For any project, any technology, do not look at what they say, but rather at what they do.
——Lu Xun.

┈┈➤Starting from the oracle

╰┈✦The two advantages of oracles

In Web3, there are more chains and more Defi projects, contrasting with the increasing scarcity of oracles, which are essential for Defi.

On the other hand, oracle projects provide data services for applications like Defi protocols, thus having a sustainable revenue model.

Therefore, oracles represent a valuable track.

╰┈✦The dilemma of oracles

However, oracles provide data services for on-chain applications, especially Defi applications, with two very important aspects: speed, and security and reliability.

Because if the speed is slow, the price of the coin may change significantly, which will affect the interests of DeFi users. If there are risks in security and reliability, manipulation and interference with oracles can launch attacks on DeFi protocols.

However, these two key elements of oracles are somewhat contradictory.

Chainlink and Pyth are both multi-node distributed oracle networks, where multiple nodes obtain data and aggregate it. The advantage is that it prevents single-point risks, making data relatively safe and reliable. But the downside is that it is slow.

Pyth launched Lazer to meet high-speed demands; speed has improved, but the safety and stability of single-node data services are questionable.

┈┈➤The Surge+TEE technology architecture of Switchboard

For the dilemma of oracles, @switchboardxyz has made technical breakthroughs.

╰┈✦Surge streaming push technology increases speed

▌The iteration of data transmission by oracles

◆First-generation oracles

Request-response model. When DeFi applications have off-chain data requirements, they send requests to oracles, which then pull data, aggregate it off-chain, and return the results to the chain, or aggregate the data back on-chain. Whether aggregating on-chain or off-chain, this process results in significant delays, failing to meet the needs of DeFi applications.

◆Second-generation oracles

Proactive data push model. Oracles actively push data to the chain, allowing DeFi applications to obtain data more efficiently when needed. However, such oracles often push data on a schedule; for example, Chainlink typically pushes data every 30 seconds to a few minutes. Pyth may push every 10 to 60 seconds. Currently, the vast majority of oracles adopt this model, which can satisfy the basic needs of DeFi applications.

Although Switchboard still actively pushes data, it uses Surge streaming data push.

▌What are the advantages of Surge streaming data push?

Switchboard's Surge streaming push technology can push data faster; theoretically, it can achieve sub-second data pushing, thus allowing more coherent dissemination of the data needed for applications like DeFi.

This relatively coherent proactive data push can almost meet the real-time demands of DeFi applications for coin prices.

▌How is Surge streaming data push implemented?

So, is Switchboard's Surge streaming push technology just boasting? Why is it so fast? How is it achieved?

Most oracles push data using the HTTP protocol. Switchboard's Surge streaming push technology uses the WebSocket protocol for data pushing.

The difference between WebSocket and HTTP is:

First, the data communication modes are different.

HTTP is unidirectional transmission and operates in a request-response model. The client must actively request first, and the server then responds to the request. Other oracles using HTTP for data transmission need to make a request first and then wait for a data response.

In contrast, the WebSocket protocol used by Switchboard is bidirectional, allowing real-time communication between the server and client. After the Switchboard oracle connects, it subscribes and can directly receive and push data without repeatedly executing the request-response process.

Second, the frequency of data communication is different.

HTTP involves a single connection with limited communications, and the number of communications and duration are restricted. Other oracles using HTTP for data transmission need to establish a connection, perform requests a limited number of times, wait for data responses, and then close the connection before reconnecting.

In contrast, the WebSocket protocol used by Switchboard allows for a single connection with continuous communication. After connecting, the Switchboard oracle can continuously receive and push data.

Third, the scale of data communication is different.

HTTP communication often has lengthy protocol headers, requiring other oracles using HTTP for data transmission to handle larger data scales.

In contrast, the WebSocket protocol used by Switchboard has highly streamlined information flow in communications after connection. Hence, the propagation efficiency of Switchboard oracles is naturally higher.

This explains the technical principle behind Switchboard oracles achieving Surge streaming data push, clarifying why Switchboard can achieve sub-second data transmission and better address the speed issue of oracle data pushing.

It is important to note that oracles face two communication relationships in their operation: one is the data transmission between oracle nodes and data sources, and the other is the communication between oracle nodes and aggregation services (on-chain or off-chain), or directly with on-chain applications. Therefore, the advantages of WebSocket over HTTP in the Switchboard oracle system are doubled.

╰┈✦The TEE architecture of Surge enhances trustworthiness and attack resistance.

In response to the demand for security and reliability in oracles, Switchboard utilizes TEE construction.

TEE creates a secure area isolated on computer hardware, ensuring that oracles are not visible to third parties, including operating systems and administrators, during execution, and are unable to alter the execution of oracle programs and the data within them.

Thus, Switchboard is actually a customizable oracle, allowing DeFi programs to choose subscription oracles based on their needs. Even if DeFi applications subscribe to only a single oracle node, its security and reliability are still higher than those of other oracles, as guaranteed by the TEE environment.

Therefore, Switchboard oracles possess stronger trustworthiness and attack resistance.

The above outlines Switchboard's core technological advantages, but this is just the foundation and the beginning; data can better showcase the execution power and market influence of Switchboard technology.



┈┈➤The persuasiveness of Switchboard data

╰┈✦Performance data

http://thepriceisright.xyz This website monitors the performance of Switchboard, Pyth, Chainlink, and Redstone in real time.

Brother Bee has been watching for a few days, and Switchboard is the highest performing.

First, SAMPLES / 30S, the number of samples every 30 seconds, which refers to the amount of data processed by the oracle every 30 seconds. In the screenshot, Switchboard processed 56 data samples every 30 seconds, Pyth processed 29, and Chainlink processed 28.

Second, latency. In the screenshot, Switchboard has a latency of 5 milliseconds, Pyth has 1508 milliseconds, and Chainlink has 1296 milliseconds.

This confirms the previously analyzed advantage of Switchboard's Surge streaming push data being faster.

╰┈✦Market data

Switchboard's TVS (Total Value Secured) is $969 million, nearly $1 billion, across 21 DeFi protocols. Mainly in the Solana chain's Kamino, marginfi, Scallop, etc.

Among them, Kamino has the highest proportion, accounting for 78% of Switchboard's TVS. Kamino is the second-largest protocol in the Solana ecosystem and the largest lending platform. Its TVL is real and reliable.

The influence of Switchboard in the Solana market is evident.

Moreover, the ecosystem supported by Switchboard is not limited to Solana. According to Switchboard's GitHub, they also provide compatibility for Bitcoin ecosystem CoreDAO, @arbitrum, Optimism, @Aptos, SUI ecosystem, and are launching support for the Starknet ecosystem.

┈┈➤In conclusion

Switchboard's Surge streaming push technology has improved the speed of data acquisition and pushing for Switchboard oracles. The TEE technology architecture strengthens the reliability and attack resistance of Switchboard oracles.

However, Switchboard does not stop at technical narratives; it truly utilizes these technologies to take action, presenting the advantages offered by technology for market observation and experience.

The real-time monitoring data from http://thepriceisright.xyz confirms the advantage of Switchboard oracles in speed.

The scale of on-chain TVS reflects the market's trust and goodwill towards Switchboard oracles.


The question arises, Switchboard faces an $80 billion oracle market:

◆In terms of technology, it is solid and innovative,
◆In terms of practicality, it is faster, with stronger trustworthiness and attack resistance,
◆In terms of ecosystem, it is compatible with EVM, Solana, Move language, and ZK ecosystem,

How much growth space do you think Switchboard, which currently has a market share of only 1.2%, still has?