EVM Interface

The EVM Interface is implemented by an EVM runtime that is designed to be a drop-in replacement for Ethereum-compatible chains: existing Solidity contracts, wallets, SDKs, and tooling work without modification.

Compatibility

The EVM Interface targets compatibility with the Ethereum ecosystem:

• Supports the Ethereum JSON-RPC standard
• Supports standard EVM opcodes and precompiles
• Compatible with tooling such as MetaMask, ethers.js, viem, Hardhat, and Foundry

Where differences from Ethereum exist, they are the same as the Differences between Etherlink and Ethereum.

Key features

• Native token: tez (XTZ), with 18-decimal precision on the EVM interface (see Accounts and Aliases for precision conversion details)
• Cross-interface calls: EVM contracts can call Michelson contracts atomically via the NAC gateway
• Account aliases: Every Tezos account has a deterministic EVM alias address, enabling EVM contracts to interact with Tezos accounts

Further documentation

Tezos X is gradually implemented by adding new features to Etherlink (the initial EVM-compatible Layer 2 blockchain powered by a Tezos L1 smart rollup), so as to support the Michelson interface and cross-interface atomic calls.

Except for the addition of the Michelson interface, the EVM Interface can be used exactly the same way as Etherlink is used today. Therefore, in the first version of the documentation of the EVM Interface we only highlight the differences from the Etherlink documentation, which serves as a complete reference for developers and users.

The present version of the Tezos X documentation (this website) corresponds to the Tezos X MVP, a first version of Tezos X that only works on the Tezos X testnet, called Previewnet. Consequently, the Etherlink documentation can be used for the Tezos X MVP with only the following general differences:

• The network parameters to be used everywhere are those of the Previewnet testnet, instead of Mainnet or Shadownet
  • For example, endpoints such as https://node.mainnet.etherlink.com or https://node.mainnet.etherlink.com in Curl examples should be replaced by https://evm.previewnet.tezosx.nomadic-labs.com
• The sr1 address of the Etherlink rollup (e.g., mentioned in [this page] (https://docs.etherlink.com/get-started/network-information/#etherlink-mainnet)) should be replaced by the sr1 address of the Tezos X MVP sr1TCYofXUuJjmQvZ26XE4YAwXdfetQfZ6rR.
• Some parts of the infrastructure will not be deployed for the MVP, as indicated below

The rest of this page points to the sections and pages in the Etherlink documentation that are relevant for users of the Tezos X MVP, mentioning more specific differences where applicable.

• Get started section

  • What is Etherlink?
    • The content is valid, but applies now to all Tezos X, not only to the EVM Interface, so it should be added in the Overview page of Tezos X, in a section "Key facts".
  • Using your wallet
    • The instructions for connecting to the Mainnet and Shadownet should be replaced by one for Previewnet.
    • Ideally, there should be a button Connect to Tezos X Previewnet Testnet replacing the buttons Connect to Etherlink Mainnet and Connect to Etherlink Shadownet Testnet.
  • Sending transactions
    • Explains how to send transactions from your wallet, changing the fees if needed.
    • The Gas tracker should link to the one inside the Tezos X explorer.
    • The block explorer should be the one inside the Tezos X explorer.
  • Network information
    • https://status.etherlink.com has to be removed, it will not work for the MVP.
    • Sections Etherlink Mainnet and Etherlink Shadownet Testnet should be replaced with one named Etherlink Previewnet Testnet and using the Tezos X testnet parameters.
    • In section Precompiled contracts, columns Mainnet and Shadownet Testnet should be replaced by a column Previewnet Testnet, which should add the precompile of the EVM-to-Michelson gateway
  • Getting Testnet tokens
    • The link to the faucet should be replaced with the one for Previewnet.
  • The other pages in the section (Using the chatbot, and Getting and exchanging Mainnet tokens) are not relevant for the Tezos X MVP.

• Bridging section

  • Bridging tokens
    • Only supported options are bridging XTZ and FA from Tezos layer 1. Bridging tokens from other EVM networks is not supported.
    • The link to the explorer should be that of Previewnet.
    • The Third-party bridges are not supported.
  • Bridging to EVM networks
    • Not applicable
  • Bridging to Tezos
    • The link for the bridges for Mainnet and Shadonet should be replaced by the one for Previewnet: https://previewnet.bridge.etherlink.com.
    • The link for the bridge explorer remains the same and will also work for Previewnet.
  • Bridging FA tokens
    • The links for the bridges and bridge explorer should be replaced with the ones for Previewnet.
    • The tool for Configuring a token for bridging (https://github.com/baking-bad/etherlink-bridge) may not fully support Tezos X.
  • How bridging FA tokens works
    • Applies unchanged.
  • Sending FA bridging transactions
    • Applies unchanged, modulo using the right addresses for the bridge and exchanger contracts in the examples.

• Developing section

  • Running a local sandbox
    • Applies unchanged, modulo using Previewnet.
  • Tokens
    • In section Token addresses, columns Mainnet and Shadownet should be replaced with a column Previewnet, and list only applicable tokens.
    • Section WXTZ should be kept if and only if WXTZ is in the above list of applicable tokens (supported on Previewnet).
  • All other pages in this section apply unchanged, modulo using the right values for Previewnet, including:
    • Ethereum endpoint support
    • Developing on test networks
    • Getting information about Etherlink
    • Estimating fees
    • Sending transactions
    • Deploying smart contracts
    • Verifying contracts
    • Indexing contracts
    • Getting updates with WebSockets
    • Development toolkits

• Network section

  • Etherlink architecture
    • Applies unchanged, except that EVM nodes are called Tezos X nodes in the present documentation, which will be their final name.
  • Fee structure
    • Still valid for intra-EVM Interface calls.
    • Complemented by the Tezos X Fee Structure for cross-interface calls.
  • Monitoring Etherlink nodes
    • Applies unchanged, there are no additional metrics for Tezos X for now.
  • All other pages in this section are not relevant for the Tezos X MVP.

• Tools section

  • Data indexers
    • The indexers for Mainnet and Shadownet should be replaced by the one for Previewnet.
  • All other pages in this section are not relevant for the Tezos X MVP.

• All the other sections (Governance, Track progress, and Resources) are not relevant for the Tezos X MVP.