Resource Locks
How Resource Locks enable fast cross-chain transactions by eliminating finality wait times and preventing double-spending
Overview
Resource Locks are OneBalance’s innovative solution that transforms cross-chain transactions by delivering three critical improvements: speed, reliability, and cost efficiency.
Resource Locks enable cross-chain transactions to execute at the speed of the destination chain while providing cryptographic guarantees and reducing operational costs through optimized settlement patterns.
How Resource Locks Work
Resource Locks are managed by OneBalance’s RL Service, which performs four critical functions:
Verifies
Validates user on-chain and locked balances
Co-signs
Adds signatures to operations, ensures control over account state transition and prevents double-spending
Provides Guarantees
Issues security attestations to solvers for immediate delivery, given delayed settlement
Tracks Positions
Ensures not yet settled balance follows risk policies to maintain system integrity
This system enables asynchronous execution where intent fulfillment is separated from settlement, dramatically improving user experience.
Key Benefits
Resource Locks deliver three fundamental improvements to cross-chain operations:
Speed
Execute cross-chain transactions in seconds instead of minutes by eliminating finality wait times and double-spend prevention delays.
Reliability
Cryptographic guarantees ensure 100% transaction success with OneBalance’s co-signing mechanism preventing failed or stuck transactions.
Cost Efficiency
Reduce gas costs by up to 40% through batched settlements and optimized cross-chain routing patterns.
Speed: Near-Instant Execution
Traditional cross-chain transactions require waiting for source chain finality (often 12+ minutes on Ethereum). Resource Locks eliminate this wait by providing immediate execution guarantees through cryptographic co-signing.
Reliability: Guaranteed Settlement
Unlike intent-based systems that can fail due to solver unavailability or market conditions, Resource Locks provide mathematical certainty that operations will complete successfully.
Cost Efficiency: Optimized Economics
Resource Locks enable transaction batching and optimal routing decisions that significantly reduce the total cost of cross-chain operations for both users and applications.
Evolution of Cross-Chain Bridging
Classical Bridge
Critical Path:
Source chain finality + Destination chain inclusion
Typical Duration:
3 minutes or more
Intent Bridge
Critical Path:
Source chain inclusion + Routing + Destination chain inclusion
Typical Duration:
15-45 seconds
RL-enabled Bridge
Critical Path:
Lock verification + Routing + Destination chain inclusion
Typical Duration:
5-10 seconds
Classical Bridge: Source Chain Finality + Destination Chain Inclusion
Traditional bridges require waiting for source chain finality before processing on the destination chain, resulting in significant delays.
Intent Bridge: Solver Assumes Finality Risk
Intent-based bridges improve speed by having solvers take on the finality risk, but still require source chain inclusion.
Fast Intent Bridge: Lock Provider Eliminates Double-Spend and Finality Risk
OneBalance’s Fast Intent Bridge achieves near-instant cross-chain execution by removing both double-spend risk and finality waiting times through Resource Locks.
Types of Resource Locks
Resource Locks fall into two main categories:
- Account-based locks - Locks are implemented at the account level, allowing seamless compatibility with existing user flows and wallet interactions.
- Escrow-based locks - Instead of locking accounts, this approach implements an escrow smart contract where users deposit tokens for cross-chain operations.
Currently, OneBalance primarily uses account-based locks for optimal user experience and compatibility.
Once Resource Lock is enabled, transactions can be sent only via OneBalance Toolkit, as otherwise it is impossible to prevent the double-spending in asynchronious execution environment.
For detailed integration instructions, see our Getting Started guide.
Additional Resources
Dive deeper into Resource Locks with these resources:
ETH Research Paper: Introducing OneBalance
Technical deep-dive into Resource Locks architecture, cryptographic proofs, and formal verification of the system’s security guarantees.
Interop/Acc Podcast: Resource Locks Explained
A discussion on how Resource Locks solve cross-chain interoperability challenges and their impact on the ecosystem.
Into the Bytecode: OneBalance Technical Overview
Technical breakdown of OneBalance’s implementation, covering Resource Locks, account abstraction, and cross-chain execution patterns.