelve architectural patterns for blockchain application software architectures based on 400 cross-industry real-world applications available on the Internet. We determine the key components of each application guided by a blockchain application taxonomy we developed.Instead, Anoma starts by asking: ""What do applications actually need?"" This allows for a more flexible and optimized design, where blockchain is only used for settlement when necessary.Anoma exemplifies the power of intent-centric thinking in reshaping the future of decentralized systems.

Real-World Examples: How Intents Simplify DeFi

Let's examine some real-world examples to further illustrate the power of intents:

Example 1: Automated Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA)

Imagine you want to invest a fixed amount of money in Bitcoin every week, regardless of the price.With a traditional approach, you'd need to manually execute a buy order each week.With an intent-based system, you could simply create an intent that says, ""Buy $100 worth of BTC every Monday at 9:00 AM."" The system would then automatically execute the trade on your behalf, ensuring consistent dollar-cost averaging.

Example 2: Limit Orders with Guaranteed Execution

You want to buy Ethereum when the price drops to $2,500.Instead of constantly monitoring the market and placing a manual order, you could create an intent that says, ""Buy ETH when the price reaches $2,500."" The system would continuously monitor the market and automatically execute the order when the price target is met, guaranteeing execution at your desired price (or better).

Example 3: Complex DeFi Strategies

You want to execute a complex DeFi strategy that involves swapping tokens, providing liquidity, and borrowing assets.With a traditional approach, you'd need to carefully orchestrate each step of the process, which can be time-consuming and error-prone.With an intent-based system, you could simply create an intent that describes your desired strategy, and the system would automatically execute all the necessary steps, optimizing for the best possible outcome.

The Future of Blockchain: Intent-Centric Protocols and Infrastructures

The emergence of intent-centric protocols and infrastructures is a significant step forward for the blockchain industry.By simplifying user interaction and increasing efficiency, these systems have the potential to unlock the full potential of decentralized applications and drive mainstream adoption.The trend was identified as one of the top 10 potential trends in the crypto space by Paradigm, a well-known venture capitalist in Web3, further solidifying its importance.

Architectural Patterns for Blockchain Applications

Integrating blockchain into software requires careful architectural design.Research has identified twelve architectural patterns based on analyzing 400 real-world blockchain applications.These patterns help developers connect and orchestrate centralized elements (like backend logic) with decentralized elements (like blockchain ledgers and smart contracts).Understanding these patterns can significantly streamline the development process and improve the overall performance of blockchain applications.

Conclusion: Embracing the Intent-Based Revolution

Intent-based architectures represent a fundamental shift in how we interact with blockchains.By focusing on user intent and abstracting away the complexities of transaction execution, they promise to make Web3 more accessible, efficient, and user-friendly.As the blockchain ecosystem continues to evolve, intent-based systems are poised to play a crucial role in driving mainstream adoption and unlocking the full potential of decentralized applications.The shift from imperative to declarative is already underway, and the demand for such applications is clearly demonstrated by its widespread use.Key takeaways:

• Intent-based architectures simplify blockchain interactions by focusing on desired outcomes.
• They utilize solvers to find the most efficient ways to fulfill user intents.
• They offer numerous advantages, including improved user experience, increased efficiency, and reduced MEV leakage.
• They are finding applications in DeFi, gaming, supply chain management, and digital identity.

The time to embrace the intent-based revolution is now.Start exploring intent-based applications and consider how they can improve your blockchain experience.Dive deeper into the technology and discover the possibilities it unlocks.The future of blockchain is intent-driven.