Cosmos: The Internet of Blockchains

The Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC)

Securely exchange data, value, and tokens across the interchain with the Inter-Blockchain Communication Protocol (IBC), the backbone of interoperability in the Internet of Blockchains.

What Is IBC?

IBC is an open-source protocol designed to handle authentication and transport of data between blockchains. It enables heterogeneous chains to communicate trustlessly, facilitating the exchange of:

• Data
• Messages
• Tokens

Key Features of IBC

🔹 Scalable
Cross-chain communication enables seamless scalability, allowing ecosystems to grow without bottlenecks.

🔹 Proven
Billions of transactions have been executed using IBC since its launch, demonstrating its reliability.

🔹 Efficient
Reduces transaction costs and minimizes confirmation finality issues between app-specific chains.

🔹 Interoperable
Enables communication between appchains, unlocking greater utility than individual chains could achieve alone.

🔹 Out-of-the-Box Integration
Natively compatible with chains built on the Cosmos SDK, ensuring easy adoption.

🔹 Sovereign
Customizable to your specifications while maintaining connectivity with a broad range of chains and state machines.

IBC Eureka: One Connection to Anywhere

IBC Eureka is the primary implementation of IBC v2, offering seamless bridging and interoperability across 120+ chains, including Cosmos, Ethereum, and beyond—all through a single connection to the Cosmos Hub.

Benefits of IBC Eureka

✅ Fast & Affordable

• Transfers complete in seconds with fees as low as $1 (using Skip Go Fast for Ethereum transfers).

✅ Secure Interoperability

• Built on IBC v2, which has never been exploited since its launch in 2021.

✅ Easy 1-Click Transfers

• The go.cosmos.network widget simplifies cross-chain transfers across 50+ wallets and front-ends.

Native Bridging of Tokens, Messages, and Accounts

With IBC, you can natively bridge:

• Tokens (fungible & non-fungible)
• Messages (arbitrary data)
• Accounts (cross-chain identity)

👉 Example: Fungible Token Transfer

function sendFungibleTokens(
  denomination: string,
  amount: uint256,
  sender: string,
  receiver: string,
  sourcePort: string,
  sourceChannel: string,
  timeoutHeight: Height,
  timeoutTimestamp: uint64): uint64 {
  prefix = "{sourcePort}/{sourceChannel}/"
  // Source if denomination is not prefixed
  source = denomination.slice(0, len(prefix)) !== prefix
  if source {
    // Escrow source tokens
    escrowAccount = channelEscrowAddresses[sourceChannel]
    bank.TransferCoins(sender, escrowAccount, denomination, amount)
  } else {
    // Burn vouchers if receiver is source chain
    bank.BurnCoins(sender, denomination, amount)
  }
  // Create packet data
  data = FungibleTokenPacketData{denomination, amount, sender, receiver}
  // Send packet via ICS4
  sequence = handler.sendPacket(
    getCapability("port"),
    sourcePort,
    sourceChannel,
    timeoutHeight,
    timeoutTimestamp,
    data
  )
  return sequence
}

Trust the Chains, Not a Bridge

Unlike vulnerable third-party bridges, IBC relies on the security of the underlying chains. This ensures safety even in Byzantine environments where relayers may be faulty or malicious.

👉 Discover how IBC enables secure cross-chain transfers

FAQs

❓ What chains can I connect to with IBC?
IBC supports 120+ chains, including Ethereum, Cosmos, and other major networks.

❓ Is IBC secure?
Yes, IBC v2 has never been exploited since its 2021 launch.

❓ How fast are IBC transfers?
With solutions like Skip Go Fast, transfers take seconds with minimal fees.

❓ Can I bridge NFTs via IBC?
Yes, IBC supports cross-chain NFT transfers alongside fungible tokens.

❓ Do I need a third-party bridge?
No—IBC enables direct, trustless communication between chains.

👉 Learn more about IBC’s secure interoperability

By embracing IBC, developers and users unlock a truly interconnected blockchain ecosystem—scalable, secure, and seamlessly interoperable. 🚀