comit

COMIT, short for Cryptographically-secure Off-chain Multi-ledger Transactions, refers to a framework and protocol intended to enable cross-ledger value transfers without relying on a single trusted intermediary. The project envisions a network of interconnected payment channels across multiple blockchains, allowing users to send money from one ledger to another in a trust-minimized, off-chain manner.

Core concepts center on cross-chain atomicity, off-chain routing, and standardized messaging. The COMIT approach aims to make it possible to route payments through a network of connected ledgers in a way similar to how payment channels operate within a single blockchain, while ensuring that the transfer is atomic: either the full cross-chain payment completes, or no funds are released. The protocol defines state machines and message formats that participants such as end users, wallets, and network nodes follow to set up, update, and settle cross-ledger payments.

In typical COMIT-style workflows, a sender and receiver establish linked payment channels on their respective ledgers, often leveraging cryptographic locks (analogous to hashed timelock contracts) to secure the transfer across intermediaries. If the appropriate conditions are met, funds are claimed by the intended recipient; if not, they revert after a predefined timeout. The network relies on trusted relayers or routers to find paths across ledgers and to coordinate the sequence of locking and unlocking across all involved chains.

Status and usage of COMIT have been exploratory and development-focused, with ongoing research and experimental implementations aimed at enabling more seamless cross-chain payments. Related concepts include cross-chain atomic swaps, HTLCs, and multi-ledger payment networks such as those inspired by or complementary to the broader field of off-chain and layer-2 solutions.