Execution Layer
How Xhavic's EVM-compatible execution layer processes transactions with full Ethereum opcode support.
Xhavic’s execution layer is the first layer of the modular stack. It processes every transaction, updates state, and produces execution traces used by the fraud proof system.
EVM Compatibility
Xhavic runs a fully EVM-equivalent execution environment. Every Ethereum opcode is supported with identical semantics:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Word size | 256-bit |
| Stack depth | 1024 |
| Hashing algorithm | Keccak-256 |
| Address format | 20-byte Ethereum addresses |
| EIP support | Up to Shanghai (EIP-4895) |
Any smart contract deployed on Ethereum can be deployed on Xhavic without modification. Solidity, Vyper, and Huff contracts all work as-is.
How Execution Works
- Transaction arrives — Users submit transactions to the sequencer’s mempool via JSON-RPC
- Ordering — The sequencer orders transactions with MEV-protection (threshold encryption)
- State transition — The EVM processes each transaction, updating account balances, storage slots, and contract state
- Receipt generation — Execution receipts include gas used, logs emitted, and status
- State root — A Merkle-Patricia trie root is computed from the new global state
Execution Differences from Ethereum
While opcodes behave identically, there are minor environmental differences:
| Feature | Ethereum | Xhavic |
|---|---|---|
block.timestamp | ~12s granularity | ~2s granularity |
block.basefee | EIP-1559 dynamic | Fixed low base fee |
COINBASE | Validator address | Sequencer address |
DIFFICULTY / PREVRANDAO | Beacon chain value | Deterministic pseudo-random |
| L1 block number | block.number | Available via L1Block predeploy |
For full compatibility details, see Differences from Ethereum →.
Predeploy Contracts
Xhavic includes system-level predeploy contracts at reserved addresses:
| Address | Contract | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
0x42...00 | L1Block | Exposes L1 block data on L2 |
0x42...10 | GasPriceOracle | L1 data fee estimation |
0x42...20 | L2ToL1MessagePasser | Cross-chain message queue |
0x00...F0–FF | Oracle Precompiles | Native price feed access |
Gas Metering
Gas costs on Xhavic are significantly lower than Ethereum but follow the same metering model. The L2 execution fee is denominated in XHAV and calculated as:
L2 Fee = gasUsed × l2BaseFeeSee Fees & Gas → for the full cost model and comparison tables.