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HeaderVerifier

The HeaderVerifier contract decodes RLP-encoded Ethereum block headers and forwards the extracted data to oracle contracts. It uses the BlockHeaderRLPDecoder module to parse block headers and extract key information such as block hash, parent hash, state root, receipt root, block number, and timestamp. The contract serves as a bridge between raw block header data and oracle systems, enabling cross-chain verification and data availability without implementing security checks or validation logic.

HeaderVerifier.vy

The source code for the HeaderVerifier.vy contract can be found on GitHub. The contract is written using Vyper version 0.4.3.

The contract is deployed on all supported chains at 0xB10CDEC0DE69c88a47c280a97A5AEcA8b0b83385.

Contract ABI
[{"inputs":[{"name":"encoded_header","type":"bytes"}],"name":"decode_block_header","outputs":[{"components":[{"name":"block_hash","type":"bytes32"},{"name":"parent_hash","type":"bytes32"},{"name":"state_root","type":"bytes32"},{"name":"receipt_root","type":"bytes32"},{"name":"block_number","type":"uint256"},{"name":"timestamp","type":"uint256"}],"name":"","type":"tuple"}],"stateMutability":"pure","type":"function"},{"inputs":[{"name":"_oracle_address","type":"address"},{"name":"_encoded_header","type":"bytes"}],"name":"submit_block_header","outputs":[],"stateMutability":"nonpayable","type":"function"}]

decode_block_header

HeaderVerifier.decode_block_header(encoded_header: Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE]) -> BlockHeader

Function to decode RLP encoded block header into a BlockHeader struct.

Returns: A BlockHeader struct containing decoded block data

Input Type Description
encoded_header Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE] RLP encoded header data
Source code
from modules import BlockHeaderRLPDecoder as bh_rlp

exports: (bh_rlp.decode_block_header,)

Source code of this Vyper module can be found here.

# pragma version 0.4.3

"""
@title Block Header RLP Decoder Vyper Module
@author curve.fi
@license Copyright (c) Curve.Fi, 2025 - all rights reserved
@notice Decodes RLP-encoded Ethereum block header and stores key fields
@dev Extracts block number from RLP and uses it as storage key
"""

################################################################
#                           CONSTANTS                          #
################################################################
# Block header size upper limit
BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE: constant(uint256) = 1024

# RLP decoding constants
RLP_SHORT_START: constant(uint256) = 128  # 0x80
RLP_LONG_START: constant(uint256) = 183  # 0xb7
RLP_LIST_SHORT_START: constant(uint256) = 192  # 0xc0
RLP_LIST_LONG_START: constant(uint256) = 247  # 0xf7


################################################################
#                           STRUCTS                            #
################################################################

struct BlockHeader:
    block_hash: bytes32
    parent_hash: bytes32
    state_root: bytes32
    receipt_root: bytes32
    block_number: uint256
    timestamp: uint256

################################################################
#                         CONSTRUCTOR                          #
################################################################

@deploy
def __init__():
    pass


################################################################
#                      EXTERNAL FUNCTIONS                      #
################################################################
# can be exposed optionally, or used in testing
@pure
@external
def calculate_block_hash(encoded_header: Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE]) -> bytes32:
    """
    @notice Calculates block hash from RLP encoded header
    @param encoded_header RLP encoded header data
    @return Block hash
    """
    return keccak256(encoded_header)


@pure
@external
def decode_block_header(encoded_header: Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE]) -> BlockHeader:
    """
    @notice Decodes RLP encoded block header into BlockHeader struct
    @param encoded_header RLP encoded header data
    @return BlockHeader struct containing decoded block data
    """
    return self._decode_block_header(encoded_header)


################################################################
#                      CORE FUNCTIONS                          #
################################################################

@pure
@internal
def _decode_block_header(encoded_header: Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE]) -> BlockHeader:
    """
    @notice Decodes key fields from RLP-encoded Ethereum block header
    @dev RLP encoding rules:
        - Single byte values (< 0x80) are encoded as themselves
        - Short strings (length < 56) start with 0x80 + length
        - Long strings (length >= 56) start with 0xb7 + length_of_length, followed by length
        - Lists follow similar rules but with 0xc0 and 0xf7 as starting points
        Makes use of utility functions to parse the RLP encoded header,
        and passes entire header to them which is not optimal in terms of gas, but
        makes code more readable.
    @param encoded_header RLP encoded block header
    @return BlockHeader(block_hash, parent_hash, state_root, block_number, timestamp)
    """

    # Placeholder variables
    tmp_int: uint256 = 0
    tmp_bytes: bytes32 = empty(bytes32)

    # Current position in the encoded header
    current_pos: uint256 = 0

    # 1. Skip RLP list length
    current_pos = self._skip_rlp_list_header(encoded_header, current_pos)

    # 2. Extract hashes
    parent_hash: bytes32 = empty(bytes32)
    parent_hash, current_pos = self._read_hash32(encoded_header, current_pos)  # parent hash
    tmp_bytes, current_pos = self._read_hash32(encoded_header, current_pos)  # skip uncle hash

    # 3. Skip miner address (20 bytes + 0x94)
    assert convert(slice(encoded_header, current_pos, 1), bytes1) == 0x94
    current_pos += 21

    # 4. Read state root
    state_root: bytes32 = empty(bytes32)
    state_root, current_pos = self._read_hash32(encoded_header, current_pos)

    # 5. Skip transaction root
    tmp_bytes, current_pos = self._read_hash32(encoded_header, current_pos)  # skip tx root

    # 6. Read receipt root
    receipt_root: bytes32 = empty(bytes32)
    receipt_root, current_pos = self._read_hash32(encoded_header, current_pos)

    # 7. Skip logs bloom
    current_pos = self._skip_rlp_string(encoded_header, current_pos)

    # 8. Skip difficulty
    tmp_int, current_pos = self._read_rlp_number(encoded_header, current_pos)

    # 9. Read block number
    block_number: uint256 = 0
    block_number, current_pos = self._read_rlp_number(encoded_header, current_pos)

    # 10. Skip gas fields
    tmp_int, current_pos = self._read_rlp_number(encoded_header, current_pos)  # skip gas limit
    tmp_int, current_pos = self._read_rlp_number(encoded_header, current_pos)  # skip gas used

    # 11. Read timestamp
    timestamp: uint256 = 0
    timestamp, current_pos = self._read_rlp_number(encoded_header, current_pos)

    return BlockHeader(
        block_hash=keccak256(encoded_header),
        parent_hash=parent_hash,
        state_root=state_root,
        receipt_root=receipt_root,
        block_number=block_number,
        timestamp=timestamp,
    )


################################################################
#                      UTILITY FUNCTIONS                       #
################################################################

@pure
@internal
def _skip_rlp_list_header(encoded: Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE], pos: uint256) -> uint256:
    """@dev Returns position after list header"""
    first_byte: uint256 = convert(slice(encoded, 0, 1), uint256)
    assert first_byte >= RLP_LIST_SHORT_START, "Not a list"
    if first_byte <= RLP_LIST_LONG_START:
        return pos + 1
    else:
        return pos + 1 + (first_byte - RLP_LIST_LONG_START)


@pure
@internal
def _skip_rlp_string(encoded: Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE], pos: uint256) -> uint256:
    """@dev Skip RLP string field, returns next_pos"""
    prefix: uint256 = convert(slice(encoded, pos, 1), uint256)
    if prefix < RLP_SHORT_START:
        return pos + 1
    elif prefix <= RLP_LONG_START:
        return pos + 1 + (prefix - RLP_SHORT_START)
    else:
        # Sanity check: ensure this is a string, not a list
        assert prefix < RLP_LIST_SHORT_START, "Expected string, found list prefix"

        len_of_len: uint256 = prefix - RLP_LONG_START
        data_length: uint256 = convert(
            abi_decode(abi_encode(slice(encoded, pos + 1, len_of_len)), (Bytes[32])), uint256
        )
        return pos + 1 + len_of_len + data_length


@pure
@internal
def _read_hash32(encoded: Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE], pos: uint256) -> (bytes32, uint256):
    """@dev Read 32-byte hash field, returns (hash, next_pos)"""
    assert convert(slice(encoded, pos, 1), uint256) == 160  # RLP_SHORT_START + 32
    return extract32(encoded, pos + 1), pos + 33


@pure
@internal
def _read_rlp_number(encoded: Bytes[BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE], pos: uint256) -> (uint256, uint256):
    """@dev Read RLP-encoded number, returns (value, next_pos)"""
    prefix: uint256 = convert(slice(encoded, pos, 1), uint256)
    if prefix < RLP_SHORT_START:
        return prefix, pos + 1

    # Sanity check: ensure this is a short string (not a long string or list)
    assert prefix <= RLP_LONG_START, "Invalid RLP number encoding"

    length: uint256 = prefix - RLP_SHORT_START
    value: uint256 = convert(
        abi_decode(abi_encode(slice(encoded, pos + 1, length)), (Bytes[32])), uint256
    )
    # abi_decode(abi_encode(bytesA), bytesB) is needed to unsafe cast bytesA to bytesB
    return value, pos + 1 + length
>>> soon

submit_block_header

HeaderVerifier.submit_block_header(_oracle_address: address, _encoded_header: Bytes[bh_rlp.BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE])

Function to submit a block header. Decodes the RLP-encoded header and forwards it to the specified oracle contract.

Returns: None

Input Type Description
_oracle_address address The address of the oracle contract to submit the decoded header to
_encoded_header Bytes[bh_rlp.BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE] RLP-encoded block header data
Source code
interface IBlockOracle:
    def submit_block_header(block_header: bh_rlp.BlockHeader): nonpayable

from modules import BlockHeaderRLPDecoder as bh_rlp

exports: (bh_rlp.decode_block_header,)

@external
def submit_block_header(_oracle_address: address, _encoded_header: Bytes[bh_rlp.BLOCK_HEADER_SIZE]):
    """
    @notice Submit a block header. If it's correct and blockhash is applied, store it.
    @param _oracle_address The address of the oracle contract
    @param _encoded_header The block header to submit
    """
    # Decode whatever is submitted
    decoded_header: bh_rlp.BlockHeader = bh_rlp._decode_block_header(_encoded_header)

    # Submit decoded header to oracle
    extcall IBlockOracle(_oracle_address).submit_block_header(decoded_header)
@external
def submit_block_header(_header_data: bh_rlp.BlockHeader):
    """
    @notice Submit block header. Available only to whitelisted verifier contract.
    @param _header_data The block header to submit
    """
    assert msg.sender == self.header_verifier, "Not authorized"

    # Safety checks
    assert _header_data.block_hash != empty(bytes32), "Invalid block hash"
    assert self.block_hash[_header_data.block_number] != empty(bytes32), "Blockhash not applied"
    assert _header_data.block_hash == self.block_hash[_header_data.block_number], "Blockhash does not match"
    assert self.block_header[_header_data.block_number].block_hash == empty(bytes32), "Header already submitted"

    # Store decoded header
    self.block_header[_header_data.block_number] = _header_data

    # Update last confirmed header if new
    if _header_data.block_number > self.last_confirmed_header.block_number:
        self.last_confirmed_header = _header_data

    log  SubmitBlockHeader(
        block_number=_header_data.block_number,
        block_hash=_header_data.block_hash,
    )
>>> soon