Cosmos Hub is the central blockchain within the Cosmos ecosystem, designed to facilitate interoperability and secure communication between independent blockchains, known as zones. It serves as a communication and security layer, connecting these zones and enabling interaction within the ecosystem.
Cosmos Hub operates using the Tendermint Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus algorithm, a high-performance Proof-of-Stake (PoS) mechanism. It uses the Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol to enable interoperability between connected blockchain networks. The Cosmos Hub supports smart contracts through CosmWasm, and provides security to other blockchains in the ecosystem via Interchain Security, allowing them to utilize Cosmos Hub’s validator set.
The Cosmos Hub offers several potential use cases, including governance, interoperability, and economic security for other blockchains. Real-world applications include projects like Elys Network, which utilises Interchain Security, and platforms such as Stride and Neutron that have adopted Replicated Security. Industries leveraging Cosmos Hub include decentralised finance (DeFi) and blockchain interoperability.
The Cosmos Hub was founded by Ethan Buchman and Jae Kwon, with the foundational technology, Tendermint, created in 2014. The whitepaper was written in 2016, and the mainnet launched in 2019. Significant milestones include the release of the Stargate update in 2020, enabling IBC functionality, and subsequent growth in the ecosystem. The technology has evolved with updates to systems like the Cosmos SDK and improvements in security and interoperability.