How does a decentralized sorter serve different Rollups?

Author: Grace Deng; Compiler: Lynn, MarsBit

Are you curious about the current state of sorter decentralization and how it caters to different types of rollups?

In this thread, I will give a clear and concise introduction to this topic. continue reading.

Modularity = greater customization, which also applies to the decentralization of the sequencer. Here are five tools you can find in the Sorter Decentralized Toolbox:

• Single sorter and POA
• Based Rollup
• DVT x Sequencer
• Shared sorter
• bootstrap a new sorter group

Single Sequencer vs. POA

• A single or group of privileged sequencers run by a rollup company
• Pros: Minimal latency, no extra actions required.
• Disadvantage: single point of failure.
• Potential customers: high-performance rollups like Nova (games, social links) or enterprise-level rollups like Base
• Service Providers: e.g. @OffchainLabs, @OPLabsPBC

Based rollup

*Anyone can submit an L2 batch to the DA layer (builder), and then the DA layer decides the final block (proposer).

• Advantages: Inherit the validity and CR of the DA layer
• Disadvantages: leakage of income and MEV, slow confirmation.
• Potential clients: @ultrasoundmoney’s rollup

DVT x Sequencer

• A new solution, proposed by @DougieDeLuca.
• The sorting responsibilities of a single sorter are assigned to a cluster. Each node in the DV cluster signs an independent attestation using a fractional share of their validator key.
• Advantages: Can be inserted into other solutions to increase their effectiveness.
• Disadvantage: Added a little delay.
• Potential customers: Transitional solutions for centralized rollups or lower financial barriers for decentralized rollups.
• Service Provider: @ObolNetwork

Shared Sequencer

• As a service, the sorter batch processes several rollup txs and proposes them to the DA layer.
• Advantages: cross-domain atomic network effect.
• Cons: Requires a superbuilder, hard to distribute MEV fairly BTW, highly recommend @0xRainandCoffee’s content on SS.

Wrote a long post on the inner workings of shared sorters, why they matter, and how they will shape the future of rollup as a whole;

Potential customers: Don’t want to start your own sequencer group, but want more liveliness and interoperability rollup with other sequencers.

Service providers: @AstriaOrg, @EspressoSys, @radius_xyz.

** bootstrap a new sorter set **

• Use token incentives to create a decentralized group of sorters without permission.
• Choose a Sequencer from a POS Rotating Leader Selection Scheme or Sequencer Auction.
• Advantages: Increase the utility of tokens, roll over to get the maximum value.
• Disadvantages: delay, difficult to implement for lesser-known rollups.
• Potential customers: Long-term solutions for well-known rollups; Zk-rollup needs to bootstrap a set of provers like @aztecnetwork.