What are you going to build?:
Storage-proof verifiers that will allow smart contracts deployed on Optimism to access current and historical Ethereum on-chain data in a trustless manner.
These codebases would allow anyone to verify any past or current headers, state, and storage values of contracts deployed on Ethereum to other contracts deployed on Layer 2 chains in a trustless manner.
Why is what you are going to build going to succeed?:
Smart contracts on Optimism do not natively have access to historical state data. Storage-proof verifiers would allow smart contracts to unlock a new dimension - time. There is a wide variety of applications that can be built on top of this, such as deadman switches and governance solutions that enable voting based on historical balances (such as SnapshotX).
Most current solutions for accessing data from outside Optimism rely on some off-chain attestation to prove the data is valid. Storage verifiers will enable on-chain verification that the data received is valid without having to trust a third party. (Exception: if your application is latency sensitive).
We believe that giving our technology into the hands of developers will unify the fragmented L1/L2 ecosystem and result in better and more secure applications.
Is your project likely to bring new builders to the Optimism ecosystem? If so, please describe how:
Herodotus can help to improve the accessibility and availability of data on the Optimism network. With the help of the developer tools and documentation to make it easier for developers to integrate. These tools and resources can help to lower the barriers to entry for new developers who are interested in building on the Optimism network.
We plan to build a community of developers and users who will help us to refine and improve over time. This community can serve as a resource for new developers who are just getting started with Optimism and can help to foster a sense of collaboration and shared purpose within the ecosystem.
Not only will we bring new builders to the Optimism ecosystem, but we will help retain existing builders as they will be able to build on top of projects found on different Layer 2s without exiting the Optimism ecosystem.
Is your project likely to improve the quality of developers in the Optimism ecosystem? If so, please describe how:
It is unlikely to directly affect the quality of developers in the Optimism ecosystem, however, making our tool available can enable developers to create more sophisticated on Optimism.
Is your project likely to improve the commitment of developers in the Optimism ecosystem? If so, please describe how:
We are aiming to help to attract developers who are looking for innovative solutions to address critical needs within the space. By providing smart contracts with the ability to access current and historical state data on-chain, Herodotus will unlock new use cases and opportunities for developers building on Optimism.
We have a long-term vision and are committed to building and growing over time. This long-term commitment can help to install confidence in developers considering building on Optimism and can help to ensure the continued growth and success of the ecosystem.