Performance & Efficiency
nXCC represents a fundamental shift in cross-chain infrastructure design. While traditional bridges rely on large validator sets and consensus mechanisms that waste energy and add latency, nXCC’s “almost consensus-free” architecture using Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) delivers unmatched performance and efficiency.
Benchmark Methodology
Section titled “Benchmark Methodology”Our performance benchmarks are conducted on standardized, cost-effective hardware to reflect realistic production deployments.
- Hardware: A standard container with 2 CPU cores and 2GB of RAM.
- Setup: To isolate the performance of the nXCC node itself, the Web3 gateway (Anvil) is co-resident with the node, eliminating external blockchain network latency as a variable.
Key Performance Metrics
Section titled “Key Performance Metrics”The results demonstrate that nXCC introduces minimal overhead, delivering performance suitable for demanding, real-time applications.
| Metric Category | Metric | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Resource Usage | Base Usage (Idle Node) | ~0% CPU, 6 MB RAM |
| Idle Worker Footprint (139 workers) | 79 MB RAM | |
| Web3 Event Latency | Mean Latency | 14.39 ms |
| p99 Latency | 17 ms | |
| Throughput | Web3 Event Throughput | 1,130.98 events/sec |
| HTTP Event Throughput (100 req/s load) | 3,224.45 req/sec | |
| Worker Capacity | Polling Workers (10ms interval) | 215 workers |
Why nXCC Outperforms Traditional Bridges
Section titled “Why nXCC Outperforms Traditional Bridges”The Consensus Problem
Section titled “The Consensus Problem”Traditional cross-chain bridges face a fundamental tradeoff:
- Security requires many validators (50+ nodes to prevent 33% attacks)
- Many validators require consensus (Byzantine fault tolerance protocols)
- Consensus adds latency and energy waste (multiple rounds of voting)
The nXCC Solution: TEE-First Architecture
Section titled “The nXCC Solution: TEE-First Architecture”nXCC eliminates this tradeoff using Intel TDX (Trust Domain Extensions):
- Hardware-guaranteed security replaces consensus-based security
- Small node count (3-5 nodes) achieves same security as 100+ validator networks
- No consensus overhead for most operations
- Direct execution in hardware-protected environments
Performance Advantages
Section titled “Performance Advantages”| Metric | Traditional Bridges | nXCC Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Latency | 30-120 seconds | Sub-second to ~14ms |
| Throughput | 10-100 messages/sec | 1,000+ events/sec |
| Energy per message | High (many validators) | Orders of magnitude lower |
| Node requirements | 50-150 validators | 3-5 TEE nodes |
Energy Efficiency: A Green Alternative
Section titled “Energy Efficiency: A Green Alternative”nXCC’s architecture delivers dramatic energy savings compared to traditional validator-based bridges:
Comparative Energy Efficiency
Section titled “Comparative Energy Efficiency”| Network | Relative Energy per Message | Architecture |
|---|---|---|
| nXCC | 1x (baseline) | TEE-secured, minimal consensus |
| Chainlink CCIP | ~4.5x more energy | Large validator set, consensus |
| Axelar | ~4.8x more energy | 150+ validators, Tendermint consensus |
| Wormhole | ~9.8x more energy | 19+ guardians, gossip protocol |
Why TEEs Are More Efficient
Section titled “Why TEEs Are More Efficient”Traditional Bridge Energy Usage:
- 50-150 validators running 24/7
- Consensus rounds for every message
- Redundant computation across all validators
- Network overhead for voting protocols
nXCC Energy Usage:
- 3-5 specialized nodes with TEEs
- Hardware attestation replaces consensus
- Direct execution without redundant computation
- Minimal network coordination
Result: >90% energy reduction for equivalent security guarantees.
Real-World Performance Impact
Section titled “Real-World Performance Impact”For Developers
Section titled “For Developers”- Faster iteration: Sub-second feedback for testing
- Better UX: Near-instant cross-chain operations
- Lower costs: Fewer resources needed for same throughput
For Users
Section titled “For Users”- Responsive applications: No waiting minutes for bridge confirmations
- Lower fees: Efficiency savings passed on as reduced costs
- Reliable performance: Consistent latency regardless of network congestion
For Operators
Section titled “For Operators”- Lower infrastructure costs: Fewer nodes, less hardware
- Reduced energy bills: Minimal consensus overhead
- Simpler operations: TEE attestation vs. complex validator coordination
The Future is TEE-Native
Section titled “The Future is TEE-Native”nXCC proves that cross-chain infrastructure doesn’t need to choose between security, performance, and sustainability. Hardware-based trust domains offer a path to:
- Instant finality without sacrificing security
- Linear scalability without consensus bottlenecks
- Green computing without environmental compromise
- Cost efficiency without operational complexity
While other protocols add more validators to increase security (and decrease efficiency), nXCC leverages hardware advances to achieve both superior security and performance with minimal environmental impact.
Ready to experience the performance difference? Get started with nXCC today.