CoreChain is the shared blockchain engine that powers both DevChain and AppChains. It provides the foundational components for running an Ethereum-compatible execution layer entirely in-process.
Architecture
Key Components
- TransactionProcessor — validates signatures and nonces, executes EVM bytecode, produces receipts
- BlockProducer — assembles pending transactions into blocks, calculates state roots via Patricia trie
- Pluggable Storage — in-memory (testing), SQLite (DevChain), or RocksDB (production) via
IBlockStore, ITransactionStore, IStateStore, ILogStore, ITrieNodeStore
- JSON-RPC Handlers — built-in handlers for all standard
eth_*, net_*, web3_*, and debug_trace* methods
- Merkle Proof Generation —
eth_getProof for state verification
- Forking — fork state from live Ethereum networks via
ForkingNodeDataService
Packages
| Package | Description |
|---|
Nethereum.CoreChain | Core blockchain engine with EVM, block production, and RPC |
Nethereum.CoreChain.RocksDB | RocksDB persistent storage backend for production use |
Nethereum.Merkle.Patricia | Patricia Merkle Trie for state roots and proofs |
Built On By
- DevChain — adds instant mining, SQLite storage, Hardhat/Anvil compatibility methods, and Aspire templates
- AppChains (Preview) — adds genesis building, sequencer, P2P networking, and L1 anchoring
Guides
| Guide | What You'll Learn |
|---|
| Custom Chain Node | Build a local chain node using CoreChain's block production, transaction processing, and storage |
| Custom Storage | Implement your own storage backend or use RocksDB for persistent data |
| Custom RPC Handlers | Add custom JSON-RPC methods to your chain using the extensible handler framework |
| Forking | Fork state from live Ethereum networks for local testing and simulation |