Avail Founder on Modular Chains & Future of Web3 Scaling

Modular blockchains, which split core functions such as execution, settlement, and data availability into separate components, have evolved from a technical concept to a central topic in Web3 debates as developers seek infrastructure that can support hundreds of chains and new applications on a global scale.

Data availability sits at the center of this shift, as it determines how quickly and safely networks can grow.

For example, Avail, a project focused on providing reliable and scalable data availability, operates in this infrastructure layer and aims to provide a neutral foundation for a world that will not rely on a single chain.

Avail founder Anurag Arjun spoke with CCN about how the modular narrative took shape, why data availability matters for long-term scalability, and why the project needed to leave Polygon to grow independently.

He also discussed the path toward chain-agnostic infrastructure, meaning systems that support any blockchain without favoring one design, the pressure for real interoperability across ecosystems, and the rising need for privacy as blockchains evolve into global financial rails.

Here are the details of the interview:

Why Data Availability Matters for Blockchain Growth

Arjun described data availability as a concept that feels abstract for most users but plays a vital role in blockchain scalability.

He explained that early blockchains, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, faced severe limitations, which pushed the ecosystem toward a multi-chain future.

He said, “data availability is something that is very much crucial to kind of scaling blockchains,” and compared it to the low-level technical layers of the early internet. Users do not interact with those layers, yet everything depends on them.

The growth of rollups, sidechains, and new networks made this foundation even more critical.

Avail steps into this layer by providing scalable, chain-agnostic data availability for a world with hundreds or thousands of chains.

Modular Blockchains and What They Solve

Arjun positioned modular blockchains as the natural evolution from monolithic networks.

He explained that traditional chains handled all functions in one place, which created bottlenecks. Modular systems break a chain into specialized components, such as execution, settlement, and data availability.

He offered a real-world analogy and said today’s products are rarely built in a single factory. Specialized parts come from different production lines, which reduces cost and increases efficiency.

“When combined together, [they] create far more scalable, more interoperable experiences,” he said.

This structure enables developers to utilize the most suitable tools for each part, rather than committing to a single system.

Why Avail Separated From Polygon To Build Its Own Path

Avail was originally conceptualized inside Polygon in 2020. As the Polygon ecosystem expanded, the project required its own focus and direction. Arjun said Polygon grew into a multi-product organization with several ZK teams and eight major products.

He believed Avail needed dedicated attention because it operated in a different category. “I thought Avail was too important to kind of be one of those eight products,” he said.

The spin-out enabled the project to grow independently, maintain a clear identity, and develop a targeted roadmap for modular infrastructure.

Partnerships With Substance and a Unified Infrastructure Vision

CCN asked Arjun how Avail avoids partnerships that exist only for publicity. He acknowledged that the industry had moved past superficial announcements. Integrations must deliver real usage. He pointed to growing interest in stablecoins, especially local currency versions.

Interoperability also sits at the center of Avail’s long-term vision. Arjun explained that the team iterated through several architectures before arriving at the current Nexus framework. It can connect any chain and aims to remove barriers that force users to think in a chain-first mindset.

He said “apps should just compete on things like convenience, cost, speed,” and not on the chain they run on. In this model, users access applications without caring about the underlying network.

Developers can deploy once and reach users across ecosystems. Avail positions itself as a neutral layer that brings these pieces together.

Decentralization, Real-World Risk and the Push for True Chain Neutrality

When discussing chain failures, Arjun addressed the tension between decentralization and user protection. He said blockchains started as raw, public systems, similar to early AI tools before they became user-friendly.

He explained that open systems attract constant testing from attackers, which strengthens them over time but introduces early risks.

As the technology matures, he expects a balance between decentralization and safeguards such as recovery tools, insurance, and regulatory compliance.

Traditional institutions will also demand reliability. “All the TradFi institutions are now trying to kind of plug into this,” he said.

Arjun also argued that networks are becoming commoditized and easier to launch, which reduces the importance of individual chains. In his view, the future will focus on actions rather than platforms.

Users will indicate their desire to borrow, lend, or trade, and the infrastructure will handle the underlying network selection. He said, “The boundaries of chains will start to disappear” as interoperability becomes standard.

This shift creates the environment where Avail positions itself. The project aims to serve as neutral infrastructure for a multi-chain world.

Blind Spots in the Industry and the Need for Real Privacy

Arjun pointed to a challenge that many leaders still avoid. Teams often stay inside crypto-native circles and design products for users who already understand the space. He said this mindset ignores the scale and expectations of global finance, where institutions need reliable systems rather than experimental tools.

Public blockchains provide this foundation by functioning as open ledgers that can track and store value across borders. He explained that “every system in the world really is a ledger” and blockchains provide a unified version that does not rely on isolated databases.

He then turned to privacy and said it must advance together with scalability. Current chains reveal balances and activity in a way that would never be accepted in traditional finance.

Arjun said mainstream adoption requires privacy tools that protect users while keeping networks open and secure.

As a result, Avail plans to introduce new privacy features next year, allowing individuals to interact with applications with a smaller footprint and without exposing their financial history.

Arjun closed by saying the next phase of blockchain development will depend on modular infrastructure, stronger data availability layers, and a shift toward systems that work across ecosystems instead of competing in isolation.

He noted that chain boundaries will matter less as interoperability improves and developers focus on building applications that can serve users on a global scale.

As a final point, he emphasized that privacy, reliability, and fundamental safeguards will become increasingly important as institutions adopt public ledgers and treat them as core financial infrastructure.