Archive for the ‘Decentralization’ Category

Safeguarded Token: The Third Way between Decentralization vs. State Protection Part 3 – Modern Diplomacy

Unbelievably, Africa is a powerhouse of untapped potential resources: both natural and human. At least, it has over 1.3 billion population while the natural resources are immeasurable. The importance of this huge population, there are talented people. And least we forget, Africa consists of fifty five independent states. Every African State has a particular brand, from politics to economy, and from lifestyle through music and arts. Uganda, situated in East Africa, has its own popular brands.

Most probably, not many have heard of it. Uganda has talented kids group which is increasingly becoming so popular. The Ghetto Kids Uganda demonstrated as much at the 2023 Britains Got Talent (BGOT) show.

Despite spending their time in the sprawling slums of Kampala, the group of six kids left the BGOT audience in awe. Even with their humble background, they put up one of the worlds best dancing shows ever. They are the first African kids act to ever receive a golden buzzer from Bruno, one of the judges before their performance was even complete.

Besides, they received the most public votes at the semi-final, which advanced them directly to the shows final. This placed them among the 10 acts to ever compete in the finals. The Ghetto Kids Uganda did not win Britains Got Talent (BGOT) show in 2023. Instead, Viggo Venn, a Norwegian comedian won and walked home with 250,000 prize at the Royal Variety Performance.

Venn delighted the crowd once more with a routine inspired by high-visibility clothing in the championship round. The Norwegian pulled a fizzy dose of laughter among judges after convincing Judge Simon Cowell to don an identical high-vis jacket with rose flower speckles.

Dancer Lilliana Clifton, 13, and magician Cillian OConnor, 14, finished second and third respectively. Ghetto Kids Act Tonioli opened the event with a routine to a medley of songs including Africa by Toto. He was among other young performers who dominated the grand finale stage.

Some audience members booed the outcome because they werent thrilled with the audience choice. Interestingly, amazing opera vocalist Malakai Bayoh and motivational dancer Musa Motha, who lost his leg to amputation when he was just 11 years old, failed to finish in the top three.

Venn appeared stunned after declaration he won this years show. However, several quarters booed him and their Twitter was on fire. Sounded like a lot of boos there when #ViggoVenn was announced as the winner of #BritainsGotTalent. I thought he was great but a shock omissions from the final 3, and I think everyone thought the young lad would win. Bit of a deflated, down-beat end to the series #BGT2023 #BGT, said a tweep.

Another one added that 2023s BGOT was the most shambolic show ever held in the UK. NEVER EVER EVER EVER watching @BGT #BritainsGotTalent again. absolute shambles a guy running about in a high vis vest over so much proper genuine real talent? the boos in that audience, shocked faces and genuine tears said it all for me SHAMBLES, read the tweet.

The Ghetto Kids Uganda is a group of six, all aged between six and 13. They come from Kampalas sprawling slums and streets. Dauda Kavuma took in the six kids into the Ghetto Kids Foundation which he started years back to help needy children. He doubles up in his role as a guardian to the groups manager.

He told BBC that his group would inspire many other people going through various challenges in life. Kavuma joined the streets for survival after the passing on of his father when he was barely a teenager. He dug through trash to find scrap and sold fruits to stationary cars at traffic lights in Kampala City.

The 30-year-old harboured football ambitions when he was a little boy, but a friend later persuaded him to try singing. He got so much from singing and it occurred to him that he could use this talent to help street children.

Most people thought street kids have no value in society but I thought otherwise, AFP quotes him. I thought, what if I use music, dance and drama to transform the underprivileged in the ghettos. My inspiration was my love for music and to pay back to the society that has supported me through my hard life.

The Ghetto Kids Uganda Foundation headed by Kavuma is headquartered in a five-bedroom home tucked away in a maze of Makindye streets. He takes care of orphaned, homeless, or underprivileged kids here ensuring they have shelter, food, education and clothes.

The Ghetto Kids and Masaka Kids are two different mixed-gender choirs from Uganda based in Kampala and Masaka respectively. They both work independently but with a common goal of aiding underprivileged children in Uganda.

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Safeguarded Token: The Third Way between Decentralization vs. State Protection Part 3 - Modern Diplomacy

Stablecoins need to focus on liquidity, not decentralization … – Blockworks

Lido and its liquid staking currency stETH dominate the Ethereum staking service market and thats not necessarily a bad thing, according to Ethena Labs founder Guy Young.

If its a question of whats more important between liquidity and decentralization during times of market volatility, exchanges care far more about liquidity, says Young.

According to the company website, Ethena provides derivative infrastructure in order to transform Ethereum into the first crypto-native yield bearing stablecoin which is not reliant on the banking system: USDe [Unitary Status Dollar Ecoin].

The stablecoin achieves price stability, the website explains, through a delta-neutral hedging process across centralized and decentralized venues. On the 0xResearch podcast (Spotify/Apple), Ethena Labs founder Guy Young and head of research Conor Ryder discuss the liquidity-decentralization dilemma.

We just need to think about our users, Young says. How do things go wrong on our side? Thats with liquidity. In a period of market upheaval, its far less likely that centralization would be the primary cause of failure for USDe, he says.

The biggest risk to what were doing is making sure that collateral is liquid, he says. We have different things that were focusing on versus other [liquid staking token] providers who are more focused on that decentralization piece.

Im more focused on making sure that things are liquid and allow us to provide the best product that we can for our users.

Ryder adds that users are not necessarily reducing risk by taking on competing forms of staked Ethereum. Lido dominance isnt something that really concerns me right now. Its dominant for a reason, he says.

Lidos staking platform and liquid staking token, Lido Staked Ether (stETH), Ryder says, have the best validator set as well as being battle-tested and enjoying very good market traction.

These smaller, liquid staking tokens right now havent got that kind of market traction yet. Its not like youre diversifying by taking 10% stETH, 10% Rocketpool ETH (rETH), 10% whatever else. Such a strategy is only adding more risk, Ryder says.

Another major issue regarding stablecoin risk relates to solvency, which Young says is really a question of timing. If every single user wanted all of their money out at the exact same time, that would force you to crystallize that loss on withdrawal because youd have to take that collateral and give it back to the user, which doesnt represent the dollar that they thought they put in.

A lot of the risks that you saw with bonds blowing up in the real world in the last year was a question of, are you actually redeeming now to crystallize that loss on the market-to-market value of those bonds?

Its actually exactly the same sort of risk there, he says. Its just a question of how are you managing that duration risk.

One way to reduce solvency risks is an insurance fund, Young explains. The effective collateralization of the system will be more than one because youve got that pool of dollars basically sitting behind the stablecoin.

The insurance fund can act as a bidder of last resort, he says, to ensure stability in moments of price dislocation.

You can prove in real time that the whole thing is solvent because you have the collateral there where you can read and show users, and youve got the derivative positions, which again, you can read and show users, Young says.

One example, from Young: In a situation where USDe is trading at $0.95 on Curve, the insurance fund can act as a bidder of the open market USDe to socialize those gains between token holders on the other side.

Market panics are unavoidable, Young admits, but I think theres an interesting role that an insurance fund can play in also providing basically a bid to socialize those gains with token holders afterwards.

And you can only do that when you can prove that the system is actually collateralized at one and that its programmatic.

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Stablecoins need to focus on liquidity, not decentralization ... - Blockworks

Lido DAO: Driving the Decentralization of Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake … – Auralcrave

In the world of blockchain technology, Ethereum has emerged as one of the leading platforms for decentralized applications and smart contracts. However, with the shift from the current Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), there arises a need for reliable and secure staking infrastructure. This is where Lido DAO comes into play, driving the decentralization of Ethereums PoS consensus and providing a seamless staking experience for ETH holders. In this article, we will delve into the details of Lido DAO, its purpose, and the significant role it plays in the Ethereum ecosystem. Additionally, there is Immediates Edge which is an online trading platform like that Immediates Edge Official Site complements the advancements in blockchain technology.

Before we explore Lido DAO, its essential to understand the concept of Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus. Unlike the current PoW consensus, which requires miners to solve complex mathematical puzzles, PoS allows participants to create new blocks and validate transactions based on the amount of cryptocurrency they hold and stake within the network.

PoS offers several advantages over PoW, including energy efficiency, scalability, and increased security. With PoS, validators are chosen to create blocks based on their stake in the network. This shift in consensus mechanism will enable Ethereum to become more scalable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

As Ethereum transitions to PoS, ETH holders are presented with an opportunity to participate in staking and earn rewards by securing the network. However, staking on Ethereum requires technical expertise, a significant amount of capital, and ongoing maintenance. This creates a barrier for many users who want to participate in staking but lack the necessary knowledge or resources.

Lido DAO addresses this challenge by providing a decentralized, trustless, and liquid staking solution for ETH holders. Lido DAO allows users to stake their ETH and receive stETH (staked ETH) tokens in return, which represent their stake in the Ethereum network. These stETH tokens are liquid and can be used as collateral in various DeFi protocols, unlocking additional opportunities for users to earn passive income.

Lido DAO operates as a decentralized autonomous organization, governed by the participants who hold its native token, LDO. The main components of Lido DAOs staking infrastructure include:

Lido DAO relies on a network of professional node operators who run and maintain the staking infrastructure. These node operators stake the ETH on behalf of the users and distribute the rewards proportionally. By delegating their ETH to the node operators, users can participate in staking without the need for technical expertise or the minimum staking requirement.

Lido DAO ensures decentralization and security by utilizing a distributed network of node operators. The selection of node operators is performed through a decentralized and trustless process, ensuring that no single entity has control over the network. This decentralized approach mitigates the risk of malicious attacks and enhances the overall security of the staking infrastructure.

One of the key features of Lido DAO is the provision of liquid staking. When users stake their ETH with Lido DAO, they receive stETH tokens in return. These stETH tokens are fully fungible and can be freely traded and used within the Ethereum ecosystem. This allows users to maintain liquidity and flexibility while earning staking rewards.

Lido DAOs governance is facilitated through the use of LDO tokens. LDO holders have voting rights and can participate in decision-making processes regarding the future development and direction of the platform. The governance mechanism ensures that Lido DAO remains community-driven and responsive to the needs and preferences of its participants.

By leveraging Lido DAOs staking infrastructure, ETH holders can enjoy a range of benefits:

Lido DAO eliminates the technical barriers associated with staking on Ethereum. Users can stake their ETH and earn rewards without the need for extensive knowledge or expertise.

With the issuance of stETH tokens, Lido DAO provides users with a liquid representation of their staked ETH. These tokens can be freely traded, used as collateral, or integrated into various DeFi protocols.

Lido DAOs decentralized and trustless staking infrastructure ensures a high level of security for participants. The distributed network of node operators minimizes the risk of attacks and increases the overall resilience of the system.

Lido DAOs governance mechanism allows LDO token holders to actively participate in shaping the future of the platform. Users have a say in the decision-making processes and can contribute to the platforms evolution.

Lido DAO plays a vital role in driving the decentralization of Ethereums PoS consensus. By providing a secure, liquid, and accessible staking solution, Lido DAO enables ETH holders to actively participate in staking and contribute to the security and scalability of the Ethereum network. With its robust infrastructure and community-driven governance, Lido DAO is well-positioned to support the transition to Ethereum 2.0 and empower users in the decentralized finance ecosystem.

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Lido DAO: Driving the Decentralization of Ethereum's Proof-of-Stake ... - Auralcrave

Decentralization In Action: Unveiling The Strategies Of Scorpion … – Tekedia

As the demand for secure and decentralized financial solutions continues to grow, the competition for supremacy in the crypto market reaches new heights.

Within this article, we delve into the immense potential of Avalanche (AVAX), Polkadot (DOT), and Scorpion Casino Token (SCORP), shedding light on their unique characteristics and examining how they are poised to redefine the landscape of cryptocurrency adoption.

Polkadot (DOT) has emerged as a remarkable initiative committed to harmonizing diverse blockchains, receiving widespread recognition as a scalable and interoperable platform. Its fundamental mission revolves around addressing the pressing issues of scalability and compatibility that persist in the blockchain industry.

With its ingenious methodology, Polkadot empowers developers to construct tailored and specialized blockchains for different dapps, all the while promoting seamless interaction between disparate networks. By harnessing its pioneering consensus mechanism and governance framework, Polkadot aspires to transform the collaborative and interoperable essence of blockchain networks.

Within the expansive realm of blockchain technology, Avalanche (AVAX) shines as a trailblazing force, pushing the boundaries of decentralization to new heights. Avalanche ensures swift, secure, and scalable transactions, making it an irresistible choice for both users and developers.

Avalanche embraces a distinctive approach which relies on creating subnets, enabling the creation of multiple interconnected blockchains that foster collaboration and interoperability. Furthermore, the native token of Avalanche, AVAX, serves as the lifeblood of the ecosystem, empowering users to actively participate in governance, network security, and platform development. By blending advanced technology with an unwavering commitment to decentralization, Avalanche emerges as a true game-changer, providing a tantalizing glimpse into the future of blockchain innovation.

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Decentralization In Action: Unveiling The Strategies Of Scorpion ... - Tekedia

Pulling Back The Layers of L2 Scaling in Blockchain Networks – Techopedia

Layer 2 scaling solutionshave become increasingly popular in thecryptocurrencyindustry as the demand forscalabilityand efficiency continues to grow. These solutions aim to overcome the limitations of thebase layer, such as hightransaction feesand networkcongestion.

However, there are several different approaches to Layer 2 scalinginblockchainnetworks, each of which has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. This article aims to highlight the importance of Layer 2 solutions and compare various types available in the market.

Layer 2 solutions areprotocolsor frameworks built on top ofexisting blockchainsto enhance scalability and transaction throughput. Unlike traditional blockchains, Layer 2 solutions offload most of the computational work to an additional layer, reducing the burden on the main chain while still ensuring security anddecentralization.

These solutions achieve scaling by processing thousands of transactions off-chain and then bundling them into a single transaction on themain chain. In other words, L2 solutions make sure that the mainnet handles critical aspects of decentralization,data availability, and security while they divert the transactional burden onto their parallel network, de-congesting the mainnet in the process.

Layer 2 scaling solutions are crucial for the growth and adoption of cryptocurrencies. The underlying blockchains, such asEthereum(ETH), often face congestion and high transaction fees, making them impractical for widespread usage.

Layer 2s alleviate these issues by enabling faster and cheaper transactions, improving the user experience and incentivizing more active participation in the blockchain ecosystem. This allows the robust decentralized security standards of blockchains likeBitcoin(BTC) and Ethereum to become accessible to a wide range ofdecentralized applications(DApps) that are finding adoption.

Several types of Layer 2 solutions have emerged, each with its own unique approach to scaling blockchain networks. Here are some of the more popular ones:

Optimistic Rollups are Layer 2 solutions that prioritize scalability without compromising on the decentralized nature of the blockchain. They operate byexecuting transactions off-chainand then producingcryptographicproof that is submitted to the main chain.

In an Optimistic Rollup, the majority of the transaction processing occurs off-chain, in what is referred to as the rollup or commitment chain. This allows for faster transaction confirmation times and reduces the burden on the underlying blockchain network.

The key concept of Optimistic Rollups lies in optimistic assumptions andfraud proofs. Transactions processed off-chain are assumed to be valid, and any potential fraud is detected and challenged through the fraud proofs mechanism. If a fraudulent transaction is identified, the system falls back to the main blockchain to resolve the dispute and punish the malicious actor.

Optimistic Rollups offer several benefits, including scalability improvements by allowing more transactions to be processed off-chain, lower costs for users due to reduced fees, and improved speed of transaction processing. Additionally, they maintain compatibility with existingsmart contracts and Dapps without requiring significant modifications.

However, Optimistic Rollups also have certain limitations. Since the rollup chain is not fully decentralized and relies on the main blockchain for dispute resolution, there is a small delay before transactions can be considered final. Additionally, the security of the off-chain transactions depends on the correct functioning of fraud proofs.

ZK Rollups, also known asZero-Knowledge Rollups, are layer 2 scaling solutions that aim to improve scalability and reduce transaction costs by processing transactions off-chain and then creating succinct proofs that are submitted to the main blockchain for verification.

In a ZK Rollup, a set of transactions is aggregated and processed off-chain by a set ofvalidators. Instead of including all the details of each transaction, the validatorsgenerate a compact proof, also known as a ZK-SNARK (Zero-Knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge) or ZK-STARK (Zero-Knowledge Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge) proof.

This proof provides cryptographic evidence that the transactions are valid without revealing any sensitive information. The proof is then submitted and validated on the main blockchain.

Using ZK Rollups, the main blockchain only needs to verify the validity of the proofs, significantly reducing the computational load and increasing transaction throughput. The main blockchain acts as a data availability layer, ensuring the integrity of the off-chain transactions.

Some benefits of ZK Rollups include increased scalability, reduced transaction fees, andimproved privacy. By aggregating multiple transactions into a single proof, ZK Rollups allow for a much higher throughput compared to processing transactions individually on-chain.

However, ZK Rollups do have certain challenges and limitations. For one, generating and verifying ZK-SNARK or ZK-STARK proofs can becomputationally intensiveand may require specialized knowledge.

Furthermore, the setup and maintenance of the ZK Rollup system also require a level of trust in the validity of the off-chain transactions. If amalicious actorsuccessfully creates an invalid proof, it could potentially compromise the integrity of the entire rollup.

Sidechains areseparate chains that run parallelto the main blockchain, allowing for increased transaction throughput and scalability. These chains can have their consensus mechanisms and rules while still being interoperable with the main chain, enabling assets to move between the two chains.

The main purpose of sidechains is to address the limitations of the base blockchain, such as scalability, privacy, and flexibility, while leveraging the security and decentralization of the parent blockchain.

Some key benefits of sidechains include scalability, customizability,interoperability, and enhanced privacy. Sidechains can also be designed for specific purposes, such as gaming, financial applications,supply chain management, or identity verification.

Its worth noting that the security of sidechains is interconnected with the main blockchain. Validators or auditors play a crucial role in ensuring the integrity and trustworthiness of the sidechains operations, and users must trust that the parent blockchain will accurately reflect their actions on the sidechain.

State and payment channels are off-chain arrangements where multiple participants can conduct numerous transactions without involving the main chain for each transaction. These channels allow users to interact privately and at a much higher speed, settling the final state on the main chain only when necessary.

State channels allow participants to conduct multiple transactions off the main blockchain, only recording the final state of thosetransactions on the blockchain. This means that only a transactions initial and final state is stored on the blockchain, avoiding the need to process each transaction on-chain.

Payment channels, a specific type of state channel, are used for conducting recurring or multiple transactions between two parties. Instead of each transaction being processed on the blockchain, the participants open a payment channel where they can conduct several transactions off-chain. The final state of these transactions is then recorded on the blockchain, ensuring security andtransparency.

State/payment channels work by leveraging smart contracts andcryptographic techniquesto facilitate off-chain transactions. They require participants to lock a certain amount of cryptocurrency in the channel, ensuring that any fraudulent behavior can be punished. Participants can update the state of the channel by creating and exchanging signed messages, which are valid until either party decides to close the channel and settle the final state on the blockchain.

Plasma chains are Layer 2 solutions that enable the creation ofinterconnectedblockchains called child chains. These child chains handle a subset of transactions off-chain and submit the summary to the main chain periodically.

The Plasma framework uses a combination of on-chain and off-chain computation to enable secure and efficient processing of transactions. When a user wants to interact with a Plasma chain, they deposit their tokens or assets into a smart contract on the main chain.

From there, they can transact within the Plasma chain,executing smart contracts, making transactions, and other operations. These transactions are recorded on the Plasma chain, but the final state is periodically committed back to the main chain, ensuring security and preventing fraud.

Plasma chains offer several advantages, including increased scalability, reduced fees, faster transaction processing, and improved privacy. The main chain can handle a higher throughput and accommodate more users by offloading a large portion of transaction processing to sidechains.

Although Plasma chains have the potential to significantly improve blockchain scalability, there are still challenges to address, such as data availability, mass exits, and networksynchronization.

Validiums are a blend of zkRollups and optimistic rollups. They execute computations and verify transactions off-chain, ensuring high scalability. However, unlike zkRollups, Validiums trade privacy guarantees for scalability, making them suitable for scenarios whereprivacy concernsare less significant.

Here are some of the most popular Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solutions currently available:

Layer 2 scaling solutions play a key role in addressing thescalability challenges faced by blockchainnetworks. By offloading most transactions onto secondary layers, these solutions enhance throughput, reduce transaction costs, and improve overall scalability.

There are a number of different approaches to Layer 2 scaling in blockchain, with two of the most popular ones being Optimistic Rollups andZK Rollups. There are also other less-known L2 types, which come with specific upsides and downsides.

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Pulling Back The Layers of L2 Scaling in Blockchain Networks - Techopedia