  Since the introduction of the first Bitcoin blockchain in 2008, different
decentralized blockchain systems such as Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, and
Corda, have emerged with public and private accessibility. It has been widely
acknowledged that no single blockchain network will fit all use cases. As a
result, we have observed the increasing popularity of multi-blockchain
ecosystem in which customers will move toward different blockchains based on
their particular requirements. Hence, the efficiency and security requirements
of interactions among these heterogeneous blockchains become critical. In
realization of this multi-blockchain paradigm, initiatives in building
Interoperability-Facilitating Platforms (IFPs) that aim at bridging different
blockchains (a.k.a. blockchain interoperability) have come to the fore. Despite
current efforts, it is extremely difficult for blockchain customers
(organizations, governments, companies) to understand the trade-offs between
different IFPs and their suitability for different application domains before
adoption. A key reason is due to a lack of fundamental and systematic
approaches to assess the variables among different IFPs. To fill this gap,
developing new IFP requirements specification and open-source benchmark tools
to advance research in distributed, multi-blockchain interoperability, with
emphasis on IFP performance and security challenges are required. In this
document, we outline a research proposal study to the community to realize this
gap.
