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An Exploration of a16z Crypto Startup School Projects

· 5 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

Andreesen Horowitz, more commonly known as a16z, is a name that reverberates through the halls of venture capital with an aura of visionary innovation. An essential branch of their investment activities, a16z crypto, focuses explicitly on the burgeoning field of crypto and web3 startups, an area that is quickly redefining how we view digital commerce, privacy, and online interaction. Their venture into this domain is more than merely a business move—it is a commitment to shaping the contours of the rapidly evolving Web3 landscape.

The a16z Crypto Startup School, a twelve-week accelerator program, is designed around the specific needs of web3 startups, imparting crucial knowledge, resources, and support. Recently, this initiative showcased an intriguing array of 11 ambitious projects, each aiming to disrupt various sectors through blockchain and Web3 technologies. For the curious, every bit of detail is available on the a16z crypto startup school page.

An Exploration of a16z Crypto Startup School Projects

Demo Projects

These projects not only provide a glimpse into the future of various industries but also offer valuable insights from both a builder's and investor's perspective. They represent practical use cases of blockchain technology and the ways it can innovate systems and processes. Here is a brief overview:

  1. Blockus: With the intent of revolutionizing the gaming economy, Blockus is developing a comprehensive solution for game studios to focus on gameplay more effectively.

  2. ChainPatrol.io: This project aims to bolster Web3 security, offering real-time protection for Web3 communities and raising the bar for digital asset security.

  3. mbd.xyz: This ambitious endeavor seeks to democratize AI recommendation systems, pioneering the concept of the 'Curation Economy', potentially reshaping online content consumption.

  4. Web3Analytic: In an era of data-driven decisions, Web3Analytic provides no-code user analytics solutions that can enhance product performance and user experience.

  5. KIKI world: This innovative project is set to disrupt the beauty industry, promoting a model of co-creation and co-ownership of beauty products with enthusiasts.

  1. formless: Formless proposes a transformation of the media distribution ecosystem by monetizing intellectual property through smart contracts, offering a potentially game-changing method for content creators to benefit from their work.

  2. Fuul.xyz: Addressing the need for streamlined affiliate marketing in the Web3 space, Fuul.xyz aspires to build a bridge between content creators and Web3 projects.

  3. frens: This communications super app aims to foster transactions with friends, protocols, and smart contracts within the conversation, representing an innovative blend of social networking and Web3.

  4. Discove: Discove is exploring a unique protocol for composable mini-apps, presenting a novel approach to Web3 applications that could enhance their utility and ease of use.

  5. Stackr Labs: By offering a unique modular rollup SDK, Stackr Labs allows developers to focus on state machine building, streamlining the development process in the Web3 space.

  6. Sky Lab: Sky Lab envisions an autonomous world, focusing on building games on top of initial world primitives. This could redefine the interactive experience in gaming and beyond.

Categorization

Given the diverse array of projects presented at the a16z Crypto Startup School, they can be categorized based on the industry or sector they primarily target. Here's a possible categorization:

  1. Gaming and Entertainment: This category includes projects that are focused on innovating within the gaming industry, leveraging blockchain and Web3 technologies to enhance user experience, game design, and monetization. Project included: Blockus, Sky Lab.

  2. Security and Infrastructure: Projects that primarily aim to enhance the security and infrastructure of the Web3 space. This includes everything from data protection to the development of key tools and software that can be used by other Web3 services. Projects included: ChainPatrol.io, Stackr Labs.

  3. Data Analytics and AI: These projects focus on leveraging data and AI for various purposes like enhancing product performance and user experience, as well as democratizing AI recommendation systems. Projects included: Web3Analytic, mbd.xyz.

  4. Content Creation and Media Distribution: These projects look at the ways in which content is created and distributed, particularly in terms of intellectual property and how creators are compensated for their work. Project included: formless, KIKI world.

  5. Marketing and Communication: Projects focusing on improving communication within the Web3 space, fostering transactions, and enhancing affiliate marketing for Web3 projects. Projects included: Fuul.xyz, frens.

  6. Web3 Applications and Platforms: Projects that are working on novel applications and platforms within the Web3 space, particularly in terms of their design and user interface. Project included: Discove.

Each of these categories represents a unique approach to the utilization of blockchain and Web3 technology, providing insights into the diverse range of applications these technologies can offer across different sectors.

Conclusion

The rise of Web3 is a fascinating, complex phenomenon and projects such as these, supported by the likes of a16z Crypto Startup School, are contributing to this dynamic evolution. For a more in-depth exploration of each project, the a16z Crypto Startup School page provides comprehensive details.

Stake SUI and earn rewards with BlockEden.xyz

· 8 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

Earning rewards by staking your SUI with BlockEden.xyz through the Sui Wallet, Martian Wallet, or Suiet! We're excited to announce that SUI staking on Mainnet is finally accessible, providing an opportunity for you to generate passive income from your $SUI by earning staking rewards. This guide will explain, step by step, how to use your preferred Sui wallets: Sui Wallet, Suiet, and Martian Wallet.

Staking SUI with Sui Wallet

First, you'll need to install the Sui Wallet browser extension. Currently, Sui Wallet is available exclusively on Chrome, though future updates may include support for other browsers. If you aren't using Chrome and wish to stake SUI, consider using the other wallets discussed in this guide.

To create your wallet, click on "Get Started", then "Create a New Wallet". If you already have a wallet, you can import it by clicking on "Import an Existing Wallet".

Now you need to set a password. It's recommended to choose a strong password with a minimum of 12 characters, including numbers, letters, and symbols. Also, be sure to write your password down and store it in a safe, offline location. Once you've agreed to the terms and conditions, select "Create Wallet".

Make sure to note down your recovery phrase in a secure place, preferably offline. It's crucial for future access to your SUI.

Staking Your SUI

After your wallet is set up, it's time to stake! On the dashboard, click "Stake & Earn SUI". Choose your desired validator from the list, confirm your selection, and click on the validator.

Next, specify the quantity of SUI you want to stake. Verify all details before clicking "Stake Now".

Upon successful transaction confirmation, your stake will begin to earn rewards from the beginning of the next epoch. There's no need to restake as rewards are automatically compounded.

Unstaking SUI with Sui Wallet

To claim or unstake your SUI, click "Currently Staked". You'll see a list of your validators. From this list, select the validator with whom you'd like to unstake.

Then, click on "Unstake SUI". Verify all details before confirming with "Unstake Now".

Congratulations! You've successfully unstaked your SUI.

Staking SUI with Martian Wallet

Firstly, download the Martian Wallet app and set up your wallet account. Be sure to download the browser extension using the official website’s download button. Once the extension is added to your browser, Martian Wallet will open.

On the "start" screen, click "Create a New Wallet" to initiate the process. If you already have a wallet, select "I already have a Wallet", enter your private phrase, and recover your wallet.

As before, set a secure password of at least 12 characters, mixing numbers, letters, and symbols. After selecting your password and agreeing to the terms and conditions, click "Continue".

Your recovery or seed phrase will be presented next. Remember to securely store this phrase offline and not to share it with anyone. It's vital for future access to your assets.

Staking Your SUI

With your account ready, you can now start staking. In the Martian extension dashboard, click "Stake your SUI". Scroll to find and select your desired validator.

Enter the amount of SUI you want to stake and remember to reserve some SUI for gas fees. The minimum staking amount is 1 SUI. After filling this out, click "Preview".

Finally, verify all the details on the pop-up, including the staked amount and gas fees. If everything is correct, click "Confirm and Stake". A "Success" message should appear shortly, indicating a successful stake. You can now close the window, and your stake will start earning rewards from the next epoch.

Process for Unstaking or Claiming with Martian Wallet

Unstaking your SUI from Martian Wallet is a straightforward process. Begin by navigating to the Home screen and selecting “Stake”. From there, you will be presented with a list of all your staked SUI and their respective epochs on the stake dashboard. Please note that you must unstake all SUI at the same time. Identify the SUI you wish to unstake, click on it, and then select “Unstake”. After a brief wait, your assets will be unstaked, congratulations!

Steps to Stake SUI using Suiet

To start, you need to download the Suiet Wallet extension. This can be done by visiting the official Suiet website, where you should select the download option that best suits your needs. Please exercise caution and ensure you download the wallet from the official Suiet site.

After downloading and installing the extension, you'll need to set it up. To do so, open the extension and click on “Create Wallet”.

The next step is to create a secure password that includes a mix of capital and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers, with a minimum length of 12 characters. Safely record this password, preferably offline, then proceed to the next step.

You'll then be given a recovery phrase, which is vital for future access to your assets. It is paramount that you keep this phrase confidential and store it in a secure location, preferably offline.

Staking Your SUI

With the preparation complete, it's now time to stake your SUI. Start by going to the dashboard and selecting “SUI”, then choose “Stake”.

On the top of the dashboard, you'll find a list of validators. Select your preferred validator and decide on the amount of SUI you wish to stake. Remember to keep some SUI reserved for gas fees and future transactions. Once everything is in order, confirm the transaction.

Once the transaction is confirmed, your stake will start accruing rewards from the start of the next epoch.

How to Claim or Unstake SUI with Suiet

Claiming your SUI rewards or unstaking your SUI with the Suiet wallet is a straightforward process. Just navigate to your staked assets, click on the one you wish to handle, and select “Unstake”. After a brief wait, you will receive a confirmation of successful unstaking. It's as simple as that!

Staking SUI with Ethos

Similar to the other wallets, you first need to create your wallet to stake SUI with Ethos. Visit the official Ethos Wallet for Sui website to start.

Once the Ethos extension is downloaded and installed, click on “Generate New Wallet” and create a secure password, following the same guidelines as mentioned before. Write down your password securely.

You will then be provided with a recovery or seed phrase. Remember, this phrase is essential for accessing your assets in the future and should not be shared with anyone. Safely store this phrase, preferably offline.

Ethos also gives you the option to customize your wallet with a color and emoji. This step doesn't affect the wallet's security and can be skipped or completed based on personal preference.

Staking Process for SUI with Ethos

For staking on Ethos, select “staking” on the dashboard. From the list of validators, select your desired one and proceed.

Enter the amount of SUI you wish to stake, taking care to reserve some for gas fees and future transactions. Review the transaction details and if everything seems fine, click “Review”, and then “Confirm”. A message stating “Staking Complete!” should appear shortly. Your staked SUI will start earning rewards from the next epoch.

You'll need to wait for an epoch (24 hours) to unstake your SUI. The rewards on SUI are auto-compounded, so you won't have to restake your rewards.

Claiming SUI Rewards with Ethos

To claim your SUI rewards, navigate to "staking" on Ethos's top right menu. This will open up your staking overview where you can see your accumulated rewards.

For unstaking, select the validator you wish to unstake with and click “Unstake SUI”. Confirm your decision and that's it, you've unstaked your SUI.

Remember, staking not only provides rewards but also contributes to the SUI ecosystem and aids in securing the blockchain network.

Closing Remarks

Staking plays a key role in ensuring the sustainability and security of blockchain networks. By staking your digital assets, you help in operating the network and get rewarded for it. For those interested in staking SUI or learning more about this process, you can reach out to BlockEden.xyz through their Website, Twitter, Blog, or join the Discord community.


DISCLAIMER: This article does not provide financial advice. Staking, delegation, and cryptocurrencies involve considerable risk, and there is always the possibility of loss, including the loss of all staked digital assets. Delegators may face the risk of slashing in case of security or liveness faults on certain protocols. It is advised that you do thorough research before choosing a validator.

How does Etherscan make money?

· 2 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

Etherscan stands as the leading Ethereum block explorer and has significantly grown since its inception in 2015, extending its services to include other chains such as Fantom, Polygon, BSC, Arbitrum, among others. While Etherscan has successfully secured funding twice - in 2016 and 2021, the specific amounts were never disclosed. Interestingly, the company didn't take advantage of favorable funding conditions to raise more capital, suggesting they're likely profitable.

Etherscan's main revenue streams come from Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings and advertising. Their range of SaaS solutions includes various on-chain tools like wallet-to-wallet messaging, staking, token approvals, and more.

As per LinkedIn data, Etherscan maintains a workforce of 29 employees. The estimated cost of this staffing level, also referred to as the headcount burn, is approximately $1.2 to $2.15 million each year.

Income Sources

  • (58.4%) SaaS / Total - Estimated Income: $2.91M - $12.55M / yr
  • (1.4%) Newsletter - Estimated Income: $0.12M - $0.3M / yr
  • (40.2%) Website Ads - Estimated Income: $2.4M - $8.64M / yr
  • Donations

Headcount and Burn

Here is the burn rate for headcounts, not including operational costs such as third-party vendors, office spaces, etc.

ItemHCPay rangeEstimated Expense%
Engineering12$100k - $200k$1.2M - $2.4M55.43%
Business
Development
8$80k - $120k$0.64M - $0.96M22.17%
Operations4$70k - $100k$0.28M - $0.4M9.24%
Community and
Social Services
3$60k - $90k$0.18M - $0.27M6.24%
Information
Technology
2$100k - $150k$0.2M - $0.3M6.93%

It would be relatively easy for Etherscan to expand to businesses like Dune’s dashboard or Nansen’s wallet tagging. However, they are not doing so, which indicates that they might be extremely profitable.

Dive into Blockchain Programming with Sui Move

· 4 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

Blockchain technology has emerged as a leading force in the digital world, offering revolutionary solutions that extend beyond cryptocurrency. Programming languages dedicated to blockchain technology are carving a unique space for themselves. Among these languages, Move has secured a significant spot, thanks to its robustness and inherent security features. Today, we will introduce an innovative tutorial called "Sui Move," designed to teach developers the Move programming language using a learn-by-example approach.

Dive into Blockchain Programming with Sui Move

Understanding Move: The Programming Language

Before we jump into the tutorial, let's briefly recap what Move is. Created by Facebook's subsidiary, Diem Association (formerly Libra), Move is a statically-typed, resource-oriented programming language. Its design is centered around enforcing safety and security, making it the ideal language for coding blockchain and cryptocurrency projects. The Sui Move is a variant of the Move programming language.

Resources in Move are a key construct that makes it stand out from other blockchain programming languages. These are special types that can't be copied or discarded, only moved between storage locations. This feature allows for precise control over digital assets and significantly mitigates the risk of common security issues, such as double-spending.

Sui Move: A Learn-by-Example Tutorial

Located at https://blockeden.xyz/docs/sui/sui-move/intro/, "Sui Move" is a comprehensive, learn-by-example tutorial designed to teach developers how to code using the Move programming language.

"Sui Move" is constructed on the philosophy that hands-on learning accelerates comprehension and proficiency. The tutorial is divided into small, manageable chunks, each focusing on a specific aspect of Move. This allows learners to not only understand the technicalities of the language but also gain insights into how and where they can be implemented.

"Sui Move" stands out in its approach to teaching. Instead of overwhelming the learner with dense theory, it offers an array of examples for every concept. The learner can directly interact with these examples, providing a dynamic learning environment that encourages exploration and understanding at a deep level.

The tutorial is designed to be accessible for various experience levels. Whether you are a seasoned developer looking to dive into blockchain development or a beginner who's just starting, "Sui Move" is tailored to ensure you grasp and master the concepts effectively.

What You'll Learn

"Sui Move" covers a broad range of topics that form the core of Move programming language. Here's a snapshot of what you can expect:

  • Understanding the syntax and structure of Move.
  • Deep dive into Move's unique resource-oriented model.
  • Manipulating data using Move's functions and methods.
  • Learning to create and implement Modules and Scripts.
  • Handling exceptions and ensuring security in your Move programs.
  • Learning how to create a custom coin and NFT.

Why Choose Sui Move?

"Sui Move" is not just a tutorial; it's a well-structured learning journey. It offers:

  1. Real-world Examples: Every concept is paired with a practical example that demonstrates how to use it effectively.
  2. Comprehensive Coverage: It provides a thorough understanding of Move, from basic syntax to advanced constructs.
  3. Step-by-Step Guidance: Every module is designed to gradually build your understanding, reducing the learning curve and making complex concepts easier to grasp.
  4. Flexibility: It caters to a wide range of learners, from beginners to experienced developers.

Blockchain technology is shaping the future of numerous industries, and mastering a language like Move can open new avenues for developers. With "Sui Move," you have a resource that can guide you effectively through your learning journey. So, dive in, start coding, and explore the exciting opportunities that Move and blockchain technology hold for you.

Get started now at https://blockeden.xyz/docs/sui/sui-move/intro/.

A Fresh Perspective on the Changing Landscape of DeFi Market

· 3 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

There is a constant buzz in the world of cryptocurrency, with new narratives cropping up at regular intervals. While a lot of attention has been given to Shanghai upgrades, BRC20, meme coins, and halving phenomena, the "DeFi Summer" of 2020, a milestone in the rotation of narratives in the crypto world, has been mostly forgotten. However, three years later, there have been some noteworthy developments in the DeFi space worth highlighting.

A Fresh Perspective on the Changing Landscape of DeFi Market

The Declining Attention on DeFi

Post the "DeFi Summer" of 2020, the Decentralized Finance (DeFi) ecosystem has evolved and grown significantly, introducing innovations like decentralized exchanges, lending platforms, derivatives, fixed income tools, algorithmic stablecoins, asset synthetics, and aggregators.

However, after peaking in May 2021, traditional DeFi blue chips like UNI, LINK, SUSHI, and SNX have been seeing a decreasing trend. Leading DeFi projects such as Uniswap and Synthetix and new entries like OHM under "DeFi 2.0" seem to be gradually fading away from the market spotlight. The DeFi narrative, once the darling of the crypto world, has been overshadowed by other emerging narratives like NFTs, DAOs, Metaverse, and Web3.

Fundamentally, the services offered by most DeFi products are similar, with only a few leading products standing out due to their brand and user stickiness. Many platforms rely heavily on their native tokens to incentivize user participation. However, these liquidity rewards can inflate Total Value Locked (TVL) figures temporarily but are not sustainable in the long run, leading to volatility and quick capital movement when new higher yield opportunities arise. This dynamic has led to an overall downtrend in the price of DeFi tokens since 2020.

Innovations in the DeFi Space

Ignoring the declining performance of DeFi tokens in secondary markets, some interesting changes are happening within the DeFi landscape. Notably, leading projects like Curve and MakerDAO have been diversifying their product range, blurring the boundaries between different DeFi protocols.

MakerDAO, traditionally known for its DAI stablecoin, has started venturing into the lending space with the launch of Spark Protocol. This protocol, built on Aave V3 smart contracts, allows users to borrow assets like ETH, stETH, DAI, and sDAI. This is a remarkable shift in strategy and points towards a significant overlap of stablecoin and lending functionalities.

In a similar vein, Aave, primarily known for its lending services, is planning to launch its native decentralized stablecoin, GHO, backed by collateral and pegged to the dollar. Both MakerDAO and Aave's lending mechanisms are based on Aave V3 smart contracts, and it will be fascinating to see who emerges successful in this foray outside their traditional domains.

Curve, which is known for its large-scale asset exchange services, has also recently introduced its stablecoin, crvUSD. With Curve's inherent liquidity advantages, crvUSD seems to have a headstart in the stablecoin race.

Among all these DeFi blue chips, Frax Finance has made significant strides in liquidity collateralization. Its product frxETH has shown exceptional growth since its launch in October 2022, reaching almost 220,000 tokens valued at around $400 million within just 200 days.

Conclusion

The sustainability of DeFi projects that relied heavily on liquidity incentives was always questionable. This reality has prompted leading DeFi protocols to innovate and diversify their product ranges, breaching the traditional boundaries that separated them.

Introducing the Ethereum Cancun Upgrade

· 3 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

Ethereum, the world's most adopted blockchain platform for smart contracts, is known for its regular upgrades, each bringing forth new features, parameter adjustments, or enhanced security. These upgrades, driven by both proactive innovation and the need to mitigate potential security threats, have punctuated Ethereum's evolution over the years.

A Major Leap Towards a Faster, More Economical Network

Before the Ethereum merge last September, the platform had seen 14 upgrades. Notably, a reactive upgrade occurred in 2016 after the DAO Fork incident when Ethereum Classic (ETC) emerged following a cyber-attack that jeopardized the DAO project's ETH funding.

Over the past few years, significant upgrades have taken place. The London upgrade in August 2020 introduced EIP-1599, introducing ETH burning and dynamic adjustment of the Base Fee for every transaction. In September 2022, the Paris upgrade transitioned Ethereum's consensus mechanism from Proof of Work (POW) to Proof of Stake (POS), signaling the end of the machine mining era.

After the Shanghai upgrade, Ethereum's core development team announced that the most important update this year would be the Cancun upgrade, expected to occur later this year.

Cancun Upgrade: What Is It and Why Does It Matter?

Named after the city that hosted the Ethereum Developer Conference (Devcon), the upcoming Cancun upgrade will implement crucial improvements to the Ethereum network.

The star of the upgrade, EIP-4844, aims to allow Ethereum nodes to temporarily store and retrieve off-chain data, fulfilling the data and storage needs of blockchain applications. If successfully implemented, EIP-4844 is expected to reduce the costs of Layer 2 (L2) rollup solutions. Reportedly, EIP-4844 has already been tested on four development networks, with a fifth testing network about to launch.

Originally intended for completion during the Shanghai upgrade, EIP-4844 was postponed to the Cancun upgrade. Developers have also agreed to include EIP-6780 (preparing for future application of Verkle Trees), EIP-6475 (providing improved readability and compact serialization), and EIP-1153 (introducing transient storage opcode) in the upgrade.

The Principle Behind the Upgrade

The essence of Ethereum's scalability efforts lies in increasing data processing volume and speed. Two directions are pursued concurrently – Layer 2 rollups and sharding on the mainnet. The implementation of EIP-4844 is the first step towards complete sharding.

Prior to the Cancun upgrade, L2 information was stored in the Calldata of L1 information. This method was costly and limited due to Calldata's limited space.

With the Cancun upgrade, L1 will be stored in a new location called "Blob". Blob storage is more affordable and offers more space, allowing Ethereum to host more data, increase its transactions per second (TPS), and reduce costs. As Blob is a temporary data package cleaned up every 30 days, nodes only need to download a fixed amount of data per month, decreasing node burden.

In essence, the Cancun upgrade will make L2 cheaper and faster. This will not only benefit L2 protocols but will also foster rapid development for ecosystems built on L2.

In conclusion, the upcoming Ethereum Cancun upgrade promises to be an important milestone, heralding a new era of efficient, affordable, and scalable blockchain applications. Stay tuned for further updates as the Ethereum community continues its pioneering work in advancing decentralized technologies.

BRC20 Tokens: A Promising Contender or a Mere Flash in the Pan?

· 3 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

In recent times, discussions in the Bitcoin realm have seemingly transitioned towards the Bitcoin network itself, with BRC20 tokens emerging as a hot topic. People are contemplating whether the arrival of Bitcoin's Layer 2 (L2) expansion solutions and the BRC20 standard could introduce enhanced functionality and scalability to Bitcoin. However, it's important to tread carefully, as these discussions currently seem to lean more towards market speculation. Let's delve into Bitcoin's L2 architecture, BRC20, and potential security concerns.

BRC20 Tokens: A Promising Contender or a Mere Flash in the Pan?

Understanding Bitcoin’s L2 Architecture

The blockchain ecosystem grapples with a so-called 'impossible triangle'—security, decentralization, and scalability—of which only two can be achieved at the cost of the third. Bitcoin, for example, has prioritized security and decentralization, sacrificing scalability in the process. Bitcoin’s block generation time is approximately 10 minutes, a significant lag compared to other popular blockchains like Ethereum 2.0 or Solana that boast block times on the scale of seconds or even milliseconds. This limitation has spurred demand for Bitcoin scalability solutions, leading to the emergence of Bitcoin's L2 expansion, exemplified by systems such as Stacks.

Stacks is a decentralized application and smart contract network built on top of Bitcoin. This network connects to the Bitcoin blockchain through a cross-chain consensus mechanism, achieving the goal of preserving Bitcoin's security while also offering a rich application scenario for smart contracts. Stacks operates in a layered fashion, where the base settlement layer (Bitcoin) is supplemented by the addition of smart contracts and programmability (Stacks), which further incorporates a scalability and speed layer (Hiro's subnet). This layered approach not only offers functionality akin to blockchains like Ethereum but also avoids many shortcomings of complex public chains.

Explaining BRC20

To understand BRC20, we first need to familiarize ourselves with Ordinals. Ordinals is a protocol that assigns unique identifiers to Bitcoin's smallest unit, satoshis (sats), essentially transforming each sat into a unique non-fungible token (NFT), akin to Ethereum NFTs. Additionally, Ordinals allow for the inclusion of text, images, audio, and video within sats, further accentuating their uniqueness.

The creator of BRC20, leveraging the Ordinals protocol, introduced the concept of fungible tokens on Bitcoin by assigning a unified "format" and "attributes" to sats. BRC20, through Ordinals, inscribes JSON formatted text data into sats, acting as a ledger for BRC20 tokens and tracking token holdings and transfers.

Risks Associated with BRC20

Despite the attention BRC20 tokens have garnered, they currently exist as mere JSON files without practical value or business use-case, and their popularity largely hinges on Bitcoin's popularity and traffic. Further, managing BRC20 tokens is not as straightforward as handling Bitcoin and requires a dedicated wallet. Moreover, participation in BRC20 investment requires third-party tools which often carry an entry barrier.

Several risks surround BRC20 tokens. Firstly, market speculation and hype may create a bubble, overvaluing the tokens. Secondly, similar to other blockchain technologies, BRC20 tokens are susceptible to hacking attempts. Lastly, the lack of regulatory oversight in the blockchain and cryptocurrency markets could lead to fraudulent or illegal activities involving BRC20 tokens.

A common misconception among users is that BRC20 tokens, created using Bitcoin's security, are as secure and stable as Bitcoin. However, the two are fundamentally different. Bitcoin's security is underpinned by cryptographic and consensus algorithms, and it has been running relatively stably for a considerable duration. Conversely, BRC20 relies on the Ordinals

Sui Mainnet Launch: BlockEden.xyz Expands API Suite to Include Next-Generation Blockchain Platform

· 3 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

We are thrilled to announce that Sui, the highly anticipated blockchain platform, has successfully launched its mainnet. At BlockEden.xyz, we are committed to providing our customers with the most innovative and cutting-edge solutions in the blockchain industry. As a result, we are excited to integrate Sui into our robust API suite, offering developers an even greater range of tools to create groundbreaking applications.

Sui Mainnet Launch: BlockEden.xyz Expands API Suite to Include Next-Generation

Why Sui Matters

Sui is a next-generation blockchain platform designed to address the challenges faced by existing solutions in scalability, interoperability, and energy efficiency. It brings together the best features from various blockchain technologies, offering a more efficient and flexible platform for developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. Some key aspects of Sui include:

  1. Scalability: Sui employs a unique consensus algorithm, which allows it to process 297k transactions per second, thus ensuring high throughput and minimal latency. This makes it an ideal choice for building dApps that require fast and secure transactions.
  2. Energy Efficiency: Sui's consensus algorithm also addresses the energy consumption concerns associated with traditional Proof-of-Work (PoW) mechanisms. By utilizing a more environmentally friendly approach, Sui contributes to a greener and more sustainable blockchain industry.

What This Means for BlockEden.xyz Users:

As Sui joins our API suite, developers can look forward to:

  1. Access to Sui's Blockchain: Our API will enable developers to easily interact with the Sui blockchain, allowing them to build and deploy smart contracts, create tokens, and develop dApps on this revolutionary platform.
  2. Continued Support: BlockEden.xyz remains committed to providing exceptional customer support, offering guidance and assistance in implementing Sui's technology within your projects.
  3. Stake with BlockEden.xyz and Earn Rewards: By staking your tokens with BlockEden.xyz, you can participate in the Sui ecosystem and earn rewards for contributing to the platform's growth and security.

Getting Started with BlockEden.xyz's Sui RPC Key

If you're ready to start developing on the Sui blockchain using BlockEden.xyz's API suite, follow these simple steps to get your Sui RPC key and kickstart your project:

Step 1: Obtain a Connection String

Visit our API Marketplace at https://blockeden.xyz/api-marketplace to obtain a connection string. This string will enable you to access the Sui blockchain through our API and begin developing your decentralized application.

Step 2: Develop Your First Sui DApp

To build your first DApp on the Sui platform, follow our comprehensive guide available at https://blockeden.xyz/docs/sui/sui-typescript-sdk/. This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions for setting up your development environment, implementing Sui's TypeScript SDK, and creating a fully functional DApp using the Sui blockchain.

By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to harnessing the power of the Sui blockchain and BlockEden.xyz's API suite to develop innovative and groundbreaking decentralized applications. If you need any assistance, our dedicated support team is always ready to help guide you through the process.

Conclusion

BlockEden.xyz is proud to welcome Sui into our growing family of blockchain technologies. By adding Sui to our API suite, we are further expanding the possibilities for developers to create groundbreaking solutions in the blockchain space. As always, we remain dedicated to providing our users with the most innovative and reliable tools to empower their projects and drive the future of decentralized technology.

297k TPS! Sui Network's Impressive Performance Update: A Look at Throughput and Time to Finality

· 3 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

The Sui Foundation recently conducted a series of tests to determine the current peak throughput and time to finality for various workloads on the Sui network. A year after its announcement, the Sui network has made significant strides in performance, becoming a promising decentralized protocol for the future.

Key Findings

  • The Sui network, consisting of 100 globally distributed validators, achieved peak throughput ranging from 10,871 TPS to 297,000 TPS on different workloads.
  • Sui's time to finality is approximately 480 milliseconds, providing rapid transaction confirmations.

Performance Evaluation

To measure the performance of the Sui protocol, the foundation used a globally-distributed setup that closely mirrors the mainnet in terms of hardware configurations, number of validators, geographic distribution, and voting power distribution. The tests were conducted using 100 validators, 24-core AMD hardware, 256GB memory, and 25Gbps NIC.

Measuring Throughput with Programmable Transaction Blocks (PTB)

Sui's core developer primitive, PTB, allows for a complex and composable sequence of transactions. Chained transactions in a PTB can execute and fail atomically, providing increased efficiency and expressivity. Each PTB can support up to 1024 transactions, enabling Sui to handle large workloads and reduce transaction fees for users.

The Challenge of Measuring Throughput

Transactions Per Second (TPS) is a commonly used metric to measure a blockchain protocol's capacity. However, measuring the number of PTBs executed per second doesn't accurately reflect Sui's computational capacity. As the average PTB size increases, Sui's throughput increases, but the PTB/second metric would remain unchanged. Therefore, the foundation has chosen to measure the number of individual transactions within a PTB executed per second as a more consistent and practical metric.

Time to Finality

Finality in blockchain refers to the point where a transaction is considered irrevocable and cannot be modified or reverted. For this performance update, the Time to Finality measures the point in the transaction lifecycle where both the transaction itself and its effects are final and can be used in subsequent transactions. Sui's Time to Finality is approximately 480 milliseconds, with a 95th percentile latency of around 550 milliseconds.

Future Optimization and Scalability

The Sui protocol has made significant progress in its performance, but there are still many opportunities for optimization and scalability. In the near future, the Sui Foundation plans to refine the following aspects:

  • Scalability and coverage of benchmark tooling
  • Horizontal scalability to support intra-validator scaling across multiple machines
  • Resilience to under-performance of individual validators

As the Sui protocol evolves and its performance improves, the Sui Foundation will continue to share updates with the community for feedback and consideration. With its impressive throughput and time to finality, the Sui network is poised to make a significant impact in the world of decentralized systems.

BlockEden.xyz Adds Solana to Our API Suite – Expanding Blockchain Opportunities for Developers

· 3 min read
Dora Noda
Software Engineer

We are glad to announce that BlockEden.xyz, a leading provider of Blockchain API solutions, is expanding its offerings by adding Solana to our API suite. This move aims to provide our customers with a broader range of options to build and deploy innovative decentralized applications (dApps) on the Solana network.

In this blog post, we will discuss the reasons why Solana matters, and how integrating its APIs into our suite can benefit developers and businesses alike.

BlockEden.xyz Adds Solana to Our API Suite – Expanding Blockchain Opportunities for Developers

Why Solana Matters

Solana is an open-source, high-performance blockchain network designed to support a wide variety of applications, from decentralized finance (DeFi) and gaming to supply chain management and beyond. Some of the key features that make Solana stand out among other blockchain platforms include:

  1. High Performance: Solana is built to scale and can process up to 65,000 transactions per second (TPS) at sub-second confirmation times, which is significantly higher than many other blockchain platforms. This scalability allows developers to create and deploy dApps with minimal latency, ensuring a smooth user experience.
  2. Low Transaction Fees: Solana's innovative architecture allows for low transaction fees, which makes it cost-effective for developers and users alike. This feature not only helps lower the barriers to entry for new dApps but also enables existing applications to operate more efficiently.
  3. Proof of History (PoH): Solana's unique consensus algorithm, Proof of History, provides an energy-efficient and secure way to validate transactions on the network. By using verifiable delay functions (VDFs) to create a historical record of events, PoH eliminates the need for high-energy-consuming consensus mechanisms like Proof of Work.
  4. Developer-friendly: Solana offers a wide range of developer resources, including comprehensive documentation, a robust SDK, and easy-to-use APIs. This makes it easier for developers to build and deploy dApps on the Solana network, regardless of their prior experience with blockchain technology.

Integrating Solana APIs into BlockEden.xyz's API Suite

By adding Solana to our API suite, we aim to provide developers with a comprehensive set of tools to build and deploy dApps on the Solana network. Our Solana API offerings will include:

  1. Transaction and Account Management: Easily create, sign, and submit transactions, as well as manage accounts on the Solana network.
  2. Smart Contract Deployment: Seamlessly deploy and interact with smart contracts on the Solana blockchain, simplifying the development process.
  3. Data and Analytics: Access real-time and historical data from the Solana blockchain, including transaction details, token balances, and more, for insightful analytics and reporting.
  4. Integration and Interoperability: Connect your dApps with other blockchain networks and applications using our robust set of APIs and SDKs, ensuring seamless integration and interoperability.

Conclusion

The addition of Solana to BlockEden.xyz's API suite demonstrates our commitment to providing our customers with cutting-edge blockchain technology solutions. We believe that Solana's high-performance, low-cost, and developer-friendly features make it an ideal platform for building and deploying dApps across various industries. We look forward to helping developers leverage the power of Solana through our comprehensive API offerings.

If you have any questions about our Solana APIs or need assistance in getting started, please feel free to reach out to our support team. We're always here to help you harness the potential of blockchain technology for your projects.