Imagine a world where the once-clear boundaries between organic life and engineered existence are as muddled as a teenager's bedroom. It's a place where biotechnology isn't just a part of life; it is life. In this brave new world, scientists are the new rock stars, and petri dishes are their platinum records. Regulatory hurdles still loom (like the final boss in an epic video game), and ethical quandaries buzz around like flies at a picnic—persistent and ever-present. Yet, amidst this tangle of red tape and moral musings, a new breed of startups emerges, their foundations built not on bricks and mortar, but on blocks and chains. These trailblazers are stitching together the fabric of life with the threads of blockchain, weaving a tapestry of innovation that's as secure as it is groundbreaking. They're not just opening doors; they're creating portals to new dimensions of health and human capability. So, as we stand on the precipice of this new era, let's leap into the unknown. Let's explore the possibilities, the challenges, and the sheer audacity of a world where anything is possible, and everything is verifiable. Welcome to the future—where biology and technology dance in a delicate ballet, choreographed by the invisible hand of decentralized consensus. Untapped Potential or Just Crypto Hype? The discussion around merging Biotechnology with Blockchain has been bubbling recently, prompting the question of whether it's just another one of the crypto community's novel narratives that won't amount to much. Are these discussions driven by speculators, envisioning the rise of a useless Biotech coin with the potential for a 1000x pump and dump, fueled by the usual hype from influential figures in the cryptocurrency space? Or is there more substance to this concept beyond mere speculation and fantasy? Recently deposed Binance CEO, CZ expressed interest in entering the biotech industry, hinting at a possible fusion of distributed ledger technologies with biotechnology. CZ Posting about Biotech and potentially using crypto to help fund research On the flip side, there are suspicions that this move might involve the creation of a dubious cryptocurrency, making ambitious claims (X, Y, and Z), and following the familiar script for a quick financial scheme. Could the ex-Binance leader be uncovering a genuine opportunity here? Let's delve deeper to find out what a convergence between the two technologies and industries could look like, a couple of years from now. Welcome to the Not-so-distant Future For us to better understand how these exciting new industries could collide, we need to embark on a journey through time. Welcome to the year 2026. The city streets reflect subtle yet significant changes. Huge LED displays that curve around the architecture, are showcasing ads with a personal touch—suggesting products based on one's shopping habits. As of now, this is an opt-in feature so it is still quite possible to roam the streets without feeling like you are entwined into the grid so to speak. The roads are less congested, thanks to the wider adoption of electric vehicles and improved public transport systems. Bicycles and e-scooters have their lanes, and the air is noticeably cleaner, with carbon-absorbing panels on buildings working to reduce the city's footprint. Digital billboards are more interactive, responding to the gestures and glances of passersby. They're not overwhelming but integrated seamlessly into the urban landscape. Augmented reality guides are commonplace, offering historical facts or restaurant menus as you walk by. In the city center, drones are not a swarm but an occasional sight, delivering goods or capturing news footage. The dizzying rush of technology has been tempered by a societal push for digital well-being, ensuring that advancements enhance daily life rather than dominate it. The city feels familiar yet evolved, a place where innovation is balanced with tradition, and the pace of change is just right—quick enough to excite but slow enough to appreciate. As you explore the City, your attention is drawn to a digital ad board promoting a startup named BioBlock Nexus that specializes in Biotech and Cybernetics. The advertisement suggests the potential use of distributed ledger technology. Intrigued, you promptly search for the company's location and decide to visit them. Hailing an Uber ride (no flying cars yet!), you embark on your journey to explore this enigmatic new enterprise. During your commute, you take the opportunity to conduct a brief research dive into Biotechnology and Cybernetics. What is Biotech and Cybernetics? Biotechnology (Biotech): Biotechnology is an expansive field that utilizes biological systems, organisms, or their derivatives to innovate and produce a diverse array of products and applications across different industries. This field spans various scientific disciplines such as genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, and microbiology. Biotechnology finds applications in genetic engineering, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food production, and environmental management. In the realm of medicine, biotechnology is pivotal in advancing the development of vaccines, gene therapies, and personalized medicine. Cybernetics: Cybernetics stands as an interdisciplinary field that delves into the examination of communication and control within living organisms, machinery, and intricate systems. The term "cybernetics" originates from the Greek word "kybernetes," signifying "steersman" or "governor." At its core, cybernetics is centered on unraveling the principles of feedback, information processing, and control mechanisms that govern the operations of systems. This area of study explores how systems autonomously regulate themselves and adapt to shifts in their surroundings. The applications of cybernetics are widespread, encompassing realms such as robotics, artificial intelligence, control systems, and the scrutiny of complex systems in fields like biology and sociology. In summary, biotechnology involves the manipulation of biological systems for practical purposes, while cybernetics deals with the study of communication and control processes in systems, encompassing both biological and artificial entities. These fields intersect in areas where biological systems and technology converge, such as the potential integration of biotechnology with cybernetic principles for advanced applications. The concept of bio-convergence, which represents the convergence of cybernetics and biotechnology, is being discussed by scientists and thought leaders. The term refers to the integration of experts, processes, and technologies across biotech, software, and engineering, with the potential to transform research, development, manufacturing, and supply chains across multiple industries. This multi-disciplinary approach is seen as vital for addressing many of humanity's biggest challenges, including climate change, chronic disease, and sustainable food and energy supply. Additionally, the concept of bio-digital convergence is also gaining attention. It is the merging of biology and digital technology to create new technologies and applications that incorporate biological processes. Advances in synthetic biology, biotechnology, and digital technology are enabling researchers to manipulate and control biological systems in unprecedented ways. For instance, the article "Biodigital Philosophy, Technological Convergence, and Postdigital Knowledge Ecologies" discusses the new convergence between biology and engineering, including developments such as virus-built batteries, protein-based water filters, cancer-detecting nanoparticles, mind-reading bionic limbs, and computer-engineered crops. These advancements highlight the growing intersection of cybernetics and biotechnology, where collaboration across disciplines is leading to innovative solutions and breakthroughs. Room for Three? What occurs when one introduces Distributed Ledger Technology and decentralization into the equation? Has anyone within these sectors indicated or started developing applications that integrate components of Biotechnology and cybernetics on DLT infrastructure? What potential advantages might arise from such integrations? In some cases, scientists and professionals in the Biotechnology field have investigated the application of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) for diverse purposes. For instance, in the healthcare sector, Stuart Hanson, CEO of Avaneer Health, delves into the potential applications and obstacles of blockchain technology within the industry. He emphasizes that although blockchain doesn't solve all issues related to data standardization or system integration, it presents a promising distributed framework to facilitate the integration of healthcare information across a range of uses and stakeholders. He also emphasizes that blockchain is not a standalone solution or a simple technology add-on but requires comprehensive changes in processes, workflows, and how software engineers use tech stacks to leverage its true capabilities. The challenges in adopting DLT are particularly pronounced in large organizations with complex clinical and administrative use cases. The hesitancy to embrace such technology can be overcome by organizations willing to go beyond experimental phases, adapting their processes and technology stacks to harness the potential of DLT. Notably, collaborative efforts among major organizations like IBM, PNC Bank, Anthem, Aetna, HCSC, Cleveland Clinic, and Sentara Healthcare are aiming to establish a blockchain-enabled community and healthcare network. The success potential increases when multiple organizations collaborate towards a shared objective, in contrast to the common practice of a single tech company attempting independent execution. The core principles of blockchain, rooted in community, togetherness, openness, and collaboration, call for a shift in overall mindsets within the industry to scale the adoption of blockchain and unlock significant value from technology investments made over the past decade. Meanwhile at BioBlock Nexus HQ Putting aside the ongoing considerations and debates among thought leaders and scientists regarding the potential use of DLT in Biotechnology and healthcare, let's time jump back to 2026. During this time, remarkable and exciting advancements are taking place in the industry, all thanks to a Biotech startup venturing into the Blockchain domain and aiming to achieve what no other entity in this field has accomplished thus far. BioBlock Nexus is an International Biotech and Cybernetics startup that has embraced DLT solutions and is working towards integrating the infrastructure from a leading Layer-1 DLT. While there are challenges still left to be solved, the team has managed to figure out ways in which they can harness the power of the Blockchain, and incorporate it into their applications in a variety of useful ways. You arrive at BioBlock Nexus HQ and are greeted by an empty lobby with a giant video screen above the counter. There is a video that starts playing, which catches your attention. Intrigued by what you observed in the promotional video, you locate a representative and attempt to extract some information from them, which elaborates on how DLT solutions are being fundamentally used in practice by this company. What you learn from the rep is that DLT infra is being used to secure, decentralize, and democratize the BioBlock Nexus platform. Innovative Integration: BioBlock Nexus stands at the forefront of integrating Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology with Biotechnology and Cybernetics, paving the way for a new era of medical and scientific advancements. Enhanced Security: By leveraging blockchain technology, BioBlock Nexus ensures unparalleled security and privacy in the management of sensitive medical data, protecting against unauthorized access and breaches. Transparent Operations: The company’s use of distributed ledgers promotes transparency and traceability in research and development processes, fostering trust and collaboration within the scientific community. Blockchain Empowerment: Utilizing the robustness of blockchain to enhance data integrity. The rep you spoke to could not divulge specifics however but you got the gist of how this firm was looking to utilize DLT solutions in a significant and useful way, at least on paper. The BION Utility Token Fast forward a week. You are still very much in the future. You are browsing YouTube and come across this conference audio recording. It appears to be from BioBlock Nexus unveiling its utility token, BION, at the LifeScience Expo 2026. After some digging, you find some published information on the BioBlock Nexus website, which offers more detail on how they plan to utilize the BION token in their ecosystem. With the help of the BION utility token and Aleph Zero's DLT infrastructure, we aim to democratize access to cutting-edge research and facilitate collaboration among scientists, engineers, and medical professionals. Blockchain Utilization Data Integrity and Security: Blockchain’s immutable ledger ensures that all data related to biotech research and cybernetic implants are tamper-proof and traceable. Interoperability: Facilitates the exchange of data across different systems and stakeholders while maintaining privacy and compliance with regulations like HIPAA and GDPR. Smart Contracts: Automate processes for clinical trials, protect intellectual property, ensure supply chain transparency, and facilitate regulatory compliance. Additionally, smart contracts would support personalized medicine initiatives, secure medical IoT devices, enable confidential data sharing among researchers, and automate billing and payments. This would result in a more efficient, secure, and trustworthy ecosystem for all stakeholders involved. Zero-Knowledge Proofs Privacy Preservation/Liminal Integration: ZKPs enable the verification of data authenticity without revealing the underlying data, crucial for sensitive health records and proprietary research data. We will make use of Aleph Zero's Liminal Privacy layer in situations that require the safeguarding and non-disclosure of sensitive private data. Identity Verification: Patients and researchers can prove their identity and access rights without exposing personal information. BION Token Use Cases Access Control: BION tokens will be used to grant access to specific datasets or research findings within the ecosystem. Incentivization: Researchers contributing valuable data or insights will be rewarded with BION tokens. Governance: Token holders can participate in decision-making processes regarding project development, feature additions, or policy changes. The creation of a BioBlock Nexus DAO will be a top priority. Service Exchange: BION tokens could be exchanged for services like genetic sequencing, custom cybernetic enhancements, or personalized medical treatments. We are exploring other potential use cases of the BION token. With the help of stakeholders in our soon-to-be-created DAO, we will look to constantly progress and evolve, using a democratic process to fine-tune our operations. The Final Word It has surely been apparent that BioBlock Nexus is not an actual Biotech-Cybernetics startup incorporating DLT solutions into its platform. Instead, it is a purely conceptual creation originating from the depths of this writer's imagination. A glance into a future time, where what we envision what could be, actually is. It is crucial to emphasize that, while previous research indicates no Biotech company has attempted such extensive integration of DLT technology, current research suggests an interest among forward-thinking academics and scientists to turn this convergence into a reality. The challenge doesn't lie in the incapacity of DLT tech and blockchain to establish a foundational infrastructure for this purpose; rather, it seems to revolve around the necessity for significant changes in how software engineers and organizations structure their workflows, processes, and tech stacks. These adjustments demand a major shift in focus and strategy, and it might be the case that the industry is not entirely prepared for such changes just yet. One certainty is that industries are on the brink of witnessing the integration of DLT in significant enterprise applications soon. With many crucial components already in position and challenges like security, scalability, decentralization, and privacy well on their way to being resolved, the landscape is primed for greater levels of adoption than we have witnessed so far. Discussions are undoubtedly taking place within various industries regarding the potential benefits or drawbacks of implementing DLT infrastructure. However, The endeavor to integrate DLT into real-world applications should not be considered a futile pursuit, given the evident advantages it offers in several crucial areas, as visualized in the conceptual Bioblock Nexus project. Not all DLT infrastructure solutions are created equal, and as enterprises become acquainted with the most popular platforms, they often opt out due to the limitations they uncover. While acknowledging that no DLT is flawless, Aleph Zero seems to hold a competitive edge over most, offering purpose-built solutions tailored to enterprise use cases. Dirk Röder, head of Deutsche Telekom's web 3.0 infrastructure division, said this about Aleph Zero after announcing their partnership: With Aleph Zero we are expanding our footprint in the Polkadot ecosystem, where we have already been active since 2021. It is our first time, that we are providing infrastructure for a privacy-enhancing blockchain network. It is outstanding, because Aleph Zero combines different technologies, e.g., Directed Acyclic Graph, novel consensus mechanisms AlephBFT, Zero-Knowledge Proof, and secure Multi-Party Computation. The above results in an independent network capable of achieving a subsecond time to finality while remaining highly scalable, and secure. It’s an important attribute to us over at Deutsche Telekom MMS as security and data protection are central. This statement strongly implies that Aleph Zero stands out among DLT contenders competing for a share of the enterprise sector. This is due to its features being essential in real-world use cases where maintaining the necessary standards, particularly in terms of security, scalability, and privacy, is paramount for a professional organization. In the case of Biotech and Cybernetics, there are undoubtedly exciting and transformative opportunities available. Firms within these industries might choose to explore the potential of a privacy-enhancing enterprise-grade DLT infrastructure provider like Aleph Zero, realizing that the integration process may be smoother and less challenging than initially envisioned.

In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, the concept of identity has transcended physical boundaries, giving rise to a new paradigm of digital existence. At the forefront of this revolution is the Palau ID. It is billed as a groundbreaking initiative by the Republic of Palau that offers a unique blend of digital residency and individual sovereignty. This article delves into the intricacies of the Palau ID and examines its implications for freelancers navigating a world that no longer fits the virtual landscape in which they operate. Understanding the Palau ID The Palau ID is a digital residency program that provides individuals with a government-issued identification card, both physically and as a digitalized ID for connected services. Developed by the Root Name System (RNS), the world’s first digital web3 identity platform, the Palau ID is designed to support the application and issuance of sovereignty-backed IDs12. The Palau Digital Residency ID For digital freelancers, the Palau ID offers a plethora of advantages that align with the decentralized ethos of Web 3.0, according to advocates of the program. These include: Legal Identity Verification: The Palau ID serves as a legal ID for Know Your Customer (KYC) on over 90% of exchanges, including Binance, Kraken, and Coinmama. This facilitates seamless access to a borderless financial world, allowing freelancers to engage with various platforms without the hassle of traditional verification processes. Tax Efficiency: With the Palau ID, freelancers can benefit from 0% tax imposed on outside-of-Palau income. This tax-friendly environment is particularly advantageous for those who derive income from international sources. Global Access: Holders of the Palau ID are granted a physical address in Palau, which can benefit business operations requiring a physical presence. This feature opens up new opportunities for freelancers to establish a global footprint Enhanced Mobility: The Palau ID is accepted for hotel check-ins, train ticket purchases, and other services requiring identification, thereby enhancing the mobility of digital freelancers Community and Rewards: The RNS platform offers a rewards system, RNS Points, which can be redeemed for exclusive benefits with partner services, such as discounts on hotels, flights, and car rentals. Your Golden Ticket to Personal Sovereignty? Digital nomads who have taken up the initiative, claim the concept of individual sovereignty is deeply ingrained in the Palau ID program. By providing a government-backed digital identity, the Palau ID empowers individuals to exercise greater control over their personal and professional lives. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, a proponent of individual sovereignty, publicly minted the Voyager Pass NFT#1430 using his public wallet vitalik.eth, thereby endorsing the significance of the Palau ID in fostering individual sovereignty The Palau ID is said to represent a significant step toward a global digital existence, where digital freelancers can thrive without the constraints of traditional systems. As the Web 3.0 world continues to expand, the Palau ID possibly stands as a testament to the potential of digital identities in empowering individuals and promoting the ideals of sovereignty and freedom. What Technology is the Palau ID using? The Palau ID is based on RNS (Root Name System), which is a Web3 identity protocol that focuses on providing digital residency to people around the world. RNS is the world's first sovereign-backed blockchain-native digital identity platform. It allows anyone to apply for a digital ID that can be used for various purposes, such as banking, education, health care, social security, and more. RNS uses its blockchain network to store and manage digital IDs and related transactions. The blockchain network is powered by RNS tokens (RNS), which are the native currency of the platform. RNS tokens can be used to pay for fees, access services, and participate in governance. The blockchain network also ensures that the digital IDs are immutable, meaning that they cannot be altered or deleted once issued. The Palau ID is created on RNS's blockchain network using smart contracts, which are self-executing agreements that define the rules and conditions of a transaction. Smart contracts can automate various processes and functions related to the digital ID, such as verification, issuance, renewal, revocation, etc. The smart contracts are also encrypted with private keys that only belong to the owners of the digital IDs. By using blockchain technology for its digital ID program, Palau aims to offer more transparency, security, efficiency, and innovation to its citizens and residents. It also hopes to attract more investors and entrepreneurs who want to benefit from its growing digital economy. A Trojan Horse for Crypto Scammers and Corruption? On the flipside, critics caution that the Palau ID might transform into a potential "Trojan horse," exposing the nation to crypto scams and corruption, posing a risk to its reputation. They contend that insufficient scrutiny has been applied to the initiative, urging Palau to exercise caution before engaging in a program that could expose it to individuals with malicious intentions, utilizing it for illicit or unethical activities. Some of the potential risks of the Palau ID include: Fraud: The Palau ID could be used by scammers to impersonate legitimate businesses or individuals, or to access sensitive information or funds. For example, scammers could create fake companies or websites using the Palau ID, or use it to bypass security measures or verification processes. Scammers could also use the Palau ID to launder money or evade taxes. Money laundering: The Palau ID could be used by criminals to hide their illicit activities or assets from authorities. For example, criminals could use the Palau ID to transfer money across borders without leaving any trace or to invest in high-risk ventures without attracting attention. Criminals could also use the Palau ID to fund terrorism or other illegal activities. Corruption: The Palau ID could be used by corrupt officials or politicians to enrich themselves or influence others. For example, corrupt officials could use the Palau ID to embezzle public funds, receive bribes, or engage in nepotism. Corrupt officials could also use the Palau ID to manipulate elections, policies, or regulations. The Final Word The Palau ID represents a significant leap into a global digital realm, fostering an environment for digital freelancers to transcend traditional limits. The expansive landscape of Web 3.0 highlights the potential of digital identities to empower individuals, championing sovereignty and freedom. However, given its relatively short existence, understanding the full implications and challenges remains a work in progress. Does the Palau ID truly propel the next generation of global citizens toward the freedom and sovereignty they seek? The possibility is close, gaining traction among those seeking liberation from the constraints of the old system. Yet, venturing into this uncharted territory may necessitate a new form of digital oversight to ensure adherence to laws and prevent transgressions. As we navigate these uncharted waters, only time will unveil the true impact of the Palau ID on the evolving landscape of digital identity and freedom.

Table of Contents Introduction What is DAG? Features of DAG Benefits of DAG Aleph Zero’s DAG Architecture What is Consensus Mechanism? Types of Consensus Mechanism Byzantine Fault Tolerant Consensus Mechanism Aleph Zero’s Consensus Mechanism - AlephBFT Aleph Zero: DAG and BFT Consensus Mechanism Conclusion Introduction Since its inception in 2018, Aleph Zero has been true to its mission of advancing the adoption and growth of decentralized systems by building a secure blockchain ecosystem and developing secure smart contracts that power the decentralized world. So far, the blockchain has been able to attain some great heights for its goals, and the protocol will continue to expand and be updated in the years to come. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at how Aleph Zero is ensuring a secure ecosystem with the implementation of the BFT (Byzantine Fault Tolerant) consensus protocol and the DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) structure as its auxiliary data. What is DAG? DAG stands for Directed Acyclic Graph and it is a type of distributed ledger technology that uses edges and vertices in storing transactions instead of blocks as is the case in blockchains. DAGs have nodes that perform tasks to create and submit transactions but unlike blockchains, transactions are not sent into a block to be added to a chain of other blocks, rather, transactions in DAG are stored atop one another as vertices (vertex for a single transaction). And no, DAGs don’t form chains - blockchains do. Features of DAG Vertices and edges: unlike blockchain blocks, DAGs store transactions in edges that connect to form vertices, giving a graph-like structure. High level of centralization: most DAGs are centralized and, hence require permission before nodes can participate. Most DAGs are run by a small group of people. Hedera Hashgraph, for example, is governed by the Hedera Council and contains just 39 node operators. Benefits of DAG Highly scalable: DAGs, typically, can handle a larger number of transactions than the average blockchain. This is possible because the architecture on which DAG technology is built is akin to that of a tree, where linked nodes are the branches and they can validate transactions simultaneously unlike blockchains where transactions are processed block by block. This way users don’t have to wait long hours for one transaction to validate before executing another. Scalability is very attainable in this model of processing transactions. For instance, Constellation Network (a form of DAG) can perform 11,000 transactions per second; while Hedera Hashgraph can perform 10,000 tps. Faster transaction speed: transactions are processed faster because there are blocks to be created and nodes process transactions parallel to each other. For example, Aleph Zero which utilizes DAG reached a transaction speed of 100,000 per second on a test network of 128 nodes. Low transaction costs: There are no miners to validate transactions so users are not required to pay much for transaction fees. Greater flexibility: DAG-based DLTs are more favorable since they can be used in various use cases, such as payments, gaming, healthcare, supply chain management, IoT, databases, and much more. Rising traffic improves performance: Unlike blockchains that get congested during high traffic, with DAGs, the case is different. Less energy consumption: Even though DAGs use PoW approach, they consume way less energy than the average PoW blockchains. Aleph Zero’s DAG Architecture Although DAG is known mainly to be used in permissioned settings, in Aleph Zero, it is permissionless. The blockchain utilizes DAG to develop a leaderless (one in which no single node controls the entirety of the activities that take place on the network) protocol that mitigates the threats of malicious block producers. Some of the many advantages of DAG technology which Aleph Zero adopts are increased throughput, faster transaction speed, and reduced transaction fees. Aleph Zero believes that these will make mass adoption more feasible. What is a Consensus Mechanism? The blockchain, as we know it, is a distributed ledger technology that works when a group of nodes work together to ensure the system runs. Every participating node has a record of every transaction and they are in charge of validating and broadcasting every transaction that takes place on the network. To ensure that all nodes follow the rules and agree on a singular mode of validating transactions, we have what we call a consensus mechanism or consensus protocol. A consensus mechanism is an algorithm embedded into a blockchain’s code to ensure all the nodes participating in a network agree on the state of the blockchain. The state of the blockchain in this case refers to the mode by which transactions are validated in the blockchain and security is achieved. Types of Consensus Mechanisms There are several consensus mechanisms but the most popular of them are Proof of Work and Proof of Stake consensus protocols. The former involves miners competing to perform complex computational tasks to be able to create blocks, put transactions into the blocks, validate them, and then ensure that the network’s security is maintained. Only the fastest node to get the problem right gets to create the block and get rewarded. However, the latter involves stakers delegating their tokens to validators who then validate transactions and maintain the network's security. Other consensus mechanisms are Proof of History (PoH),  Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS), Proof of Authority (PoA), Proof of Importance (PoI), Proof of Elapsed Time (PoET), Proof of Capacity (PoC), Proof of Burn (PoB), Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT), etc. Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) Consensus Mechanism's Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) is a consensus mechanism that ensures the safety of the blockchain network despite faulty or malicious nodes assuming the number of malicious nodes doesn’t exceed the honest nodes or even equal one-third of all nodes in the network. BFT can be attained if the network's correctly functioning nodes come to an understanding regarding their values. The Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus mechanism is derived from the Byzantine Generals’ problem, which is a game theory problem that describes how difficult it is for decentralized parties to reach an agreement without depending on a reliable central party. The image below provides a better explanation of Byzantine Generals’ Problem: Byzantine Fault Tolerant is advantageous in that it ensures that the system still functions even when some nodes on the network are faulty or start acting maliciously. Aleph Zero’s Consensus Mechanism - AlephBFT Aleph Zero utilizes the Byzantine Fault Tolerant consensus protocol and is referred to as AlephBFT. Aleph Zero operates by having a group of nodes known as validators propose and vote on blocks. A validator must first construct a unit, which is a tiny bit of data that includes some of the transactions and the block header before they can submit a block. After that, the unit is transmitted to every validator in the network. After that, the units are voted on by the validators. Every validator must confirm that the unit is legitimate and hasn't been tampered with before they can cast a vote for it. The unit is added to the blockchain if the majority of validators vote for it. AlephBFT is one of the key ingredients that power the Aleph Zero blockchain and it is peer-reviewed. It ensures that even amid malicious nodes, communication between the other nodes is transparent and efficient. Aleph Zero can withstand up to 33% of malicious or dishonest node members without its validation process or outcome being affected. Every transaction is approved by 67% of the members before it is finalized. In Aleph Zero, the validators who determine the state of the network are rotated Aleph Zero: DAG and BFT Consensus Mechanism Aleph Zero combines the BFT consensus protocol and DAG architecture at the core level. Aleph Zero has three qualities that make it the secure blockchain it is: asynchronous, leader-free, and the consensus mechanism it employs - Byzantine Fault Tolerant. It is worth noting that Aleph Zero is not a DAG, rather it employs the integration of its data structure in its development. The DAG in Aleph Zero is used in collating data on the ordering of the transactions, and then the network’s validators build blocks of chains based on these transaction data. In Aleph Zero, the blocks are developed using the DAG as an auxiliary structure in the parallel process, so it is clear that DAG has an impact on the chain's development but it is not the chain itself. Hence, Aleph Zero cannot be regarded as a DAG but rather a blockchain. Although Aleph Zero utilizes the DAG, it doesn’t adopt its permissioned feature. It implements a process that designates a rotating committee of randomly selected individuals to make decisions regarding the state of the network to ensure that the protocol stays decentralized. Conclusion While Aleph Zero can attribute its privacy to ZK-SNARKS and sMPC, its security can be credited to its implementation of the BFT consensus mechanism and DAG architecture. As a result of this integration, the blockchain can withstand coordinated attacks by some of its participating nodes as well as downtime in others.

On the 1st day of Christmas, our true love gave to us: Dropspace! Join us in welcoming the newest project to Aleph Zero’s Ecosystem Funding Program - Dropspace. On the 14th of December, Dropspace announced its entry into the Aleph Zero ecosystem via the $50 million funding program, meaning the platform is now supported on the Aleph Zero Network. Let’s go on an adventure into Dropspace, exploring its features and relevance to the Aleph Zero ecosystem. What is Dropspace? Dropspace is a no-code NFT platform for minting, launching, and selling NFTs founded in 2021. An all-in-one hub for artists & creators to seamlessly launch and manage their NFT collections, removing the need for them to have coding experience or hire someone experienced with coding. Think the "no-code" is the sweetest part? Wait until you find out that as a creator, there’s no cost for dropping your collections on the platform, just a gas fee for minting is required. Dropspace is more than just an NFT launchpad, it’s a toolkit for creators to launch their collections with scalable smart contracts, collection pages, a backend control panel for users, and mint widgets that can be embedded into websites. Creators can launch their collections on their own websites or the Dropspace site. It is also an open marketplace for collectors to discover live and upcoming mints and trade them. According to the website, Dropspace has accumulated over $10 million in volume. To ensure that collectors don’t fall prey to rug pulls or hacks, Dropspace claims to vet every project that launches on its platform. For Creators: Go to the website and click on “Create Collection.” Then set up a MetaMask wallet Fill in the necessary information about the collection. Upload the NFT (artwork, audio, video, event ticket, virtual real estate, fashion items, etc) Launch mint page Dropspace currently supports NFTs built on Ethereum, Base, Polygon, BNB Chain, and now the Aleph Zero blockchain. Below is a video tutorial on how to launch a collection as a creator. For Collectors: Go to the website Click on “Explore Mints” Explore all live, upcoming, top, and even past NFT collections along with their minting details on Dropspace. Dropspace Products ~ Rarityspace: This is a product built by Dropspace. It is a premium platform where collectors can discover the rarity of the NFT collections and projects can market their rare collections. ~ Dropspace Mint Tickets (DMTs): Collectors can also buy Dropspace Mint Tickets (DMTs) which are lifetime passes to every pre-sale that’ll take place on the Dropspace platform. Only 500 DMTs exist as a way to reward their OG community members. This can be purchased on OpenSea. Benefits of Dropspace Integration with Aleph Zero Aleph Zero now supports Dropspace to offer a range of benefits for creators and collectors in the Aleph Zero community. Some of these benefits are: ~ Eco-friendly minting: Aleph Zero is committed to its mission of promoting energy efficiency and it extends this to the projects within its ecosystem. ~ Seamless minting: with a straightforward UI, Dropspace ensures that anyone who visits the website and wants to mint or buy an NFT on the Aleph Zero blockchain doesn’t encounter complexity. ~ No platform fees: unlike some NFT marketplaces, Dropspace doesn’t require creators to pay listing fees to showcase their NFT collections on its platform. Only a gas fee for minting is required. This is an amazing opportunity for the Aleph Zero community members who are NFT enthusiasts. ~ Take full ownership: Dropspace is like a storehouse where NFTs are showcased, and creators still get to regain control of their collections as smart contracts belong to them. Dropspace’s Future Releases for the Aleph Zero Community In a blog post published yesterday, Dropspace outlined its plans for the future as it integrates with one of the fastest Layer-1 blockchains out there - Aleph Zero. Here are some of its future goals: ERC-1155 integration: Dropspace will allow users of the Aleph Zero blockchain to mint the ERC-1155 NFT type. This token standard allows creators to mint multiple fungible and non-fungible tokens within a single smart contract. Dropspace is working on an update that will allow Aleph Zero users to mint ERC-1155 kind of NFTs. Mint Widget: Dropspace is looking to improve its user experience for all Aleph Zero NFT creators. The Mint Widget which they stated will be launching next will enable users to embed the checkout on any website, regardless of how it was made. Dropspace is eyeing future collaborations with other projects within the Aleph Zero ecosystem, as well as artists. To help the Aleph Zero community in the vast world of NFT and see the potential in investing in NFTs, Dropspace will release educational resources. Team Behind Dropspace Chaitenya Gupta (Cofounder of Dropspace): Dropspace is co-led by Chaitenya Gupta who also co-founded The DeFi Network. Together with his college roommate, Chaitenya started The DeFi Network in February 2021 when they were in their fourth year of schooling. Months later, they went on to launch Dropspace. Mihit Wadekar (Cofounder of Dropspace): Mihit is the cofounder of Dropspace and The DeFi Network. Conclusion Dropspace is aiming to reshape the future of NFTs and looking to bring the full potential of NFTs to the limelight beyond their monetary value. With support from Aleph Zero, the team is one step closer to their goals. Learn more about Dropspace here

On December 5th, just a few days ago, someone minted a BTC inscription (ordinal) on Magic Eden, five hours later, his transaction was finally verified and he got his NFT in the early hours of the next day. 5 WHOLE HOURS for a single transaction! He recounted watching the block where his transaction lay in getting pushed back multiple times and other blocks get pushed forward in the mempool. What was going on? Transactions are supposed to be verified in the order they come in. However, this isn’t usually the case, especially when the network is congested. As you can see in the images above, notice the arrows. The 1st image shows the date (Dec 5th, 23:32:27) when the order to mint order was placed, just about close to midnight. The 2nd image shows the date (Dec 6th, 04:47) when the transaction was finally confirmed, in the early hours of the next day. What happened here was a clear case of MEV. What is MEV? MEV, formerly known as Miner Extractable Value but now generally called Maximal Extractable Value is the maximum value that can be obtained from block production beyond the usual block reward and gas fees which may be altered by adding, removing, rearranging, or censoring the transactions within a block. For PoW blockchains, miners are responsible for securing the network and as such, perform the task of building blocks, validating and sending blocks of transactions to be added to other chains of blocks. For PoS blockchains, validators are responsible for these functions. These roles give them an unfair advantage in manipulating the order in which transactions are sent to the blockchain. Due to this, some miners/validators take advantage of their positions and as a result, re-order transactions in a way that benefits them. They can insert their transactions in the first set of blocks heading for the blockchain or they can push transactions of those who pay higher fees to the front while other transactions get pushed back (more like a bribe to manipulate a standard order). Miners and validators do this to maximize their profit separate from the gas fees distributed to them and the reward they earn for producing blocks. Traders who want their transactions to be ahead can also influence MEV by paying very high gas fees so the miners/validators send their transactions to the front. Before Ethereum’s Merge, $675,623,114 was the estimated dollar value extracted by miners from manipulating transaction orders from 2019 to September 2022. According to Flash Bots, this figure is undervalued as it only contains data from a few protocols and two types of MEV (liquidations and arbitrage). Post-Merge, over $74 million has been realized by Ethereum validators from MEV. This goes to show that MEV has become very lucrative for miners and validators. Reason MEV occurs The most basic reason why MEV occurs is that miners/validators can see each transaction's details before they add them to the blockchain. Imagine a scenario where they won’t be able to see the transaction details. They won’t know which transaction is next, so they can’t manipulate them. This is what Aleph Zero is building, a method that not only mitigates the risks of MEV, but one that drastically reduces it. Different types of MEV attacks There are various ways an MEV attack can occur: Front-running: Most mempools are democratized such that every participant can see what goes on in there. Traders can monitor their transactions to see how it goes into the blockchain. While this is a benefit, it also has its disadvantages., front-running for example. Front-running is a process by which a trader observes transactions ongoing for the sole purpose of disrupting the order. For instance, trader A executes a transaction while waiting for it to get into the blockchain, he watches it in the mempool. Another observing trader B copies the transaction of trader B but with a higher gas fee. A miner sees this and then puts trader B’s transaction at the front so it enters the blockchain first before trader A’s transaction. All the while, trader A watches his transaction getting pushed back to front-run those with higher gas fees. MEV bots are specialized in this. Liquidations: MEV bots can continuously scan lending protocols for chances to liquidate a user's stake and earn from the liquidation charge. When the chance presents itself, these bots take advantage of weak positions by liquidating them, earning profit from the fees of liquidations. Back-running: As opposed to front-running, back-running is making money by placing an order after a high-value transaction. The back-running transaction takes advantage of the remaining arbitrage opportunity resulting from the price impact of the initial transaction. This doesn’t affect the targeted transaction. Sandwich attack: This combines both front-running and back-running by placing a transaction before and after a targeted transaction. Firstly, Trader A monitors and targets a buy order transaction of Trader B. Trader A then copies Trader B’s transaction but places a higher gas fee so it goes into the blockchain before Trader B’s transaction (front-running). Trader A's buy-order gets in first, thereby pushing the price of the token up to the slippage tolerance set by Trader B (remember Trader A copied Trader B’s transaction except for the gas fee). This results in the token’s price increasing. Then Trader A also performs a back-running sell-order transaction behind the targeted transaction (sandwiching it) capturing the arbitrage and selling the token at a profit. Problems caused by MEV MEV can have negative effects on users and the network. Let’s take a look at some of these problems: Network congestion: Front-running attacks can lead to the network being congested due to an overload of transactions. Threatens decentralization: Miners and validators choosing preferred transactions to enter into the blockchain contrast the whole idea of blockchain being a decentralized platform. It breeds censorship, thereby reducing decentralization. The increasing volatility of the market: The effect of some of these attacks is fluctuation in the prices of tokens. Reduce fairness: The whole idea of MEV is unfair to victims who have fewer resources to counter the attacks. Threatens a blockchain’s security: MEV bots can threaten the stability and security of the blockchain network by incentivizing dishonest or harmful activity. MEV bots can even work with miners or validators to rig a block's transaction order. Aleph Zero on the fight against MEV Aleph Zero counters the negative effects of MEV through two means: its privacy layer called Liminal and submarine sends. Liminal is Aleph Zero’s privacy layer and it combines both ZKPs and sMPC, you can read more about how Aleph Zero combines the best features of ZKPs and sMPC in its base layer here. Executed transactions are ordered in batches to be sent into the blockchain but the contents of these transactions will be hidden for the most part, so validators won’t have the opportunity to manipulate transactions ordering. The details of the transactions are only revealed after they have been finalized. In a traditional submarine send, users have to send decrypted transactions manually after the allotted time has elapsed, however, the process is automated in Aleph Zero’s Liminal. In Aleph Zero, users are obliged to send threshold encryption to an assigned committee which is responsible for decrypting the transaction info. What is Aleph Zero? Aleph Zero is a layer 1 blockchain that provides developers with the right platform to deploy projects that are scalable, secure, decentralized, and privacy-enhanced to be used across various applications.

The ascent of Web3 technologies marks a transformative chapter in online communities, fostering the prospect of forging deeper, more significant bonds among individuals globally. Zealy stands as a pioneering platform driving this shift, empowering enterprises to nurture and expand their communities. Zealy Quests: A Realm of Rewards Zealy spices up community engagement by rewarding contributors for conquering quests—tasks that inspire action. Rewards range from exclusive Discord roles, and NFTs, to a project's native tokens. Quests come in various flavors, from content creation and company exploration to social media following. Crafting Quests with Zealy Zealy offers an array of ready-made quest templates tailored for content creation, Web3 onboarding, coding, social networking, and community activities. These templates offer an ideal start, especially for new communities. Tailored Quests Zealy empowers companies to craft quests tailored to their community's unique needs and core concepts. An example of this is AZERO.ID's Zealy Questboard, and how it showcases the effectiveness of customized quests via curated quizzes and interconnected quests. It guides users through a sequence of tasks that unfold step by step, and because of this, this deliberate approach enhances gaming involvement, nurturing active engagement. So, how does tailored engagement like this positively impact a community? This is where "unlockable quests" come into play. Unlockable Quests Zealy's unlockable quests pave the way for tailored engagement paths, ensuring users experience a sense of accomplishment and advancement. This quest type offers projects the ability to set specific criteria for quest accessibility, encompassing four distinct prerequisites: Discord Role-Based Access: Quests can link with Discord roles, granting access exclusively to users holding specific roles like "ambassador." Level-Determined Quests: Zealy enables quests to unlock based on user progression levels. Higher-level quests remain locked for users below the threshold, encouraging advancement. Conversely, quests aimed at beginners remain unseen by experienced members. Time-Sensitive Quests: Employ Zealy's date conditions to tease quests before they unlock or set time-limits, creating an air of anticipation and urgency as quests appear or disappear based on specific dates. Sequential Quests: Craft a narrative learning journey where quests progress sequentially, guiding users from one task to another. This sequential process enriches learning and onboarding experiences, focusing on the journey's narrative rather than just the endpoint. Engaging with Sprints Zealy introduces another engaging facet through "sprints," essentially short-term contests with a fixed timeframe known as an epoch. These sprints act as condensed challenges or themed events aligned with specific goals. For instance, when launching a new product feature, a sprint can encompass diverse tasks around it, from social media promotion to content creation and feedback collection. Unlike regular quests, sprint rewards aren't solely tied to task completion. They can rely on earned experience points (XP) during the sprint, fostering a competitive spirit among members. Zealy experience points (XP) When community members, engage in quests or emerge victorious in sprints, they earn XP—experience points. This XP system acts as the foundation of Zealy's structure, encouraging contributors to ascend the Zealy Questboard, which ranks participants based on their cumulative XP. In essence, Zealy XP establishes a framework for acknowledging and compensating community contributions. Its applications include: Questboard Leaderboards and Incentives: Projects frequently consult these leaderboards to recognize and incentivize their most dedicated community members. Advancing on the leaderboard opens doors to rewards. Sprint Challenges: As previously discussed, certain sprints use XP as the key metric for distributing rewards. For instance, reaching a specific XP threshold might grant access to a particular quest, leading to associated rewards like exclusive Discord roles. Token-Based Rewards: XP points often translate into tangible financial rewards. Zealy boards in the Aleph Zero Ecosystem AZERO.ID: AZERO.ID's Zealy board stands as an inclusive platform that recognizes and rewards impactful contributions within the Aleph Zero ecosystem. Through engaging sprints, they offer a spectrum of rewards, catering to both avid leaderboard climbers and enthusiasts seeking their chance in random raffles. This initiative fosters a vibrant community spirit while encouraging active participation and exploration within the ecosystem. Join the AZERO.ID Zealy here. AngelBlock: AngelBlock's Zealy board, previously launched, temporarily paused its activities before making a triumphant return with a focus on invigorating sprints. These new initiatives are exclusively geared towards rewarding leaderboard champions. Join the AngelBlock Zealy here. Panjea: Panjea's Zealy board has recently launched, opening doors for enthusiasts to participate in the Panjea ambassador/pioneer program. By securing the top rank, members can position themselves as pioneers, gaining exclusive access to Panjea's exciting initiatives and ambassador programs. Join the Panjea Zealy here. DRKVRS: DRKVRS' Zealy board is integral to nurturing the DRKVRS community, offering insights into its lore, and educating its members. The board's sprints are cleverly organized into seasons, culminating in rewards for top-ranking leaderboard members at the end of each season. Join the DRKVRS Zealy here. Conclusion By leveraging Zealy’s comprehensive suite of tools—from quests and sprints to unlockable achievements—communities can transform into thriving ecosystems. This innovative approach drives engagement, rewards participation, and ultimately establishes stronger connections, fostering an environment where communities don't just grow, they flourish.

Introduction Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) is a common but often intertwined term. People interchange blockchain for DLT and DLT for blockchain. However, they are not to be taken as the same. While blockchain can be regarded as a DLT, DLT is not a blockchain. Confusing? Let’s take a look. What is Distributed Ledger Technology? Distributed Ledger Technology, preferably referred to as DLT, is a technological framework that allows individuals across various places and networks (nodes) to access, validate, and update transaction records. It operates on a computer network that spans several nodes, entities, or locations. Every node in a distributed ledger processes and validates every transaction, producing a record of every interaction and reaching an agreement on the accuracy of the data. Whether the data contains information that is regularly being updated, like financial transactions, or data that doesn’t change after being recorded, they can be processed and accessed via a distributed ledger. Blockchain is a well-known distributed ledger technology but it isn’t the only one out there. Other DLTs include Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), Hashgraph, Hyperledger Fabric, R3 Corda, etc. So while blockchain is a DLT; the term “DLT” isn’t exclusive to blockchains alone. Applications of DLTs Distributed Ledger Technologies can be applied in almost every industry: In healthcare: To provide further clinical assistance and expedite diagnosis while safeguarding patients’ data. In government: To provide an open and transparent electoral process. In cybersecurity: It raises the bar for internet security and provides better firewalls. In global payments: To offer a better system for faster transactions worldwide. In supply chain: To track and monitor goods from their time at the hands of the manufacturers to the point where they reach the consumers. In entertainment: To improve artist value and optimize entertainment channels. DLTs can be applied in these industries because of the many benefits that they offer. General Benefits of DLTs Transparency: Distributed ledger technologies are designed in such a way that every participating node can see what happens on it. You can say it’s an “open book” literally. Over the years, a lot of closed-door activities, e.g., from financial institutions that affect users have been brought to light and people have had fewer reasons to trust giant companies to be looking out for them. Before the real use cases of DLTs came into play, people had no option but to trust these companies more or less because there was no real choice. However, with DLTs in full swing, more and more people are beginning to see other options. Everyone can see what happens in the system, changes being made, inputs and outputs, so it makes it hard to cheat or try anything cunning without every participant being aware. So DLTs allow for full transparency and with that, breed trust. Process information in real-time: Various computers can exchange data in real-time with the use of DLTs. Instead of centralizing all the information on one server, distributed ledgers employ separate nodes to record, share, and synchronize transactions in their electronic ledgers. Traceability: Like the open ledger it is, DLTs allow every interaction to be available for monitoring, which inevitably gives room for traceability. Security: Data stored on DLTs can hardly get lost because it isn’t recorded in one place, there are other copies of every data with every participating node which means a particular set of data getting lost on one node doesn’t even make a dent. So this encourages data security. Immutability: Every information inputted is permanently stored and is not subject to changes either by the users or the nodes involved. Almost every distributed ledger technological system provides these benefits and more but while we praise the benefits of DLTs, we can’t overlook the downsides. Distributed ledger technologies, in an attempt to solve many dilemmas facing the world today, have traded off some important factors. Some of these very same benefits have turned out to be double-edged swords and we’ll delve into what I mean by this. Shortcomings of a Typical DLT (with Blockchain as a Major Player) Privacy challenge: The first item on the list of benefits of DLTs is transparency and it might interest you to know that this is one of the double-edged swords referred to earlier. As much as transparency is needed to breed trust and eliminate reliance on centralized bodies, it also gives no latitude for privacy. Privacy shouldn’t be mistaken for pseudonymity or anonymity as they all differ in certain degrees (you can better understand what I mean in this article). When you send crypto, for instance, to a wallet address, it doesn’t mean you or the recipient are kept private. Why? Because there’s still a record showing that a transaction happened between two people and the two addresses involved in the transaction are visible for the public to see. So while your real identities are kept unknown (like with a mask), your transactions can be traced (assuming you've been a clown at various circuits). These methods of pseudonymity and anonymity are what most blockchains and web3 projects use. Lack of true security: Following up on the privacy challenge, the lack of true privacy in most blockchains opens tiny cracks for insecurity to creep in. With mere wallet addresses, the real identities behind the millions of transactions happening on the blockchain can be uncovered. Sure, it’ll involve investing a lot of time and probably money but guess who has the most time for this kind of pursuit? A dedicated hacker! Suffice it to say that many blockchains out there are at risk of being hacked and even more, every user is at risk of getting his/her data exposed for misuse. Scalability concerns: For an industry looking to onboard the “next billion” users, there seems to be a lack of a memo on how this will play out. A distributed ledger that can perform more transactions is considered scalable and this is an important factor in ensuring mass adoption. The most popular blockchain, Bitcoin, can handle 7 transactions per second (TPS), the second most popular, Ethereum can process just about 20 on average. The image below (source: Invest in Blockchain) shows a list of the maximum transactions per second for the top 50 blockchains. It is quite understandable for blockchains who chose to opt for better security, thereby trading off scalability, but in an industry that has gained/is still gaining the interest of many every day, you’ve got to give the users more. Lack of enforced regulatory compliance: Many blockchains allow projects built on them to “run wild” all under the cover of “blockchain for freedom.” As a result of this, many blockchain projects have been sued, brought down, or are in constant battle with government authorities over non-compliance with the guidelines set. With this, it is not unexpected for the government to come after the web3 industry as a whole, using the issue of projects not complying with Know-Your-Business (KYB) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements as a perfect excuse. Pretty sure you’re not oblivious to the fact that the government is really after the blockchain industry, I mean it goes against everything they wish to keep happening, but why give them the chance to when these can be prevented? Long verification time: This is an important criterion to be factored into determining the speed of a blockchain because it denotes how fast a blockchain can process transactions. As seen in the image shown above, some blockchains take as long as 30 minutes or 60 minutes to confirm a transaction with the least time in the list being 1 second for Nano. Environmental problems: Some DLTs, certain blockchains to be specific, utilize methods of validating transactions that are not eco-friendly. This, as a result, has brought lots of backlash to the industry with people emphasizing the cons of technologies within this category. Proof of Work (PoW) is a consensus mechanism that some blockchains, like Bitcoin and previously, Ethereum use in arriving at consensus and confirming transactions. PoW involves miners solving highly complex computational tasks to confirm crypto transactions and add them to the block. This process requires high electrical power to be consumed because of the type of computers that can only be used for this mining. Centralization: Some DLTs are permissioned and are hence, exclusive for private users. Aleph Zero Saving the Day Here’s how Aleph Zero has approached solving each of the highlighted problems. True privacy: If there was ever a list of stern believers in the need for users’ data privacy, Aleph Zero won’t be found missing on that list. It is a blockchain infrastructure that allows developers to deploy projects that are scalable, secure, and even more, privacy-focused using technologies best known for ensuring privacy. “Acknowledging the need for efficiency and ensuring strict privacy of users’ data on all fronts, Aleph Zero combines the best features of ZKPs and sMPC.” Here’s how Aleph Zero is hacking the key to true privacy. Security: Security is vital to blockchain technology and that is why various methods of ensuring blockchain security (consensus mechanisms) have sprung up over the past few years. Aleph Zero utilizes the Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) consensus mechanism, AlephBFT. In theory, consensus indicates that all participants agree before a transaction is signed. In practice, however, not all nodes/validators are honest but BFT ensures that blockchains can still operate even if some of the participating nodes are malicious or dishonest. AlephBFT allows every transaction to be confirmed as long as 67% of the committee members come to a consensus. This means the network can still function even when some of its participants are not to be trusted. Scalability: Aleph Zero boasts of being able to handle up to 100,000 transactions per second (TPS), making it one of the fastest blockchain networks to deploy projects on. It measures this capability in terms of the number of user transactions it can withstand (Do note here, and not to confuse any readers, that in a tested environment, the team at Aleph Zero was able to achieve 89,600 TPS for AlephBFT between 120 nodes and with a validation/finality time of 0.416 ms). Ensures compliance with regulatory requirements through KYB check: Aleph Zero ensures that all projects coming into its ecosystem through the Ecosystem Fund Program (EFP) undergo strict KYC/KYB background checks to make sure that they follow through with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) rules to keep users’ data private. Latency or verification time: Aleph Zero has a verification/finality time of 0.9 seconds. This means that transactions are confirmed in 900 milliseconds. This is indeed an improvement when compared to other blockchains and, combined with Aleph Zero’s TPS, you can add Aleph Zero to your list of fastest blockchains. Eco-friendly: Aleph Zero leverages Proof of Stake in its effort to see a drastic reduction in energy waste. Aside from this, Aleph Zero joined the Crypto Climate Accord, an initiative to use renewable energy in powering blockchain technology to help decarbonize cryptocurrency, in a bid to make crypto green. The blockchain also works with carbon offsetting programs on a mission to decrease carbon footprint. You can learn more about Aleph Zero’s carbon-negative journey here. Decentralization: Aleph Zero is a fully permissionless blockchain that employs a DAG architecture that anyone can use without needing to ask for permission. Conclusion Solving the blockchain trilemma might have been something that no blockchain could achieve, but not until Aleph Zero emerged. With a scalability feat like no other, a security measure that many are still looking to implement, an architecture built to resist centralization, and an in-built privacy enabler, Aleph Zero is well on its path to becoming the DLT many didn't see coming.

Outline: Introduction What are ZKPs? Benefits of ZKPs Limitation of ZKPs What is sMPC? Practical use cases of sMPC Advantages of sMPC Shortcomings of sMPC Liminal: The Combination of ZKPs and sMPC Key takeaways: Zero-knowledge proof is a cryptographic method that a prover uses to convince the verifier about a claim but doesn’t reveal the content of the data. ZKPs lack in cases where multiple parties need to collaborate. Secure Multi-Party Computation (sMPC) is a cryptographic technique that requires multiple parties to collaboratively perform a single computation task but not reveal their private data to one another. Aleph Zero’s approach in creating the first hybrid privacy layer - Liminal by combining ZKPs and sMPC. Introduction: As a newbie in the web3 space, one of the first things you’d probably learn about blockchain technology is that it maintains a transparent and immutable record of transactions. Although the whole context of blockchain technology is meant to breed trust through transparency, it has presented itself as both a blessing and a curse. While transparency gives room for accountability, it also leaves no room for privacy. One might argue that transactions are kept private as personal identifiers like names, and emails are not exposed, only wallet addresses are transparent and could belong to one of the eight billion people in the world. However, with invested time, it is very much possible to dox the identities behind crypto wallets. But there are now ways in which blockchains can offer full privacy of information exchanged. Data privacy on the blockchain can be attained in various ways: Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs), secure Multi-Party Computation (sMPC), Trusted Execution Environment (TEE), Proxy Re-Encryption (PRE), Homomorphic Encryption (HE), and more. Aleph Zero uses ZKPs and sMPC, so this article aims to help you understand these two privacy technologies and how Aleph Zero implements them. What are ZKPs? Zero-knowledge proof is a cryptographic method that a prover uses to prove knowledge of certain information to the verifier but doesn’t reveal the data or content of the information. The main essence of this tech is to prove that a piece of information exists but except for the prover, no one else knows the content contained in that information. This normally shouldn’t be possible. A lawyer won’t be able to prove a statement in court without revealing hard evidence to the judge right? Only with a look at the evidence can the judge verify the actuality of the statement right? However, it works a different way with ZKPs. Assuming you were in a “ZK court” as a lawyer, you’d just need to convince the judge that you have proof of your claim and convince him to validate your claim but without showing him the hard evidence you might (or might not) have with you. For a proof to be considered zero-knowledge proof, these factors have to be present: Completeness: the prover has to convince the verifier of the validity of the information. Soundness: only true statements can be verified and accepted, hence, in the case of a false statement, the verifier will not be convinced. Zero-knowledge: the verifier has to have zero knowledge of the information. Benefits of ZKPs: ZKPs can be applied in various ways and have proven to be very useful. ZKPs enable privacy in transactions, hence, some coins (termed privacy coins) use them so that transaction details are hidden from the public’s view. ZKPs ensure data privacy by allowing users to selectively choose which data on their credentials to submit to firms requesting them. ZKPs enable scalability for layer 2 rollups that execute transactions off the main chains thereby reducing the amount of data to be stored on the main chains & increasing verification time for transactions. ZKPs can also be employed in KYC/KYB/AML processes for regulatory compliance but without the participants giving out too much information. These benefits that ZKP provides have made it a topic of interest, especially in recent years, and has thus, increased the number of founders leveraging it for their projects. Without an ounce of doubt, ZKP has many advantages, but it is not without its limitations. Limitation of ZKPs: One limitation of ZKP is its inability to deal with multiple user interactions. This means that ZKPs can only let two parties in on a computation task and this is limiting for a network that intends to allow collaboration from multiple nodes. This is where sMPC (secure Multi-Party Computation) takes the reins. What is sMPC? Like ZKPs, the bedrock of sMPC didn’t start with crypto. In the late 90’s, cryptographers tested sMPC and experimented with it. In the world of blockchain and cryptocurrency, however, sMPC is more or less a foreign term. Secure Multi-Party Computation (sMPC) is a cryptographic technique that requires multiple parties (nodes) to carry out a single computation task involving their private data (called secret or inputs) but not allowing each other to know their private data. This means that each participant’s (node) data has to be kept private from the rest, but they all have to collaborate on computation and provide a valid output that can be seen by every participating node. Typically, to work on a computation that involves participants’ data, they’d need to reveal their secret, but this is avoidable through the use of cryptographic algorithms. For instance, Shamir’s Secret Sharing Scheme and Threshold Signature Scheme are examples of cryptographic primitives that allow participating nodes to conduct computations without the need to disclose their secrets (data). Practical Use Cases of sMPC: Voting: In electronic voting, sMPC can be utilized such that the winning candidate (the output) is revealed but each participant’s vote is not revealed. Scientific Research: sMPC proves useful for researchers across different research institutions, hospitals, and universities who are looking to work together on a shared dataset. The data will be encrypted and shared among the researchers who then compute them individually, yet collaboratively. Of course, each researcher has his/her private data they’re looking to utilize to solve the shared computation but this private data will be kept secret from one another. The result (output) of the computation may (or may not) be made public to the researchers. Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ Machine Learning (ML): Private data can be used for machine learning models and AI models to train them and get insights while maintaining the integrity of the data. Private Bidding & Auction: sMPC technology can be applied in auctions where each participant’s bid needs to be kept secret. The earliest and most popular large-scale application of sMPC was at the Danish Sugar Beet Auction which happened in 2008. You can read more about it here. Data Analysis by FinTech Companies: it is no news that FinTech companies utilize their customers’ data to get a better understanding of their behavior. In a case where more insights from non-customers are needed, FinTech companies can collaboratively cross-analyze each other’s data without really disclosing their customers’ private data, using sMPC. Storing Digital Assets: if you’re familiar with how multi-sig wallets work, this shouldn’t be difficult to comprehend as they are similar. Crypto wallets used to store assets can be made to be compatible with sMPC such that the private keys of a user’s wallet are distributed among various trusted parties (custodians). For any action to occur within that wallet, all or some of these custodians will be required to use sMPC to agree and sign the transaction. Advantages of sMPC: Data privacy: this is the most obvious advantage of sMPC. It allows users’ data to be kept confidential even in cases when they’re being utilized for public benefit. Meet the standard for data protection regulations: According to reports, over 90% of companies are not compliant with the various data protection regulations set by regulatory bodies in charge to ensure the safety and privacy of people’s data. Organizations that use technologies like sMPC to ensure their users’ data protection will have a lower risk of being tagged and listed as non-compliant. Efficiency and higher accuracy: being able to collaborate with others to provide answers for computational tasks is more efficient than working alone and there are more chances of coming up with more accurate answers. Better security No trade-offs between data usability and data privacy: typically, private data cannot be accessed and because they are not accessible, they cannot be used, even for good. This technology - sMPC makes it possible to do both. Data can be kept secret, yet still be used. Shortcomings of sMPC: Like with ZKPs, sMPC has shortcomings of its own like computational overhead, and the delay caused by various rounds of communication across the nodes making it slow. Liminal: The Combination of ZKPs and sMPC: Acknowledging the need for efficiency and ensuring strict privacy for users’ data on all fronts, Aleph Zero combines the best features of ZKPs and sMPC. The type of ZKP that Aleph Zero employs is zk-SNARK. Using just zk-SNARK is not sustainable for transactions that involve multiple parties as zero-knowledge tech involves two parties. Also, it is not efficient for cases that involve a global private secret because, in ZKPs, at least one party (the prover) must know the secret but a global private state requires that no single participant be aware of the secret. Aleph Zero’s native privacy layer is called Liminal. It acts as a layer 2 on Aleph Zero that offers complete data privacy and security for Aleph Zero’s intra and inter-network transactions. Liminal is referred to as multi-chain because it allows interoperability of other blockchains. Liminal is a software-based privacy layer for Aleph Zero that jointly uses zk-SNARKs and sMPC in instances where they each thrive. Most transactions that happen on Aleph Zero are based on the zk-SNARKs and only a few cases that require strict privacy use sMPC. Aleph Zero uses the Shamir Secret Sharing Scheme in sMPC cases that allows participating nodes to perform computations without revealing their secret (data). Thereby, this layer 1 blockchain explores ZKPs’ speed and sMPC’s total privacy feature that allows people to securely collaborate. Conclusion: Aleph Zero is, no doubt, hacking it when it comes to privacy. The blockchain’s capability far exceeds any benchmark and as such, it comes as no surprise why it has gained the attention of many. If you wish to hear from the horse’s mouth on how Aleph Zero is exploring ZKPs, sMPC, and the DAG consensus algorithm, listen to this podcast where the co-founders of Aleph Zero, Adam Gagol, and Matthew Niemerg sat with Anna Rose of Zero Knowledge Podcast.

In an announcement made on X today, Earn Network officially joined Aleph Zero’s Ecosystem Funding Program (EFP) as a grantee from its $50 million grant pool. Since Aleph Zero launched the EFP, it has been dedicated to its mission of providing funding for projects and protocols, at all stages of growth, looking to advance the expansion and adoption of the Aleph Zero ecosystem. Earn Network is the latest project to be added to this ecosystem. In this article, we’ll take a look at: What is Earn Network? Key features Earn Network integrates with Aleph Zero How Earn Network plans to leverage this partnership Core team members of Earn Network What is Earn Network? Earn Network is a platform that offers multiple yielding opportunities for investors. It is an open, global marketplace powered by smart contracts that connects liquidity providers and pool creators. Described as a ‘no-code’ platform that allows easy deployment of products that offer an array of investment opportunities like RWAs, LSDs, SocialFi, and AI assets for users, Earn Network aims to bridge the gap between TradFi (traditional investment) models and the wide range of opportunities provided by the DeFi landscape, thereby promoting a more inclusive and accessible financial ecosystem. With an easy-to-use interface, Earn Network is the investor’s go-to liquidity marketplace. Key Features Earn Network offers a wide range of services on its platforms but has four key services for which it is known to offer and they are DeFi staking, restaking, lending, and flash pools. DeFi Staking: this is perhaps one of the common services carried out on the platform. Earn Network is a marketplace where anyone can stake their crypto assets. There are multiple tokens across various networks available for staking. What’s more? The ease that the platform provides. Restaking: if this term is new to you, restaking is the act of using an already staked cryptocurrency to commit (restake, delegate) to another protocol. The restaked cryptocurrencies can then be used to validate transactions on the other protocol, as well as provide security for it. Stakers whose tokens are restaked get more rewards and in some cases, are also exposed to more risks, slashing for instance. Currently, Earn Network only supports restaking across blockchains (zones) connected to the Cosmos ecosystem. Lending: like other DeFi protocols, Earn Network is set to offer lending services to users. This feature is expected to go live by the end of Q1, 2024. It will allow users to loan their crypto assets, select their repayment date, interest, and grace period for repayment of loans, customize their collateral structure, and even more. The native token of Earn Network is $EARN and its utilities vary: Payment for services carried out within the platform. Platform fee distribution. Users get rewarded with higher yield should they choose to claim staking yield in $EARN. N.B: this is NOT a piece of financial advice to buy the aforementioned token. DYOR before the decision to invest in any token. Stay safe! Earn Network Integrates with Aleph Zero As stated in their blog, the Earn Network team plans to utilize the grant support to advance their “technological solutions and integrate seamlessly within the Aleph Zero ecosystem.” The main goal of this integration for Earn Network is to maximize the enhanced capabilities of the Aleph Zero blockchain as a base layer to improve the security, speed, and scalability of both current and future products on the platform. Also, the roadmap includes plans to develop locked & flexible smart contracts that will be compatible with Aleph Zero to improve the DeFi and NFT staking services provided by the platform. This partnership will greatly benefit users on the Earn Network and also help Aleph Zero’s EFP projects. How Earn Network Plans to Leverage this Partnership Aleph Zero as a base layer: Aleph Zero is one of the top and fastest blockchains to build web3 protocols on. The incorporation of Aleph Zero as a base layer will create a realm of opportunities both for users within Earn Network and beyond. Enhance DeFi Staking: One of the core pillars on which Aleph Zero stands is its ability to allow developers to deploy secure, scalable, and private-enhanced products across multiple areas of web3 including DeFi. DeFi has experienced unprecedented growth over the years and staking is a popular service offered by DeFi protocols. Aleph Zero’s approach and understanding of the potential behind DeFi has led to its preference as the layer 1 blockchain to launch DeFi protocols. The DeFi Staking product on Earn Network will explore Aleph Zero’s tech to ensure that users can stake their tokens in a safe staking and scalable environment that will not only offer security but also proffer better yield on investments. NFT Staking: With this integration, users are provided with ingenious and alternative ways to gain profit from their digital assets. This is equally going to be beneficial for projects that offer NFT staking-as-a-service as they’ll get to see better and easier approaches for launching staking programs for their NFT collections. Marketplace Growth: This integration gives room for Earn Network to expand its marketplace and offer investors more opportunities to earn passive income. User Experience and Accessibility: Since its launch, Earn Network has had one long-term mission which is to empower every individual with a solution that offers various investment opportunities so that they gain financial freedom, with no bias. Earn Network is big on ensuring that users have the optimal experience that will make their DeFi journey seamless and so, with the integration of Aleph Zero, more efforts can be channeled into creating that platform. Core Team Members of Earn Network Bartosz Pozniak: is the Founder of Earn Network and has proven himself a believer in Aleph Zero’s ability to create a true blockchain infrastructure that solves the blockchain trilemma. Integrating Earn Network into the Aleph Zero ecosystem isn’t exactly his first rodeo with Aleph Zero. Earlier this year, Bartosz’s second company, MyContainer integrated the Aleph Zero token ($AZERO) and business ecosystem into its platform. MyContainer is an international crypto staking platform where users can stake over 100+ crypto assets to earn passive income. The integration wasn’t limited as it also paved the way for MyContainer to act as testnet & mainnet validators of the Aleph Zero blockchain. Bogdan Sinicki: is the Lead Smart Contract Architect at Earn Network, with over 5 years of experience working developing smart contracts and crypto trading platforms. Kamil Chmielowiec: is the Head of Partnerships at Earn Network. He has over 3 years of experience working on partnerships for multiple crypto projects. This integration is a big win for Aleph Zero and an even bigger win for Earn Network as it marks the beginning of a new chapter. To learn more about Earn Network, visit here To learn more about Aleph Zero, click here

Venturing into the world of cryptocurrency often leads to a multitude of possibilities for investors and enthusiasts alike. One such avenue that continues to captivate the community is staking—a method that enables users to earn rewards while contributing to the security and functionality of blockchain networks. Staking Simplified Staking is a concept in the crypto world where users hold their cryptocurrencies in a specific way to help validate transactions and secure a blockchain network. It involves holding a portion of a particular cryptocurrency in a digital wallet to support the network's operations and, in return, earning rewards. The Basics: How Staking Works Staking is based on the Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. It's a method some cryptocurrencies use to achieve agreement and validate transactions without energy-intensive mining. When you stake your crypto assets, they're locked up as collateral, contributing to the network's security and validating transactions. In turn, you earn additional cryptocurrency as a reward for your contribution. Staking involves delegating or entrusting a certain amount of cryptocurrency to a network's node to help maintain the network's operations. This process is vital for decentralized networks as it ensures the smooth operation and security of the blockchain. Why Limited Cryptocurrencies Have Staking Options Not all cryptocurrencies use staking. For instance, Bitcoin operates on the Proof of Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, which requires miners to solve complex mathematical puzzles to validate transactions and secure the network. However, some cryptocurrencies, like Ethereum 2.0, have shifted to Proof of Stake (PoS) for scalability reasons, where users can stake their coins to validate transactions and maintain the network's stability. Adopting Proof of Stake over Proof of Work is primarily driven by scalability concerns. PoS mechanisms offer faster transaction processing times and consume less energy than PoW networks, making them more efficient and environmentally friendly. Staking Benefits Beyond Earning Rewards Staking has multiple advantages. Apart from the potential to earn rewards, it enables users to actively participate in securing the blockchain network they support. By staking their crypto holdings, users contribute to the network's overall security and efficiency while gaining additional crypto rewards. Moreover, staking provides a passive income stream for crypto holders. It allows them to earn returns on their investments without actively trading, providing a more stable and predictable income. Key Considerations for Stakers Staking isn't without its risks. One of the primary concerns is the lockup period that often accompanies staking activities. During this period, staked tokens cannot be transferred, limiting liquidity. Stakers must understand the specific rules and lockup periods associated with each staking project before committing their assets. Another risk associated with staking is the possibility of slashing. This occurs when a validator behaves maliciously or negligently, leading to a portion of their staked tokens being confiscated as a penalty. The Unique Aspects of AZERO Staking Aleph Zero employs the Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. In Aleph Zero, participants can be validators or nominators, contributing to network security and earning rewards. Validators process transactions and secure the network, while nominators support validators and earn rewards based on their selections. Staking Process in Eras On Aleph Zero, staking occurs in periodic cycles known as eras, each lasting approximately 24 hours. During an era, staking-related data is locked and frozen, allowing users to make changes, which become effective at the start of the subsequent era. The staking rewards are awarded at the end of each era. How to Start Staking with the Aleph Zero At present, Aleph Zero offers two distinct methods for staking: Direct Nomination: This avenue demands a substantial minimum stake (currently set at 2,000 AZERO, subject to future increases). Despite the high requirement, it provides the freedom to select nominees at will, allowing alterations in nominations without the obligatory 14-day unbonding period. Pooled Nomination: Engaging in a "staking pool" enables staking with a minimal amount of 10 AZERO. However, rather than personally choosing a validator, the pool operator makes this selection on behalf of the participants. While this method offers ease and accessibility, transitioning between pools involves an unbonding period. Furthermore, the process of auto-compounding necessitates manual reward claims and periodic addition of funds to the pool. Conclusion Staking allows users to participate in blockchain networks and earn rewards actively. By delving deeper into the staking process, users can navigate the crypto landscape more confidently and engage with blockchain technology more meaningfully. References: https://alephzero.org/staking https://alephzero.org/blog/how-to-stake-azero-on-the-aleph-zero-mainnet/ https://docs.alephzero.org/aleph-zero/stake/staking-basics https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_stake https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proof_of_work https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/cryptocurrency/what-is-ethereum-2-merge/

Non-fungible tokens — or NFTs — took the Web3 world by storm in the last crypto bull run. The NFT hype spellbound celebrities, influencers, traders, and investors alike to send the total market cap of known NFT collections to $35 billion. Some digital artworks sold for millions of dollars, whilst the NFT of the first tweet ever sent fetched nearly $3 million. NFTs are unique, tradable digital blockchain tokens representing virtual and real-world assets. They can be used to authenticate digital and real-world collectibles and assets. Whilst some hype has quietened mainly due to the market recalibration, the utility and possibilities of NFTs are set to expand. Prestigious and authentic NFT collectibles bring community value and foster a positive culture within Web3. As such, any smart-contract programmable blockchain ecosystem is incomplete without vibrant NFT projects and community NFT creators and collectors. Just as crypto traders need exchanges, users also need a specialized exchange to collect, list, view, buy and sell NFTs. A digital space that allows all of these things is known as an NFT marketplace. Here’s an overview of ArtZero, a new multichain platform that aims to provide a secure, decentralized, and user-friendly platform for creators and collectors to engage in the growing world of NFTs. ArtZero is establishing itself as the leading NFT marketplace for ink! Blockchains, including Aleph Zero, Astar and 5ire. From Aleph Zero to multichain future To our knowledge, ArtZero is the first and, at the moment, the only NFT marketplace built in the programming language ink!. The decentralized multichain marketplace is live on Aleph Zero and Astar mainnet; launching soon on 5ire mainnet. The platform is also available in the testnets for Aleph Zero, Astar, and 5ire. Users can pay a small fee to list their NFT collections for trading on the platform or create their unique NFT collection via the ArtZero contracts. Users can create a collection in a simple mode for non-technical users or an advanced mode for those who want to use customized NFT smart contracts. Simple mode users can mint their NFTs using ArtZero’s on-chain smart contracts, whilst advanced mode enables large dedicated 5,000 or 10,000 collections with whitelisted options. ArtZero also offers a launchpad feature for creators wishing to launch big collections. Launchpad allows collectors to mint NFTs, which can be traded in the ArtZero marketplace. The platform also comes with its native NFT Collection in the Aleph Zero network called Praying Mantis Predators (PMP), which owners can stake for a share of platform revenue and other perks. The team also plans to launch PMPs in Astar and the 5ire network. Other prominent, tradable collections available in the ArtZero marketplace include AZERO.ID domains, AZERO punks, amongst others. Initially launching on Aleph Zero and extending to Astar and planned launch on 5ire. The ArtZero team also plans to enable users to cross-transfer and trade NFTs between Aleph Zero, Astar, and 5ire on a user-friendly platform. The Polkadot ecosystem provides two standard interfaces for Non-Fungible Tokens: PSP-34 (ERC-721 equivalent with extensions) and PSP-37( ERC-1155 equivalent with extensions). Whilst ArtZero currently supports PSP-34 standards, they aim to support and launch PSP37 standards in early 2024. ArtZero is the first project to implement the PSP standards in the Polkadot ecosystem. With an already slick user interface, ArtZero provides a great experience for technical and non-technical users. The team is constantly collecting user feedback and aiming to improve the UI/UX in 2024. There are also ongoing discussions for the platform to expand to new networks and establish partnerships. Origins and the team After a few months of ink! smart contract development, ArtZero released the first version of the NFT marketplace in April 2022. The project has received a rapturous reception from the Aleph Zero community as their early contributor program resulted in the sale of over 2500 Praying Mantis Predators NFTs. The team behind ArtZero has years of experience in the Web3 space, having previously done software outsourcing for blockchain dApps and working on many blockchains, including Ethereum, TRON, Solana, and Near. The team has participated and received several bounties for finding bugs from Aleph Zero and the Parity Security team. In January 2023, the Web3 Foundation approved ArtZero’s proposal to be inducted into the Web3 Foundation Grants Program. ArtZero is also an active validator of the Aleph Zero network, managing a node and contributing to the network's decentralization. The platform has also received a grant from the prestigious Aleph Zero Ecosystem Funding Program. The ArtZero platform was assessed for technical and implementation audit by Brushfam, one of the industry’s leading experts, auditors, and advisors of ink! Smart contracts. The report shows that the ArtZero team addressed all concerns from the auditors, leaving no issue with the smart contract. This is aligned with the team’s vision to provide safe and secure engagement with NFTs. Key team members ArtZero is a highly experienced team of several dedicated and part-time developers and designers, including the key team members below. Brian Nguyen (Founder, Engineer): Brian Nguyen graduated from the University of Nottingham, UK, with a 1st class Computer and Electronics Engineering degree. He has over 15 years experience of developing data-driven applications. He also has a deep interest in blockchain technology and the development of decentralized apps on Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, Tron, and Solana. Phuong Hoang (CMO): Phuong Hoang has been in the sales and marketing industry for over a decade. She was a Sales and Marketing Manager/Director for several companies, including Honda Vietnam, Plex Cinema, and Saga Media. Frankie Kao (Art Director and a team of five designers): Frankie Kao owns a design company and has been working on several web and graphic design projects. He has dedicated resources to work with ArtZero. Summary ArtZero is becoming the de facto NFT marketplace for blockchains building on ink!. The platform, developed by a highly experienced and talented Web3 development team, has also worked with security experts to ensure the safety of their users. Users discover, collect, and trade NFTs on ArtZero, while creators can launch their collections in a simple, user-friendly manner.

The Mycorrhizal Dance Embarking on a journey through nature's intricate tapestry, we encounter a remarkable testament to diversity and inclusion within the plant kingdom – the mycorrhizal dance between plants and fungi. In this mutually beneficial relationship, fungi help plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil, while plants provide sugars to their fungal counterparts through photosynthesis. This symbiotic partnership highlights the interconnectedness and cooperation among different species, showcasing nature's diverse and inclusive collaborations. Drawing inspiration from this organic choreography, Deutsche Telekom MMS, a subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, embraces Aleph Zero, a privacy-enhancing layer 1 blockchain with instant finality, marking their first partnership with a privacy-focused network. Joining the ranks of Ethereum, Flow, Celo, Chainlink, and Polygon, Deutsche Telekom MMS extends validation nodes to Aleph Zero's mainnet and testnet, amplifying the network's strength with validation services, solidifying its position among the 130 validators on the Aleph Zero network. Performance Dynamics of Validators Validators are crucial for the operation and security of blockchains, playing a dual role as vanguards and custodians within the network. This dual nature creates a performance dynamic with a double-edged sword effect. As vanguards, validators protect against malicious attacks while validating and verifying transactions. Simultaneously, as custodians, they establish a protective shield around the system's integrity, ensuring precise record-keeping. Deutsche Telekom MMS, as a validator, will play a significant role in securing Aleph Zero's privacy-enhancing L1 Blockchain. It will contribute to the blockchain's security, governance, and decentralization by running nodes, producing blocks, validating transactions, and participating in consensus, thereby ensuring the overall integrity of the system. A Growing Portfolio This collaboration is poised to enhance the security of Web3 applications and streamline the onboarding process for businesses adopting Blockchain technology, leveraging Aleph Zero's privacy-focused and highly scalable solutions. Telekom MMS already boasts trust from twelve blockchain networks with over 200 validators, safeguarding assets exceeding 60 million euros across Chainlink, Ethereum, Celo, Q, Flow, Polkadot, Polygon, and Energy Web. The partnership not only reinforces Aleph Zero's credibility but also expands Deutsche Telekom MMS's infrastructure portfolio. It serves as a clear testament to Aleph Zero's privacy-enabling capabilities and enterprise-grade scalability potential within the Layer 1 Network. In response to our inquiry about upcoming project milestones, Benjamin, a key member of Deutsche Telekom MMS, expressed confidence in the team's progress, stating, "For the future, we are planning on providing a wide range of Web3 services. We started with staking infrastructure. We are also supporting Oracles & Indexing services and are constantly looking out for new infrastructure cases. We want to be one of the key players in Web3 Infrastructure & Services." In a recent Twitter statement, Telekom MMS reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the security of the Aleph Zero Blockchain network through a robust staking strategy. Key staking metrics: Staking Ratio: 70.13% Total Staked $AZERO: 183.9M Average Staking Rewards: 11.09% Validator Stake: 346,950,01 Nominator Stake: 204,867,021 Total Issuance: 347,262,259 Total Validators: 135 Total Nominators: 15,504 This commitment underscores Telekom MMS's proactive role in maintaining the network's integrity and fostering a secure blockchain environment. Global Telecom Leadership Deutsche Telekom is a global leader among integrated telecommunications companies present in more than 50 countries. With a staff of more than 200,000 employees throughout the world, they provide the infrastructure for fixed-network/broadband, mobile communications, Internet, and IPTV products and services for consumers, and ICT solutions for business and corporate customers, generating revenue of 114.4 billion Euros in the 2022 financial year. Its subsidiary, Deutsche Telekom MMS, provides cloud infrastructure for blockchain networks capable of supporting high-demand enterprises, such as Ethereum or Polkadot, by hosting and maintaining nodes. These nodes play a crucial role in recording, verifying, and validating transactions, thereby securing the blockchain network.