In our talk, "Bridging EVM and Non-EVM Assets: A Practical Approach", we explore how to bridge blockchain assets in an effective and practical way, focusing on the Neo Blockchain's latest version, Neo N3 (Non-EVM), and its new EVM-compatible chain, Neo X.

We present the design and implementation of the native bridge between Neo N3 and Neo X, serving as the primary interoperability layer of assets between these distinct technologies. The term 'native bridge' highlights the embedding of contracts and functionalities at Neo X genesis as a precompile, integrating them as essential parts of the network's foundation.

In our development journey several potential solutions were considered, each with their own set of advantages and limitations. This includes zero-knowledge technologies, optimistic rollups with challenges, and state root proofs (MPT). While emulating geth in the NeoVM is challenging due to high execution costs, Neo X was not designed as a rollup, but as a sidechain.

Ultimately, we opted for a trusted bridge solution implementing the concept of an Ordered Binary Hash Chain data structure. This approach is not only cost-effective and of low complexity, but also maintains the validation of the historical sequence of bridging actions, providing a balance between efficiency and transparency.

The presentation concludes with a forward-looking perspective, touching on the current testnet state and the roadmap towards mainnet. Anticipated future enhancements are discussed, including the potential decentralization of bridge validators and relayers, as well as further features.