Proof of Contribution
The gno.land chain utilizes a reputation-based consensus mechanism instead of proof-of-stake. This mechanism emphasizes values and expertise to carry out important tasks like choosing validators and allocating rewards.
Meta issue: #918.
Presentation: https://github.com/gnolang/workshops/tree/main/presentations/2023-06-06--buidl-asia--manfred.
Main Concepts
- Validator set determined by
worxDAO, a DAO serving as the authority. - Governance and distribution managed through smart contracts.
- Chain monitors contract changes (e.g.,
valset) to configureTendermint2. - No staking involved in consensus.
- Chain fees distributed to contributors and validators, not stakers.
- Chain fees accumulated in a contract-managed bucket for efficient distribution.
- Validators likely have equal power (1).
- Validators do not vote like in PoS, but may participate in dedicated governance topics, maybe.
High-level schema
____ ____ ____ __ _ __ __ _
/ __ \_________ ____ / __/ ____ / __/ _________ ____ / /______(_) /_ __ __/ /_(_)___ ____ _____
/ /_/ / ___/ __ \/ __ \/ /_ / __ \/ /_ / ___/ __ \/ __ \/ __/ ___/ / __ \/ / / / __/ / __ \/ __ \/ ___/
/ ____/ / / /_/ / /_/ / __/ / /_/ / __/ / /__/ /_/ / / / / /_/ / / / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / /_/ / / / (__ )
/_/ /_/ \____/\____/_/ \____/_/ \___/\____/_/ /_/\__/_/ /_/_.___/\__,_/\__/_/\____/_/ /_/____/
+---------------------------------------------------------------+ +------------------------------------+
| gno.land/{p,r} contracts | | gno.land |
| | | |
| +-----------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | |
| | | | r/sys/validators | | | |
| | | +->| |--+------+ | +-------------+ |
| | worxDAO | | | validator set | | | | | | |
| | |--+ +---------------------+ | +-------+->| Gno SDK |----------+ |
| | the "Contributors DAO" | | | r/sys/config | | | | | | | |
| | | +->| |--+------+ | +-------------+ | |
| | | | chain configuration | | | | | |
| +-----------------------------+ +---------------------+ | | | | |
| | +---------------------+ | | v v |
| v | r/sys/rewards | | | +-------------+ +-------------+ |
| +----------------------+ | | | | | | | | |
| | Evaluation DAO | | distribute rewards | | | | TM2 |-->| GnoVM | |
| | | | to contributors and | | | | | | | |
| | Qualification system | | validators | | | +-------------+ +-------------+ |
| | to distribute ^worx | | +------+ | | | | | |
| +----------------------+ | |Bucket|<- - -|- + -chain fees -|- - - - - | |
| +-------+------+------+ | | | |
+---------------------------------------------------------------+ +---------------------------+--------+
^ |
| |
+---------------user TXs can publish and call contracts--------------------+
Components
gno.land
The main blockchain powered by the TM2 engine. It offers permissionless smart
contracts with the GnoVM and can self-configure from contracts using the
GnoSDK.
worxDAO
The governance entity consisting of contributors, responsible for governing the
r/sys realms, including validators and config.
Meta issue: #872.
r/sys/validators
A realm (smart contract) that enables the worxDAO to update the validator set.
Similar to a PoA system, the authority is decentralized in a DAO.
Additionally, this contract is queried by gno.land to configure TM2 when
changes are made to the validator set.
r/sys/config
A governance-backed smart contract that allows for chain configuration through governance.
It helps prevent unnecessary upgrade campaigns for minor updates.
Evaluation DAO
The system employed by the worxDAO to incentivize contributions with ^worx points.
+---------------1. propose a contribution-------------+
| v
+--------------+ +----------------+
| |--------3. improve, negotiate------->| |
| contributor | | Evaluation DAO |
| |<-------4. distribute ^worx----------| |
+--------------+ +----------------+
^ |
+---------------2. review, challenge------------------+