The last few years have witnessed several smart contract platforms launch, with each of those platforms making certain trade-offs around scalability, decentralization, and...

What is the future of blockchain and cryptocurrency? That’s one of the most common questions on the minds of many crypto investors or enthusiasts. While many believe Bitcoin will become the world’s reserve currency, others predict privacy coins like Zcash will take over. But there may be another contender who could be one of the biggest blockchain technology breakthroughs. That is Algorand, an innovative platform based on proof-of-stake algorithm and security deposits. A Review of Smart Contracts What is a smart contract, really? It is a computer program that controls financial assets or property and executes exactly as programmed. It’s to digitally facilitate, verify or enforce negotiation or performance of an agreement. So, there is no need for a third party (like a bank). Essentially, the intention is to replace trust in humans with trust in code. But what does that actually mean for you and me in practice? How will smart contracts change everything for blockchain technology? How do we decide which ones are best for our own needs—whatever they may be? Let’s take a closer look at some potential use cases of blockchains when it comes to smart contracts. ​ One of the most useful applications of smart contracts in decentralized file storage. For example, suppose someone wants to store data on IPFS but can only commit small amounts of money at a time due to constraints set by their employer or university. A simple algorithmic script running on the blockchain allows them to store that piece of data on IPFS without actually owning any cryptocurrency while still gaining credit for other contributions made during their workday. In this way, everyone involved gets access to decentralized storage without needing any cryptocurrency​ themself! How does Algorand Work? Algorand is a new blockchain architecture that focuses on solving several problems that exist in existing blockchain models. The primary goal is to achieve security guarantees like those run by classical Byzantine fault-tolerant (BFT) consensus algorithms. However, unlike PBFT and Tendermint, Algorand requires just 16 nodes to agree on every block. Furthermore, it does not rely on third-party services to run its network. This implies that no single party may withhold service, disrupt processes, or manipulate results without majority consent. Simply put, there’s no way for a bad actor to take advantage of their position and tamper with data. Furthermore, each node validates all transactions locally and must decide on each one independently before acting. Even if an attacker temporarily controlled several of Algorand’s sixteen consensus participants, he would have minimal leverage. His ability to perform future transactions would be limited. He wouldn’t have access to information about prior transactions until they were recorded into blocks. Therefore, he would be unable to predict their effect on his reputation score reliably or otherwise corrupt them. The Problem with Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Other Cryptocurrencies The problem with cryptocurrencies is that they don’t scale. For example, Bitcoin currently carries out 7 transactions per second, while Ethereum can only handle 15. This means that you can’t support a truly global economy with either cryptocurrency as a foundation, not even on a regional level. Many other cryptos are attempting to fix scaling problems. However, few have gained enough popularity for their use cases even to matter yet. And if the use of cryptocurrencies isn’t widespread, how will businesses or governments fully use them? Or do we want them to make full use of them? Besides, all of these cryptocurrencies run off some form of blockchain technology. So there must be something better than blockchain technology for us to get true scalability and better usability. The Problems Algorand Identifies From Other Blockchains There are two core problems concomitant with today’s blockchain applications: scalability and security. Scalability is a matter of size related to how many transactions per second an application can handle. On the other hand, security is a big deal for financial institutions and companies who don’t want careless sharing or compromise in sensitive data. Traditionally, having multiple computers confirm every transaction addresses these issues. The idea is to create redundancy by dividing those transactions among several devices rather than one mega computer. Then, if something goes wrong on one device (or gets hacked), others pick up where that device left off. That strategy has some pretty serious limitations, though. First, because everyone needs to process every transaction, scalability remains on a tight leash no matter how many computers you add-in. Another issue is that only one group can process all those transactions. It’s not very private when everyone knows exactly what everyone else is doing. And finally, there’s latency or lag time. As more people join a network, it takes longer for your transaction to appear as part of that network. This is because each computer must first verify everything before adding its approval on top of everything else. That makes … Continued

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Cosmos is a permissionless decentralized network of interoperable and independent blockchains that exchange tokens and information. Cosmos was established in order to overcome some of the problems that modern blockchains have. Scalability, governance, and usability are among these concerns. Blockchains can be separated into three conceptual layers from architecture:  Application layer: It updates the state of blockchain based on the execution of transactions.  Networking Layer: It is in charge of ensuring that transactions and consensus-related messages are propagated.  Consensus Layer: It allows nodes to agree on the system’s present state. The Cosmos is a decentralized network of autonomous, scalable, and interoperable blockchains powered by the Tendermint Core Byzantine Fault-Tolerant (BFT) consensus algorithm. Cosmos is all about the multi-chain world, seamlessly communicating data and tokens between numerous sovereign blockchains. This establishes a collaborative ecosystem because no project or blockchain in the ecosystem exists to compete with others; instead, Cosmos connects them all.  Features of Cosmos: Tendermint Core Cosmos SDK IBC Tendermint Core Tendermint BFT combines a blockchain’s networking layer and consensus layer into a generic engine, allowing developers to focus on the development of the application layer rather than the complicated underlying protocol. Tendermint saves hundreds of hours of development time as a result. Tendermint is also the name of the byzantine fault-tolerant consensus method employed by the Tendermint BFT engine. The Application Blockchain Interface connects the application layer of blockchains with the Tendermint BFT engine through a socket. Any programming language of your choice can be used to wrap the protocol, allowing developers to use whatever language best suits their needs. Cosmos SDK The Cosmos-SDK is an open-source framework for creating multi-asset public Proof-of-Stake (PoS) and Proof-of-Authority (PoA) blockchains, such as the Cosmos Hub. Application-specific blockchains are blockchains that have been created using the Cosmos SDK. The Cosmos SDK’s purpose is to simplify developers to build unique blockchains from the ground up that can natively interact with existing blockchains. IBC It’s a protocol that enables different blockchains to communicate with one another. Considering the legalities and constraints that needed to be met to make this communication process a reality was hard. IBC makes it easy to transfer tokens and other data in a trusted and frictionless manner. It opens up a world of possibilities allowing for interoperability and value transfer, without facing the scaling issues which can be seen today in many blockchains. How does IBC work? The logic behind IBC is very simple. Let us suppose, there is an account on chain X, and it wants to send 20 tokens (for eg. ATOM) to chain Y.  Tracking Chain Y receives the headers of chain X continuously and vice versa. This allows every chain to have the track record of the validator set of every other blockchain. For this purpose, each chain runs a light-client of the other. Proof Relay Proof that 20 ATOM tokens are bonded is sent from chain X to chain Y. Validation  The proof sent to chain Y is verified against chain X’s header and if the proof is found valid, then 20 ATOM vouchers are created on chain Y. Keep in mind that, ATOM tokens created on chain Y are not real, because real ATOM tokens still exist on chain X. Tokens present on chain Y are just a representation of ATOM on chain X, along with proof that these ATOM tokens are frozen on chain X. A similar process is followed to unlock the tokens when they return to their origin chain.  Tokenomics Use Cases of ATOM Token ATOM can be used in three ways: as a spam-prevention system, staking tokens, and voting method in governance.  ATOM is used to pay fees as a spam prevention method. Similar to Ethereum’s idea of gas, the fee might be proportionate to the amount of computation required by the transaction. Taking fees is necessary so that malicious actors don’t misuse the blockchain. ATOM can be staked to obtain tokens as rewards. The quantity of ATOM staked determines the Cosmos Hub’s economic security. The more collateralized ATOM there are, the more skin is at stake and the cost of attacking the network rises. As a result, the more ATOM are staked, the better will be the economic security, Governance: ATOM holders can also govern the Cosmos Hub by voting on proposals with their staked ATOM. Initial Token Distribution of Cosmos(ATOM) The Interchain Foundation held multiple private investment rounds, and a public fundraising event on April 6, 2017.  According to the Interchain Foundation, private Contributors, Public Contributors, All in Bits Inc (AiB), and the Interchain Foundation were the recipients of these newly created ATOMs.  In exchange for a $1,329,472.3 donation, strategic and early adopters received 7.1 percent of the first supply or 16,856,718.97 ATOMs. In exchange for $300,000, the seed contributors received 5% of the initial supply or 11,809,947.91 … Continued

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Cosmos is the blockchain protocol that creates a new web in the ecosystem. It has some similarities to Ethereum with its Turing-complete clever contract language. It focuses on building decentralized applications, but it also aims to be a platform for business collaboration with faster transactions, cheaper fees, and less energy consumption. The proposed governing system is called the ‘Polkadot network’, consisting of various layers and benefits from native interoperability with other blockchains. What is Polkadot and Cosmos? Cosmos is the blockchain protocol that creates a new web in the ecosystem. The proposed governing system is called the ‘Polkadot network,’ consisting of various layers and benefits from native interoperability with other blockchains. It has some similarities to Ethereum with its Turing-complete imaginative contract language. It focuses on building decentralized applications, but it also aims to be a platform for business collaboration with faster transactions, cheaper fees, and less energy consumption. Why do you need them? The idea behind Polkadot is that the blockchain ecosystem is becoming a cluttered jungle of systems, which in turn creates severe obstacles to interoperability for various projects. The Polkadot (or ‘parachain’) project proposes to solve this problem by creating a hub that can merge and reconcile different blockchains, providing a better way of token exchange. Instead of asking each blockchain to develop its memorable currency exchange and complex mechanism for data transfer between blockchains, the developers are trying to create an alternative blockchain that will act as a standard hub and allow seamless exchange between all the other existing chains. An overview of their differences: ​1. Differences in the protocol: Cosmos uses Tendermint as its primary consensus protocol, where the entire network of validators can change depending on which block gets added and validated. This allows for a more flexible network that is also self-healing in the case of a power outage or other issues with the underlying hardware. 2. Differences in idea: Cosmos is quite similar to Ethereum as it also focuses on fast transactions, smart contracts, and developing decentralized apps. The Polkadot developers want to provide a system for all blockchains to use, while Ethereum is more focused on building more sophisticated decentralized applications. 3. goal differences: Cosmos plans to create a platform that will allow businesses and other parties to collaborate freely. At the same time, Ethereum aims to create a platform for blue-chip companies and other large corporations who want an utterly autonomous blockchain with no outside influence. 4. Differences in the technology: Cosmos uses Tendermint as its primary consensus protocol, where the entire network of validators can change depending on which block gets added and validated. This allows for a more flexible network that is also self-healing in the case of a power outage or other issues with the underlying hardware.  Final verdict The developers of Polkadot are trying to create a platform for all blockchains, making it possible for them to merge and reduce their number. In turn, the Cosmos creators are trying to provide a protocol that would allow blockchain systems to communicate and collaborate. Both projects have their own goals and problems, so they’re pretty different.  As we can see, both of them are trying to achieve the same goals and solve the same problems, but they are also different in terms of technology, target audience, governance layer, and governance model. ​One thing is for sure: blockchain technology has already achieved a significant degree of maturity and provided many opportunities for businesses worldwide. 

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Coin Bureau’s host lays out his top selections for proof-of-stake (POS) crypto assets where individuals can earn rewards and passive revenue. Guy, a pseudonymous analyst, says in a new video that he has weighed each of the six coins on his list against five key criteria. The lowest amount to stake, the lockup/unlock period, reducing …

Earlier this week, crypto analysis show Coin Bureau talked about his top six proof-of-stake (PoS) cryptoassets for 2022. According to a report by The Daily Hodl published yesterday, here are a few comments by the host of the popular YouTube series about each of his favorite six PoS cryptoassets: $AVAX: “Avalanche has proven itself to […]

All in Bits, Inc., DBA “Tendermint”, the founding team of the Cosmos ecosystem and developer of tools for Web3, has now announced it will operate under the trademark, “Ignite” with a new, energized brand. A new entity name, corporate brand, brand logo, and brand identity have been developed to represent the inclusivity and diversity of […]

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Emeris, Tendermint‘s cross-chain crypto app store, announced that it will launch a new product that will revolutionize airdrops.

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