Gavin Wood targets Polkadot for regular software without smart contract limits

Ethereum co-founder and Polkadot creator Gavin Wood joined Bullish CEO Tom Farley on CoinDesk Spotlight to discuss the latest developments in the Polkadot protocol. 

Gavin Wood discussed his current focus, which is primarily on developing the next iteration of the Polkadot protocol, referred to as JAM Chain. 

He further explains that this new protocol builds on the foundations of both Polkadot and Ethereum, incorporating new ideas to create a more generalized environment that is not strictly a smart contract chain but retains the ability to secure blockchains like Polkadot does. 

Wood elaborated on JAM Chain's capabilities, explaining that while it shares some similarities with smart contract environments, it is designed to do much more, using Polkadot's underlying crypto-economic mechanisms to perform a broader range of tasks.

Tom Farley tried to simplify the concept by asking if JAM Chain could be thought of as a Layer 2 or Layer 1.5 on Polkadot. 

Gavin Wood clarified that the concept of layers becomes complex when discussing Polkadot, which is often referred to as a Layer 0 blockchain because it secures other blockchains. He explained that if Polkadot is considered Layer 1, then JAM could be seen as sitting below it, hosting services that secure these blockchains. 

Wood suggested that JAM could host more than just blockchains, offering a general-purpose environment that could be classified as Layer 1, with services running on JAM considered Layer 1.5. In this context, blockchains secured by JAM could be considered Layer 2.

Polkadot creator mentioned that the gray paper for JAM Chain is still in development, currently at version 0.3.4, with the goal of reaching version 1.0 by next summer. However, he cautioned that software and protocol development are inherently uncertain, so this timeline is more of a target than a fixed deadline.

Wood elaborated that the future success of Layer 1 blockchains will hinge more on their communities and service offerings than on minor technological advancements. He stressed that Polkadot was designed to stand out by pushing the boundaries of what's possible, not just by being a slightly better version of existing platforms. 

With JAM Chain, Gavin Wood wants to push beyond the usual smart contract model by using Polkadot's technology. He imagines a platform where developers can run regular software on a blockchain, getting the security and trust of blockchain without the typical smart contract limitations.

As the conversation continued, Wood delved into where the blockchain industry seems to be heading, pointing out that too many projects are focused on quick wins rather than building something that will still matter years down the road. He feels that hype often takes priority over substance, with people rushing to create and sell projects, only for them to be passed around without much real value.

Finally, when asked about his relationship with Vitalik Buterin, Wood explained that there was no “bad blood” between them despite their competitive positions in the blockchain space. While acknowledging that there will always be some competition, Wood calls for collaboration and mutual respect between the Ethereum and Polkadot ecosystems.