# Canopy Overview

Welcome to the network that powers the **peer-to-peer** launchpad for new application-specific chains. Built on a recursive architecture, applications bootstrap each other into independence, forming an unstoppable web of utility and security.

### What is Canopy?

Canopy is 2 things:

1. The Canopy Stack: A recursive framework to build blockchains. Canopy Stack offers developers the benefits of all blockchain layers in a single, easy-to-understand template.
2. The Canopy Chain: The restaking-based security chain that starts the recursive cycle. The Canopy blockchain provides security through the restaking of CNPY to the first set of Nested Chains in the Canopy ecosystem, enabling the peer-to-peer security future.

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**Canopy's Peer-to-Peer Vision**

Canopy envisions a network of utility-specific blockchains acting as a **decentralized launchpad** for new chains. Over time, these chains evolve into fully independent peers, enhancing the network and bolstering the overall utility.

<details>

<summary>💡ELI5 with <code>History</code></summary>

Imagine you're the boss in charge of making the best architecture for the new decentralized internet.&#x20;

Engineer 1 wants to connect a bunch of blockchains together (e.g., Tendermint & Avalanche).

Engineer 2 realizes blockchains are really hard to launch and creates one 'builder chain' that makes new blockchain apps (e.g., Ethereum & Solana).

Engineer 3 realizes that just one 'builder chain' is fragile and makes each new blockchain app act as a builder chain too (e.g., Canopy).

</details>

<details>

<summary>💡ELI5 with <code>Web2</code></summary>

* Canopy is like `bitTorrent` for blockchain security. It enables blockchains to deploy and seed each other, creating an unstoppable mesh of connected chains that provide utility and security.
* Canopy is like `react` for blockchains. Simply fork the template at [https://github.com/canopy-network/canopy](https://github.com/canopy-network/canopy), customize as needed, change the config file and have a blockchain 'out-of-the-box'.
* Canopy is like `aws` for blockchains. You can 'deploy' your blockchain on Canopy's mesh security network to have experienced node runners 'host' your chain while protecting it from hostile takeovers.
* Canopy is like `kubernetes` for blockchains. You can 'scale' your blockchain by spawning sibling or child chains.
* Canopy is like `wordpress` for blockchains. Canopy allows your blockchain to start simple, like 'managed hosting' under a Security Root - but **go fully independent** like 'self-hosting' any time.
* Canopy is like a `smart rpc client` for blockchains. Canopy hooks to the APIs of other blockchains to perform cross-chain functionality like token swaps without any update to the 3rd party.

</details>

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Want to dive deeper? Check out [what-is-canopy](../what-is-canopy "mention")
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### Why Use Canopy?

**Imagine a scenario where the more applications Ethereum hosts, the more scalable it becomes.** This concept flips the traditional understanding of scalability challenges, suggesting a model where growth directly enhances the underlying network's ability to handle increased transactions and operations. In parallel, **consider a world where Solana participants are rewarded with tokens for each application the network hosts**, creating an incentive structure that fuels ecosystem growth and engagement. Similarly, **envision BNB enabling its hosted applications to grow and mature into independent Layer 1 blockchains, fostering innovation and independence within its ecosystem.**

Canopy App Chains offer distinct advantages. Canopy L1-based Appchains provide independent scalability, allowing applications to scale without the usual limits. With Day 1 security, these chains are protected without needing external support and can even rely on their own security. They operate autonomously, unaffected by other network activities, and allow self-governance, giving complete control over network rules and decisions, empowering developers and users to shape their projects.

<figure><img src="https://2343293880-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FLrZDX2RTu3ClIHkvyP7T%2Fuploads%2FLGNe6b3TZRTSHvbQLMD0%2FCNPY-Diagrams-Welcome.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c1807696-a685-404b-a244-aaaf108f5bde" alt="" width="563"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

#### Features & Benefits

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Benefits of Canopy App Chains&#x20;

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* **Independent Scalability**: Grow without limitations.
* **Native Security**: Inherent protection mechanisms.
* **No Dependencies**: Operate autonomously with zero dependencies.
* **Self-Governance**: Complete control over network rules.
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Innovative Features

***

* **No-Code Chain Migration**: Effortlessly transition across layers&#x20;
* **Recursive Layer 0 Functionality**: Circular capabilities, enabling novel value capture
* **Multi-Directional Scaling**: Expand laterally and across layers&#x20;
* **Permissionless Interoperability**: Seamless exchanges with any chain&#x20;


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Want to learn about the benefits? Checkout [why-canopy](why-canopy "mention")
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### In this Section

<table data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Our Problem Space  ↗</strong></td><td><a href="why-canopy/the-problem">the-problem</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Canopy's Solution and Vision ↗</strong></td><td><a href="why-canopy/solution-and-vision">solution-and-vision</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Canopy's Core Features  ↗</strong></td><td><a href="core-features">core-features</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Canopy Tokenomics  ↗</strong></td><td><a href="canopy-economics">canopy-economics</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Who Should Care About Canopy? ↗</strong></td><td><a href="who-is-canopy-for">who-is-canopy-for</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Learn About How Canopy Works ↗</strong></td><td><a href="how-does-canopy-work">how-does-canopy-work</a></td></tr></tbody></table>

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New to blockchain? No problem! Start at [blockchain-101](why-canopy/blockchain-101 "mention")&#x20;
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