The real cost of blockchain isn't just gas fees. @RialoHQ @RialoKorea The real cost of blockchain isn't just gas fees. There are also costs to connect and monitor different services—like oracles, automation, and bridges. Today, let’s examine Rialo’s concept of “coordination costs.” Imagine an app that executes conditional transactions based on external data. You pay separately for execution on-chain, data from the oracle, and monitoring/calling fees to the keeper. This doesn’t just multiply your invoices—it also increases points of failure and operational complexity. Rialo argues that this fragmentation creates cost overlap and operational risk. Each provider sets its own pricing, and if one service stops or offers different guarantees, it can disrupt the entire workflow. Rialo’s proposed solution is “selective integration of critical functions.” The idea is to place execution, oracles, automation, and other productivity-enhancing functions closer to the protocol, aligning pricing and service delivery together. But integration comes with its own costs. More features mean greater complexity in implementation and upgrades, and increased reliance on—and centralization of control over—a single system. Rialo’s official post even acknowledges that integrating core functions involves a trade-off between coordination efficiency and some degree of decentralization. That’s why supermodularity isn’t about “building everything in.” It’s about integrating only those components whose combined value, efficiency, and functionality increase when bundled—and sourcing others competitively from external providers. From my perspective, four key metrics are needed for real comparison: 1. Total cost 2. Number of failure points 3. Consistency of security guarantees 4. Replaceability with external services We should measure outcomes before and after integration—not just label something “native.” The core issue isn’t a battle between “integrated vs. fragmented.” Is internal integration truly cheaper than external coordination costs? Rialo’s supermodularity is a philosophy for choosing architecture based on this very question.