Joshua Tobkin, Founder of Supra, on Building the World’s Computer, Vertical Integration, and What Sets Supra Apart from Other Layer-1s | Ep. 394

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December 15, 2024

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Joshua Tobkin, founder and lead architect of Supra, joined the Cryptonews Spotlight to discuss his journey into the blockchain, the creation of Supra, and what sets it apart from other Layer-1 solutions. Here, you’ll find the highlights from the podcast.

From SaaS to Blockchain: Joshua’s Journey

Joshua shared how his passion for the internet led him to launch multiple SaaS businesses, culminating in a successful exit. His background in poker and software shaped his understanding of game theory and market dynamics.

“I’ve been obsessed with the internet and how it can connect the world, business models, and value creation.”

By 2017, he became fully immersed in blockchain, recognizing its potential to address trust and transparency issues.

What is Supra?

Supra is a vertically integrated Layer-1 blockchain with a single stack that includes:

• smart contract execution
• oracle price feeds
• automation
• cross-chain communication
• on-chain randomness

Built with the Move language for security and efficiency, Supra aims to redefine what blockchains can achieve.

“What we’re building is more than a blockchain—it’s the world’s computer.”

Why the Name Supra?

Joshua explained how the name Supra reflects their vision of surpassing the current boundaries of blockchain technology and creating a unified infrastructure for global applications.

“The word means ‘above’—it embodies our mission to rise above limitations.”

Supra’s Differentiators

Supra combines speed, security, and scalability with innovations like the Moonshot Consensus algorithm. This algorithm enables high performance even with 500+ nodes, addressing the scalability issues that plague many Layer-1 solutions.

“Blockchains today are like ENIAC; what we’re building is more like an iPhone.”

The Role of Vertical Integration

Joshua highlighted how vertical integration allows Supra to combine services like decentralized if-this-then-that automation, advanced oracles, and cross-chain capabilities, providing developers with a unified platform.

“To truly be a world computer, blockchains need integration—automation, oracles, and cross-chain communication.”

The Supra Token Utility

The Supra token serves as the utility token for all Supra services, from smart contract execution to oracles. This simplifies development and ensures secure, efficient operations across the ecosystem.

“Imagine Solana plus Chainlink plus Layer-0 Gelato, all in one network powered by a single token.”

The Modularity Debate

Joshua discussed the limitations of modularity, such as fragmented liquidity and broken composability.

“The modular thesis is a result of Ethereum’s Layer-1 not scaling.”

Supra’s integrated design overcomes these challenges, creating a cohesive network with seamless communication between components.

Competing with Solana and Sui

“We’re just different. Supra’s design can scale beyond 500 nodes while maintaining performance.”

While acknowledging the innovations of Solana and Sui, Joshua emphasized Supra’s ability to scale and its focus on decentralization, ensuring both performance and security.

Cross-Chain Communication

Supra’s cross-chain communication protocols enable seamless interactions across networks, setting the stage for interoperable blockchain ecosystems.

“Your blockchain needs to communicate with the world—it’s not a computer without that.”

Automation: Missing Piece in Blockchain

“Blockchains don’t have decentralized automation—that was a clear gap we had to fill.”

Supra’s decentralized automation services enable developers to create complex workflows and strategies, addressing a critical gap in blockchain functionality.

The Importance of Security

According to Joshua, Supra ensures consistent security across all its services, providing developers with a reliable and robust platform for building decentralized applications.

“Your smart contract inherits the security of the weakest component it integrates.”

AI and Blockchain Integration

Joshua teased future innovations, including AI-driven automation and decision-making capabilities that leverage Supra’s integrated services.

“We’re exploring how AI agents can execute strategies autonomously using Supra’s infrastructure.”

Building on the Shoulders of Giants

Joshua credited the blockchain pioneers that preceded Supra, explaining how their advancements informed his team’s holistic approach to building a unified Layer-1 solution.

“Supra is the result of learning from Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and others to bring it all together.”

2024 and Beyond: What’s Next for Supra

Supra is positioning itself as a middleware network that bridges ecosystems, enabling interoperability and unlocking new possibilities for blockchain technology.

“We’re introducing an intra-layer network that coordinates asset and value exchange across chains.”