Nervos CKB — Operating System
← Target Reference | VM: CKB
Runtime Parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| VM | CKB |
| Runtime binding | nervos.ext.* |
| Account model | Cell (UTXO-like: lock scripts + type scripts) |
| Storage model | Cell-based |
| Cost model | Cycles |
| Cross-chain | -- |
Runtime Binding (nervos.ext.*)
- Cell access — read and manipulate cells (the fundamental state unit)
- Syscalls — reading transaction data (inputs, outputs, witnesses, headers)
- Cryptographic operations — secp256k1, Blake2b, BLS12-381 via built-in syscalls
Notes
CKB uses a UTXO-like cell model: all state lives in cells with lock scripts (authorization) and type scripts (validation). Lock scripts determine who can consume a cell; type scripts enforce invariants on cell data transformations.
This model provides strong isolation between contracts and enables off-chain computation patterns — scripts only need to verify state transitions, not compute them. CKB executes RISC-V instructions directly, so any language that compiles to RISC-V can target Nervos.
Cost is measured in cycles, corresponding to the number of RISC-V instructions executed plus syscall overhead.
For CKB details (instruction set, lowering path, bytecode format), see ckb.md.