Nomad
About
Nomad is a general messaging bridge that uses optimistic verification to validate cross-chain bridging transactions.
About
Nomad is a general messaging bridge that uses optimistic verification to validate cross-chain bridging transactions.
2024 May 09 — 2025 May 09
Funds can be stolen if
Users can be censored if
Principle of operation
Nomad Bridge is a Token Bridge with ability to facilitate fast transfers via additional LP-provided liquidity. For deposits, it locks tokens in the escrow contracts on Ethereum and mints a “representation token” on the destination network. When bridging back to Ethereum tokens are burned and then released from the escrow on Ethereum.
Third Party
Messages on the source (home) chain are periodically signed by Updater. Updater cannot censor messages and if it refuses to attest them, it can be changed by the governance. Once message batch is attested, it is relayed to the destination (replica) by the permissionless Relayers. After the 30m fraud proof window messages can be delivered to the destination contract. During the fraud proof window, if malicious Updater tries to relay invalid message batch, anyone can submit a fraud proof to the source (home) chain slashing Updater and stopping home contract. On the destination messages cannot be stopped, so receiving contracts have to be independently notified to not process messages. Currently this mechanism is not implemented.
Users can be censored if updater fails to attest messages and governance does not change the Updater.
Funds can be stolen if updater manages to relay a fraudulent message batch.
Funds can be stolen if destination contract does not block receiving fraudulent messages.
Destination tokens are upgradeable
Tokens transferred end up as “representation tokens” some of them may be upgradable.
Funds can be stolen if destination token contract is maliciously upgraded.
Ethereum
Actors:
A Multisig with 3/5 threshold. Manages Optics V1 bridge components via GovernanceRouter contract.
A Multisig with 2/3 threshold. Manages Optics V1 bridge recovery via GovernanceRouter contract.
Permissioned account that can update message roots.
Watchers can unenroll, i.e. stop receiving messages, from a given Replica.
Ethereum
Optics Home. This contract is used to send x-chain messages, such as deposit requests. Messages are regularly signed by the Updater.
Optics Replica. This contract is used to receive x-chain messages, such as withdrawal requests, from Relayers.
Optics Governance Router. Manages all Optics components. This contract can store any token.
Contract managing list of connections to other chains (domains) and list of watchers.
Optics Governance Router. Manages all Optics components.
Contract allowing Home to slash Updater. Currently does nothing, intended for future functionality.
Contract managing Beacons.
The current deployment carries some associated risks:
Funds can be stolen if a contract receives a malicious code upgrade. There is no delay on code upgrades (CRITICAL).