Skip to main content

Layer 1 Networks in the IOTA Ecosystem

tl;dr;

As Shimmer is an innovation network, you will always find more features like NFTs, native tokens, and smart contracts than on the IOTA network at the cost of some stability.

You can use this section to get a high-level overview of the IOTA and Shimmer networks.

High-Level Overview​

IOTAShimmer
ProtocolChrysalisStardust
StabilityExcellentGood
Transaction feesNoneNone
Native tokenIOTASMR
Data structureDAG(Tangle)DAG(Tangle)
Value transactionsYesYes
Store dataYes, with Proof of InclusionYes, with Proof of Inclusion
TokenizationNoneNFTs, Native Tokens, Alias Outputs
Storage depositsNoneYes
Output unlock conditionsAddressAddress, Storage Deposit Returns, Expiration, Timelock
IOTA Smart Contract (ISC) SupportNoIn alpha state

Stability​

Shimmer is designed as a staging network to test features publicly before deploying them on the IOTA network, so it will always have more features than IOTA. As this may come at the cost of some stability, before any protocol changes are deployed on the Shimmer Mainnet, they have been tested in the Shimmer Testnet.

Store Data​

IOTA​

In IOTA, you can attach an IndexationPayload to a message or any SignedTransaction. The IndexationPayload allows you to add an index to a data message and arbitrary data.

Shimmer​

INX-Poi​

You can use the INX-PoI node extension to verify if any piece of data was included in the Tangle. This feature does not rely on the Chronicle permanode, so it drastically reduces the node operator's storage requirements.

Tagged Data Payload​

You can use a Tagged Data Payload to attach binary data and a tag to extend an object with arbitrary data.

Tokenization​

IOTA​

The IOTA network does not support custom tokens yet.

Shimmer​

The Stardust protocol introduces a tokenization framework that enables Alias outputs, NFTs and native tokens and foundries on layer 1, as long as you can cover the minimum storage deposit.

Storage Deposits​

IOTA​

There are no data storage deposits in the IOTA network, as it relies on dust protection, which means you can only send microtransactions of less than 1Mi if the target address meets the dust protection validation conditions.

Shimmer​

The Stardust protocol improves IOTA dust protection by introducing storage deposits. You must back up any data you store on the Tangle with SMR tokens. The deposit is not a fee, and it can be refunded as soon as the output is cleaned up.

Output Unlock Conditions​

IOTA​

At the time, IOTA's Chrysalis protocol only allows the traditional address unlock condition. That is to say, outputs in Chrysalis can only be unlocked by whoever controls the keys associated with the target address.

Shimmer​

The Stardust protocol introduces new output unlock conditions that allow you to specify not only the unlock address, but also:

  • Storage deposit return: This feature allows you to specify a return amount that has to be refunded to the sender's account, which enables micro-transactions of any size.
  • Expirations: If you define an expiration date-time for your output, it will be returned if it hasn't been claimed by said date-time.
  • Time-locks: Conversely to expirations, you can also specify a date-time until which the recipient won't be able to claim the output.

IOTA Smart Contracts (ISC)​

You can use IOTA Smart Contracts (ISC) to deploy your own scalable and flexible smart contracts to the IOTA ecosystem.

Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) Support​

You can use Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) smart contracts on any IOTA smart contract chain by using the evm core contract that can run the EVM/Solidity based smart contracts.

JSON-RPC​

You can also interact with the EVM layer using tools like MetaMask, Remix or Hardhat by pointing the JSON-RPC service included in Wasp nodes.

IOTA​

The IOTA network does not yet support IOTA Smart Contracts.

Shimmer​

You can use the ISC protocol by spinning up your own private Tangle with the preconfigured Docker image.