# Omnichain NFTs *Author: William M. Peaster* *Published: Apr 5, 2022* *Source: https://www.bankless.com/omnichain-nfts* --- Dear Bankless Nation, Everyone’s talking about omnichain NFTs lately. What are omnichain NFTs, though? If you’re in the dark here, no worries — the concept’s just begun to surge into the cryptoeconomy’s discourse over the past few weeks. Accordingly, let’s play catch up and see what all the buzz is about for today’s *Metaversal*. -WMP --- # **Understanding omnichain NFTs** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/public/images/93c2d04c-f2dc-4ee4-98e3-2679f234e2b3_1600x1040.jpg) ### **The context** The recent boom of omnichain chatter largely stems from the rise of **LayerZero Labs**, a Canada-based team that has created the interoperability protocol LayerZero. If you want to dive deep, you can check out [the protocol’s whitepaper](https://bankless.ghost.io/content/files/pdf/layerzero_whitepaper_release.pdf). But simply put, **LayerZero** **is a messaging transport layer** designed to allow smart contracts to easily communicate among many, or rather any, blockchains. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/public/images/f1c211d3-9fce-4a8c-97b7-ee5e58382ba3_1076x556.png)The protocol initially launched with support for projects that are compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), namely **Ethereum, Arbitrum, Avalanche, BSC, Fantom, Optimism, and Polygon**. Going forward, the LayerZero team also plans to add support for non-EVM chains like Cosmos Hub, Terra, and beyond. ### **Comparing omnichain, crosschain, & multichain** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/public/images/4b8ad55c-32e2-4d26-b115-6c48557bfc02_1600x1066.jpg)The LayerZero protocol functions similarly to [the Cosmos ecosystem’s “layer zero”](https://bankless.ghost.io/a-beginners-guide-to-cosmos/) Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) protocol, at least in a general sense. Where LayerZero stands out is in its use of **Ultra Light Nodes (ULNs)**, which present [a new model](https://medium.com/layerzero-official/layerzero-an-omnichain-interoperability-protocol-b43d2ae975b6) for securely transferring messages among chains in a cost-effective manner. > [](https://twitter.com/DCbuild3r/status/1511354333014732800) **Accordingly,** **LayerZero’s** **omnichain messaging model is distinct from the crosschain model**, which entails using a bridge to directly migrate or wrap assets onto other chains. For example, if I bridge ETH over the Ronin bridge to use the Katana decentralized exchange, that’s a crosschain application, and my ETH directly moves from Ethereum to Ronin. **The omnichain model is also contrastable with the multichain model**, i.e. separate communities with distinct values pursuing their own tech stacks. Consider how the Ethereum community, per its values and infra, is pursuing self-sufficiency via trustless transfers among Ethereum and layer-two (L2) scaling solutions, while other alternative L1 ecosystems like Solana’s are taking their own distinct approaches to scaling. > [](https://twitter.com/andy8052/status/1511329307121303554) ### **The rise of omnichain NFTs** In recent months, we’ve seen a surge of interest around NFT applications across multiple blockchains. For example, below see dom, the creator of Loot and beyond, wondering out loud about **how to readily track NFTs actions across chains** (which gave rise to my previous “[Bridging the L1-L2 divide](https://bankless.ghost.io/bridging-the-l1-l2-nft-divide?s=w)” post). > [](https://twitter.com/dhof/status/1478769479882616836) This sort of cross-chain tracking has been an open problem before, though a growing number of people are excited about the arrival of LayerZero precisely because of **its potential to make NFTs and related projects go omnichain** **and exist in much wider ways**. Zooming in, you can trace the current boom of attention around omnichain NFTs to the recent launch of [Stargate Finance](https://stargate.finance/), a bridging protocol and **the first application to go live atop LayerZero**. With this inaugural application activated, people and builders have started looking out on other promising use cases, of which NFTs are certainly a big area of interest. At the same time, the notion of omnichain NFTs isn’t new or limited to LayerZero. For example, the UMA project’s Optimistic Oracle already has some omnichain-like functionalities. **Moreover, I suspect over time that we’ll see many additional distinct approaches to omnichain activity** come to the fore as new advancements are made and further innovated upon. > [](https://twitter.com/jdshutt/status/1479119569813864448) ### **The Gh0stly Gh0sts example** > [](https://twitter.com/layerzerointern/status/1511082947108954116) Stealth launched yesterday, **Gh0stly Gh0sts** is the first LayerZero-powered NFT collection, and it’s already gained non-trivial traction. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/e4/b7/e4b77544-5a37-4f0b-8824-8440aa348476/content/images/public/images/3955fe93-3657-4e85-b5b3-68bb3664d612_1899x897.png)**Image via [gem.xyz](https://www.gem.xyz/collection/gh0stlygh0sts/)** **The** **ghost-themed, free-to-mint, [CC0](https://bankless.ghost.io/nfts-and-cc0?s=w) project** has unsurprisingly seen the most trading activity on Ethereum so far, though notably [all 7](https://twitter.com/gh0stlygh0sts/status/1511167540852137985) of the aforementioned LayerZero-compatible chains have already seen Gh0stly Gh0sts transactions. Thus the omnichain NFT era is now officially in swing, so to speak. > [](https://twitter.com/gh0stlygh0sts/status/1511082097666101251) ### **The big picture** **I think omnichain NFTs can grow the pie for many projects and many chains at once**. This sort of technology may indeed prove to be a pivotal catalyst in bringing non-trivial NFT activity to other chains. **Yet I also think there may be a “[king of the hill](https://bankless.ghost.io/why-ethereum-dominates-nfts)” buff effect in play**, where over time omnichain NFTs might ultimately prove to be the most beneficial for Ethereum, i.e. they can play a huge role in solidifying and extending Ethereum’s already extensive influence that much further while also advancing the influence of other chains in parallel. --- ### **Action steps** - 👻 Check out the **[Gh0stly Gh0sts project](https://twitter.com/gh0stlygh0sts)** - ⚡ Read my previous write-up **[A quick guide to Tezos NFTs](https://bankless.ghost.io/a-quick-guide-to-tezos-nfts?s=w)**