News
Helps Enterprises to Adopt Blockchain-as-a-Service – Qila
Can you explain how Qila’s Blockchain-as-a-Service offering helps enterprises adopt blockchain technology with managed network infrastructure?
Qila has made it simple for any enterprise wanting to adopt Web3 solutions such as smart contracts and tokenization, offering simple low-code/no-code APIs for integration and pre-defined workflows. Enterprises looking to incorporate blockchain into their technology stack usually face a daunting task: they need to identify the right framework, build the tech stack, create the required infrastructure, and hire the right resources to develop and manage the network. The list of challenges goes on.
Qila’s platform offerings are sector-agnostic, meaning they can be used across various sectors such as healthcare, education, automotive, real estate, luxury goods, BFSI, and more. Any enterprise wanting to explore the Web3 space and achieve quick adoption can simply sign up on the platform and integrate using the JSON APIs.
Qila has its own private cloud with state-of-the-art security protocols that enterprises can utilize with their subscription package. Qila also offers a token wallet solution, PrivaSea, which serves as a placeholder for NFT tokens issued by the enterprise to their customers. The PrivaSea wallet is designed with the nature of the business in mind, catering to B2B, B2C, and D2C models.
In a nutshell, all the heavy lifting to set up a blockchain network is done by Qila for enterprises. All they have to do is sign up and integrate their application based on the use case they want to work on.
What motivated Sid Ugrankar and Vishal Malhotra to transition from their previous ventures to co-found Qila?
As serial entrepreneurs, Sid Ugrankar and Vishal Malhotra have a history of creating successful ventures together. They pioneered India’s first OTT platform for the ZEE Group, founded the country’s inaugural CPaas platform, and co-created a Big Data Licensing and Solution Building practice. However, their journey led them to Qila for a unique reason.
Both Sid and Vishal are tech enthusiasts who thrive on staying ahead of the curve, especially in the ever-evolving tech space. They recognized the growing prominence of Web3 and blockchain solutions in the Western world and saw the gradual movement of these technologies into the Eastern regions with simple use cases. Identifying the immense potential of blockchain across sectors, they realized the tedious process each enterprise faced in adopting these technologies from scratch.
This observation led to the genesis of Qila, where Sid and Vishal aimed to bridge the gap by providing a seamless adoption process for blockchain technology. They noticed a significant problem, the lack of hassle-free adoption solutions for enterprises. Thus, Qila was born with the mission to provide secure identity storage using blockchain technology and hassle-free adoption of blockchain.
Amidst the challenges posed by the pandemic, Sid and Vishal embarked on a journey to develop a viable commercial model for their solution. It was not until mid-2022 that they found their true calling building an enterprise blockchain-as-a-service platform, culminating in the inception of Qila.io.
Can you describe the key features or solutions that make Qila a potential game-changer for enterprises?
Qila has also created a wallet solution called PrivaSea for enterprise. PrivaSea is NFT token place holder, for customers of these enterprises. For example, any enterprise who has signed up on Qila platform and stared minting NFT tokens for their respective use case can offers their customers a free wallet account where they can collect all their tokens at one place.
Qila is a SaaS company that helps enterprises with infrastructure solutions for Web3 adoption, including blockchain and tokenization. This means any enterprise wanting to adopt these technologies can easily integrate with Qila’s platform. The key platform solutions that Qila offers are ARK (multi-tenanted) and ARK+ (dedicated).
ARK is a multi-tenant shared platform for enterprises that do not wish to set up a dedicated network but want to adopt blockchain. This definitive platform for tokenization allows customers to begin their blockchain journey within seconds, with complete onboarding support. Once they become familiar with the platform’s advantages, customers can upgrade to dedicated resources if needed.
ARK+ is a dedicated platform for enterprises that want to set up a private, permissioned blockchain network. Enterprises can sign up for ARK+, write the necessary smart contracts (with Qila’s assistance) according to their use case, set up nodes based on stakeholder participation, and establish their private, permissioned blockchain network.
Additionally, Qila has developed a wallet solution called PrivaSea for enterprises. PrivaSea is an NFT token placeholder for the customers of these enterprises. For example, any enterprise that has signed up on the Qila platform and started minting NFT tokens for their use case can offer their customers a free wallet account where they can collect all their tokens in one place.
By providing these comprehensive solutions, Qila simplifies the adoption of blockchain and tokenization for enterprises, making it a potential game-changer in the industry.
What unique advantages does Qila offer compared to other blockchain service providers in the market?
Qila enables an enterprise to build run and manage their own dedicated bloclchain networks and use cases. Other blockchain service providers work on a work for hire model where they have to design the network as per the requirements of the customers. This is a tedious and expensive effort. With Qila, they can simply sign up and begin using the platform.
Additionally, Qila offers a unique wallet solution called PrivaSea as a value-added service. PrivaSea serves as an NFT token placeholder for the customers of enterprises using Qila’s platform. For instance, enterprises that mint NFT tokens for their specific use cases can offer their customers a free wallet account to collect and manage all their tokens in one place. This added feature enhances customer experience and provides a comprehensive solution for enterprises looking to leverage blockchain technology.
How has the geographical presence of Qila in Mumbai, Dubai and Chicago influenced its growth and business strategy?
Qila has strategically established its presence in Mumbai, Dubai, and Chicago to leverage the tech-friendly ecosystems of these cities. While Qila’s offerings are not limited to these geographies, starting in these metropolises has provided a strong foundation for growth.
Web3 solutions like blockchain and tokenization are still in their early stages of adoption and penetration across various sectors. Cities such as Mumbai, Dubai, and Chicago offer a more mature tech environment, making them ideal for introducing and scaling Qila’s innovative solutions. These locations are home to tech-savvy enterprises and influential decision-makers who are essential for driving the adoption of new technologies.
Moreover, having a presence in these global hubs allows Qila to tap into diverse markets and understand the unique needs of different regions. Mumbai provides access to the dynamic and rapidly growing Indian market, Dubai connects Qila with the tech-forward MENA region, and Chicago serves as a gateway to the North American market. Additionally, Qila has seen significant traction in the MENA region and Europe, indicating a broadening interest in its solutions beyond its initial geographic focus.
What challenges did Qila face in establishing its presence across multiple international offices?
Establishing a global presence brings a variety of challenges, and Qila is no exception. Setting up international offices requires a thorough understanding of regional regulations and compliance requirements. This includes securing operating permissions, adhering to local tax codes, and ensuring all legalities are in place to run a business smoothly.
Beyond these foundational aspects, another significant challenge was finding the right talent who understands and aligns with Qila’s vision. Blockchain technology is still a niche and premium offering for many enterprises, making it difficult to find skilled resources who are not only proficient in the technology but also passionate about Qila’s mission. As Qila continues to grow, this challenge will persist, but having navigated these hurdles during the initial setup has provided valuable experience in overcoming such obstacles.
Moreover, each location—Mumbai, Dubai, and Chicago—presents unique cultural and business environments. Adapting to these differences while maintaining a cohesive corporate culture and operational efficiency has been a delicate balance. Despite these challenges, Qila’s strategic positioning in these tech-forward cities has allowed it to tap into diverse markets, gaining insights and traction that are vital for its expansion. By leveraging the lessons learned during its foundational phase, Qila is better equipped to tackle ongoing and future challenges in its journey toward becoming a global leader in blockchain solutions.
Could you share insights into the target market for Qila’s services and how the company plans to expand its customer base?
Qila’s offerings span multiple sectors as a Web3 solutions infrastructure provider, but we have identified key areas where our products fit exceptionally well and provide significant value. We have been particularly focused on the healthcare, education, luxury goods, and CPaas sectors, where we have already conducted proofs of concept (POCs) and integrations with companies operating in these fields.
We are also exploring POC-based solutions for sectors such as automotive, real estate, banking and finance, insurance, renewable energy, and recycling. Through our experience, we have learned that while many companies across various sectors are interested in participating in the Web3 space, they are often unsure how to proceed. They need specific use cases that address their unique challenges. To assist them, we work closely with these companies to deeply understand their problem statements and formulate tailored blockchain use cases. We make it clear from the start that Qila is not a frontend application developer but a backend infrastructure provider, offering the necessary infrastructure and tools for blockchain adoption.
Our expansion plan focuses on targeting sectors where our product fitment and value proposition are strong. We approach potential clients with use case demos to educate them on the benefits of blockchain technology and assist them in adopting these innovations. By demonstrating practical applications and providing robust support, we aim to build trust and drive widespread adoption of Web3 solutions across various industries.
How does Qila stay innovative and adaptable in a rapidly evolving technology landscape?
In the rapidly evolving technology landscape, it is crucial to stay updated on what’s new and trending. However, more importantly, it is essential to discern which technologies to adopt and which to filter out. Every new adoption must be thoroughly vetted for its long-term pros and cons, particularly in light of your growth vision and potential challenges.
Qila is acutely aware of its limitations and requirements and is committed to staying well-equipped with the latest offerings in the Web3 space. To achieve this, we actively participate in tech events and conferences to stay informed about new developments. Additionally, we are part of various tech accelerators and innovation groups where real-time advancements are taking place.
Our team is consistently encouraged to explore and engage in out-of-the-box solutions to enhance our offerings. This proactive approach ensures that we not only stay ahead of industry trends but also continuously improve our services to meet the evolving needs of our clients. By fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability, Qila remains at the forefront of the Web3 revolution.
Can you elaborate on the specific challenges that Qila aims to address for enterprises looking to adopt blockchain technology?
Qila assists enterprises in navigating the multifaceted challenges associated with adopting blockchain technology.
Firstly, blockchain’s complexity often proves daunting for businesses. Understanding its intricacies and how to effectively utilize it can be a significant hurdle. Recognizing this, Qila helps enterprises with resources and consulting to curate a value proposition, which makes it easy for them to comprehend blockchain’s functionality and its practical applications.
Another challenge lies in seamlessly integrating blockchain with existing systems. Without a clear understanding of data flow and use cases, this task can be particularly challenging. However, Qila provides innovative solutions that streamline integration, leveraging REST APIs and smart contracts to ensure a smooth and efficient alignment with current operations.
Furthermore, ensuring the security and regulatory compliance of blockchain systems is paramount. Qila addresses this concern by implementing robust security measures and ensuring solutions meet stringent regulatory standards, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the blockchain ecosystem.
Moreover, the cost implications of deploying and maintaining blockchain solutions can be significant. Qila recognizes this challenge and offers cost-effective solutions while assisting businesses in planning and executing implementations that optimize resource allocation.
Additionally, Qila understands that blockchain can be intimidating for non-technical staff. To mitigate this challenge, Qila designs user-friendly tools that facilitate seamless interaction with blockchain systems, empowering all stakeholders to engage effectively with the technology.
Lastly, maintaining blockchain systems can be resource intensive. Qila provides ongoing monitoring and support to ensure the continued efficiency and effectiveness of deployed solutions, thereby alleviating the burden on businesses and enabling them to focus on their core operations.
How does Qila differentiate its Blockchain-as-a-Service offering to cater to different industries and use cases?
Qila’s Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS) stands out in the industry landscape due to its user-friendly platform, requiring minimal coding expertise for seamless integration of web3 solutions across diverse sectors. This accessibility makes Qila a preferred choice among enterprises seeking hassle-free adoption of blockchain technology.
Furthermore, Qila’s platform offers versatility through its ARK (multi-tenanted) and ARK+ (Dedicated) options, tailored to suit specific industry requirements and use cases. For instance, in the healthcare sector, where data management is critical, but volume varies, the ARK (multi-tenanted) option provides a shared network ideal for quick blockchain adoption. Conversely, industries like supply chain management, where precise control over stakeholder participation is essential, can benefit from ARK+, a dedicated network allowing customized node configuration based on unique enterprise needs.
Consider a healthcare provider leveraging Qila’s ARK (multi-tenanted) platform to streamline patient data management. By securely recording and sharing medical records across a shared blockchain network, the provider ensures efficient data access while maintaining patient privacy. Meanwhile, in the supply chain industry, a logistics company utilizes Qila’s ARK+ (Dedicated) option to establish a blockchain network with tailored node configurations, enhancing transparency and traceability throughout the supply chain process.
What are the core principles or values that guide Qila’s approach to delivering solutions to its clients?
At Qila, our approach to delivering solutions to our clients is guided by a set of core principles and values that underpin every aspect of our operations. First and foremost, transparency is paramount. We believe in fostering open and honest communication with our clients, ensuring clarity and mutual understanding throughout the project lifecycle. Transparency builds trust, which is the foundation of successful partnerships.
Secondly, innovation is ingrained in our DNA. We continuously strive to push the boundaries of what is possible, exploring new technologies and methodologies to deliver cutting-edge solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients and enhance security. Innovation drives progress, and we embrace it wholeheartedly.
Integrity is non-negotiable; we uphold the highest ethical standards in all our interactions, acting with integrity and honesty in every decision we make. Integrity forms the bedrock of our reputation and is central to maintaining the trust of our clients and stakeholders.
Additionally, collaboration is key to our success. We believe in the power of teamwork, working closely with our clients to co-create solutions that address their unique challenges and unlock new opportunities. And the most important of all is customer-centricity, which is at the heart of everything we do. We prioritize the needs and goals of our clients, striving to exceed their expectations at every turn. By placing the customer at the centre of our approach, we ensure that our solutions deliver tangible value and drive meaningful outcomes.
Could you share some success stories or case studies of how Qila’s solutions have benefited enterprise clients?
Certainly, Qila has numerous success stories highlighting how our solutions have significantly benefited enterprise clients across various sectors.
One notable example comes from the healthcare industry, where a clinical research firm specializing in skincare products partnered with Qila to tokenize their research data. By leveraging Qila’s solutions, they enhanced transparency and trust in their operations. Cosmetic companies opting for their clinical research services now have access to these tokens through Qila’s PrivaSea wallet, enabling real-time tracking of research progress. Moreover, storing research data on the blockchain expedites regulatory approvals, streamlining the regulatory process.
In another instance, a communication platform-as-a-service (cPaas) company integrated with Qila to enhance security in their communications. By minting NFT tokens on Qila’s ARK platform, they ensured secure communication, especially for sensitive information shared in sectors like banking, insurance, and healthcare. Tokenizing data and linking it to blockchain ensured data integrity, making it challenging for malicious actors to breach customer data, thereby mitigating legal risks.
Furthermore, Qila’s solutions have revolutionized the education sector by tokenizing academic credentials such as transcripts and degrees. Students receive these credential tokens upon course completion, simplifying the verification process for higher education institutions and employers. With Qila’s NFT token solutions, verification becomes instantaneous, saving time and administrative burdens for all parties involved.
How does Qila leverage its international presence across Mumbai, Dubai and Chicago to serve a diverse customer base?
Qila strategically utilizes its international presence across Mumbai, Dubai, and Chicago to serve a diverse customer base by actively engaging with local events and industry activities. By participating in these gatherings, Qila not only stays abreast of emerging trends but also positions itself as a thought leader, sharing insights gained from its extensive customer experience.
Furthermore, Qila recognizes the significance of metropolitan cities as early adopters of new technologies. Leveraging its understanding of this dynamic, Qila effectively tailors its solutions to meet the specific needs of different sectors prevalent in these regions. This proactive approach enables Qila to establish meaningful connections and secure valuable leads and clients across various industries.
In essence, Qila’s strategy involves immersing itself in the vibrant tech ecosystems of Mumbai, Dubai, and Chicago, where it actively engages with local stakeholders, stays informed about industry developments, and adapts its offerings to address the evolving needs of its diverse customer base. This multifaceted approach underscores Qila’s commitment to delivering tailored solutions and driving innovation within the global tech landscape.
What strategies does Qila employ to ensure seamless collaboration and communication across its global offices?
Qila fosters seamless collaboration and communication across its global offices through several strategic approaches designed to promote unity and efficiency.
Firstly, Qila maintains a flat hierarchy and decentralized ecosystem, allowing for streamlined decision-making and fostering a sense of ownership among team members. This organizational structure ensures that every individual is aligned with the common vision of innovation and growth.
Additionally, Qila emphasizes the sharing of success stories and best practices across regions during regular meetings and calls. By exchanging insights and learnings, teams can adapt universal approaches from Qila’s offerings while tailoring them to the unique needs of each region and enterprise within specific sectors. This collaborative approach ensures that communication remains fluid and effective, promoting a cohesive working environment across global offices.
In essence, Qila’s strategies for seamless collaboration and communication revolve around creating a shared understanding of objectives, fostering open dialogue, and encouraging cross-regional knowledge sharing. These efforts contribute to a cohesive global team that is well-equipped to deliver innovative solutions to clients worldwide.
How does Qila ensure data security and privacy for its clients?
Qila prioritizes data security and privacy as fundamental principles within its operations, especially in the realm of web3 technologies such as blockchain and tokenization.
Central to Qila’s offering are the core values of Security, Transparency, and Trust.
Ensuring the security and privacy of client data is non-negotiable for Qila. The company leaves no room for compromise or shortcuts in this regard. It places the highest emphasis on adhering to compliance guidelines related to data handling and protection, as well as implementing robust security protocols.
Qila maintains its private cloud infrastructure, meticulously aligned with stringent standards such as GDPR and other regulatory frameworks. By investing in a secure infrastructure, Qila ensures that client data always remains safeguarded. Moreover, Qila customizes its approach to data protection and management based on the specific needs and regional regulations of its clients, thereby providing tailored solutions that prioritize security and safety.
In essence, Qila’s commitment to data security and privacy underscores its dedication to providing clients with a trusted and reliable platform. By upholding the highest standards of security, Qila ensures that clients can confidently leverage its solutions while maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of their data.
What are the future plans or roadmap for Qila in terms of product development and market expansion?
Qila envisions becoming the ubiquitous could for web3 solutions, addressing the diverse needs of enterprises across various sectors. Our journey thus far has seen the launch of two key platform offerings: ARK (multi-tenanted) and ARK+ (Dedicated), empowering enterprises to seamlessly adopt blockchain and tokenization. Additionally, our token wallet application, PrivaSea, serves as a centralized hub for all tokens issued by our clients to their respective customers.
Looking ahead, Qila is focused on advancing product development to better serve our clients’ evolving needs. We are actively working on developing different protocol offerings to standardize solutions on our platform, facilitating quicker adherence to compliance and regulatory frameworks. Moreover, we have long-term plans to venture into the crypto market, aiming to create an interoperable platform, along with developing DApps and DeFi solutions. These initiatives align with our goal of positioning Qila as a comprehensive solution provider for all web3 infrastructure requirements.
At Qila, we prioritize staying at the forefront of innovation and technology, continuously seeking ways to improve our solutions and enhance our offerings. To achieve this, we actively engage with the latest trends and developments in the web3 space through participation in tech events, webinars, conferences, and accelerator groups. Additionally, we conduct extensive research to stay informed about emerging offerings in the scientific community.
Our tech team is empowered to explore and develop new solutions that align with our core offerings, ensuring that we remain adaptable and responsive to evolving market needs. This approach allows us to create a roadmap for the adoption of innovative solutions, ultimately advancing our goal of becoming the ubiquitous cloud platform for web3 solutions.
News
An enhanced consensus algorithm for blockchain
The introduction of the link and reputation evaluation concepts aims to improve the stability and security of the consensus mechanism, decrease the likelihood of malicious nodes joining the consensus, and increase the reliability of the selected consensus nodes.
The link model structure based on joint action
Through the LINK between nodes, all the LINK nodes engage in consistent activities during the operation of the consensus mechanism. The reputation evaluation mechanism evaluates the trustworthiness of nodes based on their historical activity status throughout the entire blockchain. The essence of LINK is to drive inactive nodes to participate in system activities through active nodes. During the stage of selecting leader nodes, nodes are selected through self-recommendation, and the reputation evaluation of candidate nodes and their LINK nodes must be qualified. The top 5 nodes of the total nodes are elected as leader nodes through voting, and the nodes in their LINK status are candidate nodes. In the event that the leader node goes down, the responsibility of the leader node is transferred to the nodes in its LINK through the view-change. The LINK connection algorithm used in this study is shown in Table 2, where LINKm is the linked group and LINKP is the percentage of linked nodes.
Table 2 LINK connection algorithm.
Node type
This paper presents a classification of nodes in a blockchain system based on their functionalities. The nodes are divided into three categories: leader nodes (LNs), follower nodes (FNs), and general nodes (Ns). The leader nodes (LNs) are responsible for producing blocks and are elected through voting by general nodes. The follower nodes (FNs) are nodes that are linked to leader nodes (LNs) through the LINK mechanism and are responsible for validating blocks. General nodes (N) have the ability to broadcast and disseminate information, participate in elections, and vote. The primary purpose of the LINK mechanism is to act in combination. When nodes are in the LINK, there is a distinction between the master and slave nodes, and there is a limit to the number of nodes in the LINK group (NP = {n1, nf1, nf2 ……,nfn}). As the largest proportion of nodes in the system, general nodes (N) have the right to vote and be elected. In contrast, leader nodes (LNs) and follower nodes (FNs) do not possess this right. This rule reduces the likelihood of a single node dominating the block. When the system needs to change its fundamental settings due to an increase in the number of nodes or transaction volume, a specific number of current leader nodes and candidate nodes need to vote for a reset. Subsequently, general nodes need to vote to confirm this. When both confirmations are successful, the new basic settings are used in the next cycle of the system process. This dual confirmation setting ensures the fairness of the blockchain to a considerable extent. It also ensures that the majority holds the ultimate decision-making power, thereby avoiding the phenomenon of a small number of nodes completely controlling the system.
After the completion of a governance cycle, the blockchain network will conduct a fresh election for the leader and follower nodes. As only general nodes possess the privilege to participate in the election process, the previous consortium of leader and follower nodes will lose their authorization. In the current cycle, they will solely retain broadcasting and receiving permissions for block information, while their corresponding incentives will also decrease. A diagram illustrating the node status can be found in Fig. 1.
Election method
The election method adopts the node self-nomination mode. If a node wants to participate in an election, it must form a node group with one master and three slaves. One master node group and three slave node groups are inferred based on experience in this paper; these groups can balance efficiency and security and are suitable for other project collaborations. The successfully elected node joins the leader node set, and its slave nodes enter the follower node set. Considering the network situation, the maximum threshold for producing a block is set to 1 s. If the block fails to be successfully generated within the specified time, it is regarded as a disconnected state, and its reputation score is deducted. The node is skipped, and in severe cases, a view transformation is performed, switching from the master node to the slave node and inheriting its leader’s rights in the next round of block generation. Although the nodes that become leaders are high-reputation nodes, they still have the possibility of misconduct. If a node engages in misconduct, its activity will be immediately stopped, its comprehensive reputation score will be lowered, it will be disqualified from participating in the next election, and its equity will be reduced by 30%. The election process is shown in Fig. 2.
Incentives and penalties
To balance the rewards between leader nodes and ordinary nodes and prevent a large income gap, two incentive/penalty methods will be employed. First, as the number of network nodes and transaction volume increase, more active nodes with significant stakes emerge. After a prolonged period of running the blockchain, there will inevitably be significant class distinctions, and ordinary nodes will not be able to win in the election without special circumstances. To address this issue, this paper proposes that rewards be reduced for nodes with stakes exceeding a certain threshold, with the reduction rate increasing linearly until it reaches zero. Second, in the event that a leader or follower node violates the consensus process, such as by producing a block out of order or being unresponsive for an extended period, penalties will be imposed. The violation handling process is illustrated in Fig. 3.
Violation handling process.
Comprehensive reputation evaluation and election mechanism based on historical transactions
This paper reveals that the core of the DPoS consensus mechanism is the election process. If a blockchain is to run stably for a long time, it is essential to consider a reasonable election method. This paper proposes a comprehensive reputation evaluation election mechanism based on historical records. The mechanism considers the performance indicators of nodes in three dimensions: production rate, tokens, and validity. Additionally, their historical records are considered, particularly whether or not the nodes have engaged in malicious behavior. For example, nodes that have ever been malicious will receive low scores during the election process unless their overall quality is exceptionally high and they have considerable support from other nodes. Only in this case can such a node be eligible for election or become a leader node. The comprehensive reputation score is the node’s self-evaluation score, and the committee size does not affect the computational complexity.
Moreover, the comprehensive reputation evaluation proposed in this paper not only is a threshold required for node election but also converts the evaluation into corresponding votes based on the number of voters. Therefore, the election is related not only to the benefits obtained by the node but also to its comprehensive evaluation and the number of voters. If two nodes receive the same vote, the node with a higher comprehensive reputation is given priority in the ranking. For example, in an election where node A and node B each receive 1000 votes, node A’s number of stake votes is 800, its comprehensive reputation score is 50, and only four nodes vote for it. Node B’s number of stake votes is 600, its comprehensive reputation score is 80, and it receives votes from five nodes. In this situation, if only one leader node position remains, B will be selected as the leader node. Displayed in descending order of priority as comprehensive credit rating, number of voters, and stake votes, this approach aims to solve the problem of node misconduct at its root by democratizing the process and subjecting leader nodes to constraints, thereby safeguarding the fundamental interests of the vast majority of nodes.
Comprehensive reputation evaluation
This paper argues that the election process of the DPoS consensus mechanism is too simplistic, as it considers only the number of election votes that a node receives. This approach fails to comprehensively reflect the node’s actual capabilities and does not consider the voters’ election preferences. As a result, nodes with a significant stake often win and become leader nodes. To address this issue, the comprehensive reputation evaluation score is normalized considering various attributes of the nodes. The scoring results are shown in Table 3.
Table 3 Comprehensive reputation evaluation.
Since some of the evaluation indicators in Table 3 are continuous while others are discrete, different normalization methods need to be employed to obtain corresponding scores for different indicators. The continuous indicators include the number of transactions/people, wealth balance, network latency, network jitter, and network bandwidth, while the discrete indicators include the number of violations, the number of successful elections, and the number of votes. The value range of the indicator “number of transactions/people” is (0,1), and the value range of the other indicators is (0, + ∞). The equation for calculating the “number of transactions/people” is set as shown in Eq. (1).
$$A_{1} = \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}l} {0,} \hfill & {{\text{G}} = 0} \hfill \\ {\frac{{\text{N}}}{{\text{G}}}*10,} \hfill & {{\text{G}} > 0} \hfill \\ \end{array} } \right.$$
(1)
where N represents the number of transactional nodes and G represents the number of transactions. It reflects the degree of connection between the node and other nodes. Generally, nodes that transact with many others are safer than those with a large number of transactions with only a few nodes. The limit value of each item, denoted by x, is determined based on the situation and falls within the specified range, as shown in Eq. (2). The wealth balance and network bandwidth indicators use the same function to set their respective values.
$${A}_{i}=20*\left(\frac{1}{1+{e}^{-{a}_{i}x}}-0.5\right)$$
(2)
where x indicates the value of this item and expresses the limit value.
In Eq. (3), x represents the limited value of this indicator. The lower the network latency and network jitter are, the higher the score will be.
The last indicators, which are the number of violations, the number of elections, and the number of votes, are discrete values and are assigned different scores according to their respective ranges. The scores corresponding to each count are shown in Table 4.
$$A_{3} = \left\{ {\begin{array}{*{20}l} {10*\cos \frac{\pi }{200}x,} \hfill & {0 \le x \le 100} \hfill \\ {0,} \hfill & {x > 100} \hfill \\ \end{array} } \right.$$
(3)
Table 4 Score conversion.
The reputation evaluation mechanism proposed in this paper comprehensively considers three aspects of nodes, wealth level, node performance, and stability, to calculate their scores. Moreover, the scores obtain the present data based on historical records. Each node is set as an M × N dimensional matrix, where M represents M times the reputation evaluation score and N represents N dimensions of reputation evaluation (M < = N), as shown in Eq. (4).
$${\text{N}} = \left( {\begin{array}{*{20}c} {a_{11} } & \cdots & {a_{1n} } \\ \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ {a_{m1} } & \cdots & {a_{mn} } \\ \end{array} } \right)$$
(4)
The comprehensive reputation rating is a combined concept related to three dimensions. The rating is set after rating each aspect of the node. The weight w and the matrix l are not fixed. They are also transformed into matrix states as the position of the node in the system changes. The result of the rating is set as the output using Eq. (5).
$$\text{T}=\text{lN}{w}^{T}=\left({l}_{1}\dots {\text{l}}_{\text{m}}\right)\left(\begin{array}{ccc}{a}_{11}& \cdots & {a}_{1n}\\ \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ {a}_{m1}& \cdots & {a}_{mn}\end{array}\right){\left({w}_{1}\dots {w}_{n}\right)}^{T}$$
(5)
Here, T represents the comprehensive reputation score, and l and w represent the correlation coefficient. Because l is a matrix of order 1*M, M is the number of times in historical records, and M < = N is set, the number of dimensions of l is uncertain. Set the term l above to add up to 1, which is l1 + l2 + …… + ln = 1; w is also a one-dimensional matrix whose dimension is N*1, and its purpose is to act as a weight; within a certain period of time, w is a fixed matrix, and w will not change until the system changes the basic settings.
Assume that a node conducts its first comprehensive reputation rating, with no previous transaction volume, violations, elections or vote. The initial wealth of the node is 10, the latency is 50 ms, the jitter is 100 ms, and the network bandwidth is 100 M. According to the equation, the node’s comprehensive reputation rating is 41.55. This score is relatively good at the beginning and gradually increases as the patient participates in system activities continuously.
Voting calculation method
To ensure the security and stability of the blockchain system, this paper combines the comprehensive reputation score with voting and randomly sorts the blocks, as shown in Eqs. (3–6).
$$Z=\sum_{i=1}^{n}{X}_{i}+nT$$
(6)
where Z represents the final election score, Xi represents the voting rights earned by the node, n is the number of nodes that vote for this node, and T is the comprehensive reputation score.
The voting process is divided into stake votes and reputation votes. The more reputation scores and voters there are, the more total votes that are obtained. In the early stages of blockchain operation, nodes have relatively few stakes, so the impact of reputation votes is greater than that of equity votes. This is aimed at selecting the most suitable node as the leader node in the early stage. As an operation progresses, the role of equity votes becomes increasingly important, and corresponding mechanisms need to be established to regulate it. The election vote algorithm used in this paper is shown in Table 5.
Table 5 Election vote counting algorithm.
This paper argues that the election process utilized by the original DPoS consensus mechanism is overly simplistic, as it relies solely on the vote count to select the node that will oversee the entire blockchain. This approach cannot ensure the security and stability of the voting process, and if a malicious node behaves improperly during an election, it can pose a significant threat to the stability and security of the system as well as the safety of other nodes’ assets. Therefore, this paper proposes a different approach to the election process of the DPoS consensus mechanism by increasing the complexity of the process. We set up a threshold and optimized the vote-counting process to enhance the security and stability of the election. The specific performance of the proposed method was verified through experiments.
The election cycle in this paper can be customized, but it requires the agreement of the blockchain committee and general nodes. The election cycle includes four steps: node self-recommendation, calculating the comprehensive reputation score, voting, and replacing the new leader. Election is conducted only among general nodes without affecting the production or verification processes of leader nodes or follower nodes. Nodes start voting for preferred nodes. If they have no preference, they can use the LINK mechanism to collaborate with other nodes and gain additional rewards.
View changes
During the consensus process, conducting a large number of updates is not in line with the system’s interests, as the leader node (LN) and follower node (FN) on each node have already been established. Therefore, it is crucial to handle problematic nodes accurately when issues arise with either the LN or FN. For instance, when a node fails to perform its duties for an extended period or frequently fails to produce or verify blocks within the specified time range due to latency, the system will precisely handle them. For leader nodes, if they engage in malicious behavior such as producing blocks out of order, the behavior is recorded, and their identity as a leader node is downgraded to a follower node. The follower node inherits the leader node’s position, and the nature of their work is transformed as they swap their responsibilities of producing and verifying blocks with their original work. This type of behavior will not significantly affect the operation of the blockchain system. Instead of waiting until the end of the current committee round to punish malicious nodes, dynamic punishment is imposed on the nodes that affect the operation of the blockchain system to maintain system security. The view change operation is illustrated in Fig. 4.
In traditional PBFT, view changes are performed according to the view change protocol by changing the view number V to the next view number V + 1. During this process, nodes only receive view change messages and no other messages from other nodes. In this paper, the leader node group (LN) and follower node group (FN) are selected through an election of the LINK group. The node with LINKi[0] is added to the LN leader node group, while the other three LINK groups’ follower nodes join the FN follower node group since it is a configuration pattern of one master and three slaves. The view change in this paper requires only rearranging the node order within the LINK group to easily remove malicious nodes. Afterward, the change is broadcast to other committee nodes, and during the view transition, the LINK group does not receive block production or verification commands from the committee for stability reasons until the transition is completed.
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The Hype Around Blockchain Mortgage Has Died Down, But This CEO Still Believes
LiquidFi Founder Ian Ferreira Sees Huge Potential in Blockchain Despite Hype around technology is dead.
“Blockchain technology has been a buzzword for a long time, and it shouldn’t be,” Ferriera said. “It should be a technology that lives in the background, but it makes everything much more efficient, much more transparent, and ultimately it saves costs for everyone. That’s the goal.”
Before founding his firm, Ferriera was a portfolio manager at a hedge fund, a job that ended up revealing “interesting intricacies” related to the mortgage industry.
Being a mortgage trader opened Ferriera’s eyes to a lot of the operational and infrastructure problems that needed to be solved in the mortgage-backed securities industry, he said. That later led to the birth of LiquidFi.
“The point of what we do is to get raw data attached to a resource [a loan] on a blockchain so that it’s provable. You reduce that trust problem because you have the data, you have the document associated with that data,” said the LiquidFi CEO.
Ferriera spoke with National Mortgage News about the value of blockchain technology, why blockchain hype has fizzled out, and why it shouldn’t.
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New bill pushes Department of Veterans Affairs to examine how blockchain can improve its work
The Department of Veterans Affairs would have to evaluate how blockchain technology could be used to improve benefits and services offered to veterans, according to a legislative proposal introduced Tuesday.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., would direct the VA to “conduct a comprehensive study of the feasibility, potential benefits, and risks associated with using distributed ledger technology in various programs and services.”
Distributed ledger technology, including blockchain, is used to protect and track information by storing data across multiple computers and keeping a record of its use.
According to the text of the legislation, which Mace’s office shared exclusively with Nextgov/FCW ahead of its publication, blockchain “could significantly improve benefits allocation, insurance program management, and recordkeeping within the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
“We need to bring the federal government into the 21st century,” Mace said in a statement. “This bill will open the door to research on improving outdated systems that fail our veterans because we owe it to them to use every tool at our disposal to improve their lives.”
Within one year of the law taking effect, the Department of Veterans Affairs will be required to submit a report to the House and Senate Veterans Affairs committees detailing its findings, as well as the benefits and risks identified in using the technology.
The mandatory review is expected to include information on how the department’s use of blockchain could improve the way benefits decisions are administered, improve the management and security of veterans’ personal data, streamline the insurance claims process, and “increase transparency and accountability in service delivery.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs has been studying the potential benefits of using distributed ledger technology, with the department emission a request for information in November 2021 seeking input from contractors on how blockchain could be leveraged, in part, to streamline its supply chains and “secure data sharing between institutions.”
The VA’s National Institute of Artificial Intelligence has also valued the use of blockchain, with three of the use cases tested during the 2021 AI tech sprint focused on examining its capabilities.
Mace previously introduced a May bill that would direct Customs and Border Protection to create a public blockchain platform to store and share data collected at U.S. borders.
Lawmakers also proposed additional measures that would push the Department of Veterans Affairs to consider adopting other modernized technologies to improve veteran services.
Rep. David Valadao, R-Calif., introduced legislation in June that would have directed the department to report to lawmakers on how it plans to expand the use of “certain automation tools” to process veterans’ claims. The House of Representatives Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs gave a favorable hearing on the congressman’s bill during a Markup of July 23.
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California DMV Uses Blockchain to Fight Auto Title Fraud
TDR’s Three Takeaways: California DMV Uses Blockchain to Fight Fraud
- California DMV uses blockchain technology to manage 42 million auto titles.
- The initiative aims to improve safety and reduce car title fraud.
- The immutable nature of blockchain ensures accurate and tamper-proof records.
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is implementing blockchain technology to manage and secure 42 million auto titles. This innovative move aims to address and reduce the persistent problem of auto title fraud, a problem that costs consumers and the industry millions of dollars each year. By moving to a blockchain-based system, the DMV is taking advantage of the technology’s key feature: immutability.
Blockchain, a decentralized ledger technology, ensures that once a car title is registered, it cannot be altered or tampered with. This creates a highly secure and transparent system, significantly reducing the risk of fraudulent activity. Every transaction and update made to a car title is permanently recorded on the blockchain, providing a complete and immutable history of the vehicle’s ownership and status.
As first reported by Reuters, the DMV’s adoption of blockchain isn’t just about preventing fraud. It’s also aimed at streamlining the auto title process, making it more efficient and intuitive. Traditional auto title processing involves a lot of paperwork and manual verification, which can be time-consuming and prone to human error. Blockchain technology automates and digitizes this process, reducing the need for physical documents and minimizing the chances of errors.
Additionally, blockchain enables faster verification and transfer of car titles. For example, when a car is sold, the transfer of ownership can be done almost instantly on the blockchain, compared to days or even weeks in the conventional system. This speed and efficiency can benefit both the DMV and the vehicle owners.
The California DMV’s move is part of a broader trend of government agencies exploring blockchain technology to improve their services. By adopting this technology, the DMV is setting a precedent for other states and industries to follow, showcasing blockchain’s potential to improve safety and efficiency in public services.
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