What is Espresso?

Espresso is a decentralized infrastructure designed to improve scalability and privacy for blockchain networks. It focuses on providing a shared sequencing layer for rollups, which helps optimize transaction ordering and reduce latency. The network enables rollups to use a common sequencer for coordinating transactions, maintaining fairness and avoiding centralization risks associated with single-sequencer models.

Espresso leverages HotShot, a consensus protocol optimized for low-latency, high-throughput transaction ordering, ensuring efficient finality. It supports data availability solutions and can integrate with existing blockchain networks, including Layer 1 chains and rollups. By decoupling the sequencing layer from the rollup execution environment, Espresso offers flexibility, allowing rollups to retain control over execution while outsourcing ordering.

The network can integrate with rollups by connecting through Espresso’s sequencing APIs, making it adaptable for various decentralized applications and scaling solutions. It supports a modular architecture, where chains can customize their integration with the shared sequencing layer. Espresso also maintains interoperability between rollups and other blockchain systems, improving efficiency and composability across networks.