A Survey on Cross-Chain Technology: Challenges, Development, and Prospect

With the continuous development of blockchain technology, many blockchain applications, such as digital currencies in the form of tokens, are deployed. However, due to the lack of data and value inter-blockchain transmission methods, these chain applications form many data islands. Therefore, cross-chain technology is proposed and applied in distributed transaction platforms, digital finance, e-government and many other different fields. Although cross-chain technology just started, the cross-chain technology and its applications are gradually improving to meet the development needs of blockchain system. At the same time, they have already realized asset transfers across heterogeneous blockchains and platforms, and some projects have realized cross-chain information exchange. At present, cross-chain technology includes the following typical methods: Hash-locking, Notary scheme, Distributed private key control, Sidechains/Relays and Tight coupling. This paper analyzes the above methods from the aspect of techniques, security requirements, and technical limitation, and compares their applicability. With public blockchains and consortium blockchains, this paper analyzes their problems and challenges in cross-chain technology and introduces the main approaches of existing solutions. By analyzing the existing cross-chain technologies and problems, this paper further introduces eight popular cross-chain projects and their application prospects. Finally, this paper summarizes and proposes the future research topics and development trends of cross-chain technology.