Near Protocol and XRP Tundra are tackling the challenge of cross-chain interoperability in different ways. Near, with its sharded network design, aims to expand its own base layer by enabling assets from Ethereum and Solana to flow through its Rainbow Bridge. However, XRP Tundra takes a unique approach, connecting two existing robust ecosystems—the XRP Ledger and Solana—through an audited framework. 🤝 Their focus is on linking these pre-existing platforms without relying on fragmentation. Near utilizes parallel processing across multiple shards, while Tundra uses the power of independent ledgers to facilitate seamless cross-chain interactions. This results in a system that avoids bottlenecks associated with scaling a single network. 🏗️