Ika Network: Sub-second MPC infrastructure for the Sui ecosystem

Ika Network is an innovative MPC infrastructure strategically supported by the Sui Foundation. Its core feature is sub-second response speed, which is unprecedented in MPC solutions. Ika aligns closely with Sui's underlying designs in areas such as parallel processing and decentralized architecture, and will be directly integrated into the Sui development ecosystem in the future, providing plug-and-play cross-chain security modules for Move smart contracts.

Ika's positioning is to build a new type of security verification layer, serving both as a dedicated signature protocol for the Sui ecosystem and providing standardized cross-chain solutions for the entire industry. Its layered design takes into account both the flexibility of the protocol and the convenience of development, and is expected to become an important practice for the large-scale application of MPC technology in multi-chain scenarios.

Core Technology Highlights

The technical implementation of the Ika network revolves around high-performance distributed signatures, with key innovations including:

1. 2PC-MPC Signature Protocol: Adopts an improved two-party MPC scheme, which decomposes the user private key signing operation into two roles: "User" and "Ika Network" participating together. The communication process is optimized through a broadcasting mode, keeping the signing delay at sub-second level.

2. Parallel Processing: By utilizing parallel computing, a single signature can be split into multiple concurrent subtasks. Combined with Sui's object parallel model, it allows for the simultaneous processing of a large number of transactions without the need for global sequential consensus.

3. Large-scale node network: Supports thousands of nodes participating in signing, with each node holding only a part of the key fragment. An effective signature can only be generated when users and network nodes participate together, building a zero-trust model.

4. Cross-chain control and chain abstraction: Allows smart contracts on other chains to directly control accounts in the Ika network (dWallet). Cross-chain operations are realized by deploying lightweight clients of the corresponding chain on the Ika network to verify the chain status.

The Potential Impact of Ika on the Sui Ecosystem

1. Expand cross-chain interoperability: Support low-latency and high-security access to the Sui network for assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, promoting the development of cross-chain DeFi applications.

2. Provide a decentralized custody mechanism: Users and institutions can manage on-chain assets through multi-signature, which is more flexible and secure than traditional centralized custody.

3. Simplify cross-chain interaction process: Design a chain abstraction layer that allows Sui contracts to directly operate on accounts and assets on other chains without cumbersome bridging.

4. Provide verification mechanisms for AI automation applications: Avoid unauthorized asset operations through multi-party verification to enhance the security and credibility of AI trading.

Challenges Faced by Ika

1. Cross-chain standard competition: It is necessary to seek a balance between "decentralization" and "performance," competing with solutions such as Axelar and LayerZero.

2. MPC Security Controversy: Signature permissions are difficult to revoke, and the node replacement mechanism needs to be improved.

3. Dependence on the Sui network: It needs to be adapted with the upgrades of the Sui consensus, and the DAG structure may bring new sorting and security challenges.

4. Ecological Activity Requirements: The DAG model is strongly dependent on active users, and low usage may lead to transaction confirmation delays and decreased security.

Comparison of Privacy Computing Technologies: FHE, TEE, ZKP, and MPC

Technical Overview

1. Fully Homomorphic Encryption ( FHE ): Allows arbitrary computation in an encrypted state, theoretically the most secure but with extremely high computational overhead.

2. Trusted Execution Environment ( TEE ): Utilizing isolated hardware modules provided by the processor, with performance close to native but potential backdoor risks.

3. Multi-party secure computation ( MPC ): Achieving multi-party joint computation through cryptographic protocols, with no single point of trust but high communication overhead.

4. Zero-Knowledge Proof ( ZKP ): Verifying the truth of a statement without revealing additional information, suitable for proving possession of secret information.

Scenario Adaptation Analysis

1. Cross-chain signing: MPC and TEE are more practical, FHE theory is feasible but has too much overhead.

2. DeFi Multi-signature and Custody: MPC is mainstream, TEE also has applications, and FHE is mainly used for upper-layer privacy logic.

3. AI and Data Privacy: FHE has obvious advantages, enabling fully encrypted computation; MPC is used for collaborative learning; TEE is limited by memory.

Plan Differences

1. Performance and Latency: TEE is the lowest, FHE is the highest, ZKP and MPC are in the middle.

2. Trust assumptions: FHE and ZKP do not require third-party trust, TEE relies on hardware, and MPC depends on the behavior of participants.

3. Scalability: ZKP and MPC are easy to scale horizontally, while FHE and TEE are resource-constrained.

4. Integration Difficulty: TEE is the lowest, ZKP and FHE require dedicated circuits, and MPC requires protocol stack integration.

Market Viewpoint

There is no single optimal solution; the choice depends on specific application requirements and performance trade-offs. In the future, privacy computing may result from the complementarity and integration of various technologies, such as Nillion integrating MPC, FHE, TEE, and ZKP to build modular solutions.