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# System prepended metadata

title: IBC

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# IBC

- https://tendermint.com/ibc
- https://github.com/cosmos/ibc
- https://ibcprotocol.org
- https://www.coinbase.com/cloud/discover/dev-foundations/ibc-protocol
- https://github.com/cosmos/relayer


The Inter‐Blockchain Communication Protocol (**IBC**), an open‐source protocol for relaying messages between independent distributed ledgers, was created to connect independent blockchains to one another.

**IBC** allows heterogeneous chains to trustlessly communicate with each other and exchange value, particularly tokens, which makes them interoperable. 

A key feature of **IBC** is that the connected blockchains do not need to communicate with each other directly. Instead, they are able to send packets of information via dedicated channels using smart contracts to connect to the chains. 

The **Tendermint**‐based decentralized exchange Osmosis allows token holders to directly benefit from what IBC offers by enabling seamless swaps of tokens from different chains.

By enabling **IBC**, independently developed blockchains can natively send data (primarily tokens) directly to one another. 
Most cross‐chain bridges are built by independent third parties and vary drastically on maturity and security depending on which protocols they interact with, thus potentially compromising their security and providing an inconsistent experience. 
With **IBC**, the differentiation is that the data is sent via a dedicated channel by a trustless relayer and then authenticated once reaching the destination chain.


## Bringing IBC to Ethereum using ZK-Snarks

https://ethresear.ch/t/bringing-ibc-to-ethereum-using-zk-snarks/13634

## Bridges using IBC

### Gravity
- https://www.gravitybridge.net
- https://github.com/gravity-bridge/gravity-bridge
- https://github.com/Gravity-Bridge/Gravity-Docs

**Gravity** bridge is **Cosmos** <-> **Ethereum** bridge designed to run on the **Cosmos SDK** blockchains like the **Cosmos Hub** focused on maximum design simplicity and efficiency.

**Gravity** currently can transfer **ERC20** assets originating on **Cosmos** or **Ethereum** to and from **Ethereum**, as well as move **Cosmos** assets to **Ethereum** as **ERC20** representations.