Dash Core Group

We’re rolling out the biggest release in Dash’s history, the Evolution platform. What started as a simple vision for blockchain-level usernames and contact lists back in 2015 has evolved into a much more ambitious project. In order to properly fill in all the missing gaps around decentralized money, we had to dive into decentralized data as well. Now, after many years, we’re finally releasing the first great step in fulfilling this vision: the Genesis release. So what is Dash Evolution? Evolution is a first-of-its-kind decentralized application platform that lets you build apps with fast, easy, and reliable access to decentralized data. More specifically, Evolution is a platform for executing data contracts. These write data to indexed and queryable decentralized storage. A sidechain run by the same nodes as the main chain processes data transactions, while the network’s decentralized API allows anyone to access that data on demand. It’s ideal for any app where you want to store data in a decentralized way, and quickly search and access exactly the piece of data you need. Some of these might include accounting software, merchant maps, social media, and really anything where you need to store data in a decentralized, censorship-resistant way, and where you can easily call up exactly the data you need, exactly when you need it. (1/4)

This is a very ambitious project. This isn’t just adding a new feature set to Dash, it's actually launching an entirely new and radically different blockchain network that interfaces with the legacy Dash network. STRUCTURE Let’s break down the structure of the Evolution platform. Evolution is run by validator nodes called Evolution Masternodes (EvoNodes), a special kind of masternode that runs both Core (the regular Dash payments chain) and Platform (Evolution). It’s comprised of four major elements: ·??????Platform chain ·??????Data contracts ·??????Data storage ·??????DAPI Platform Chain The Platform Chain is a sidechain that, as mentioned above, is run by EvoNodes, which also secures the legacy Dash chain. It uses the account-based model (single addresses have balances), as opposed to the UTXO model (multiple addresses hold coins, or UTXOs) of the Core chain. It uses a heavily modified derivative of Tendermint (Cosmos) consensus called Tenderdash. The main differences between Tenderdash and Tendermint is that Dash’s version has a same-block execution, meaning you don’t have to wait for the next block after writing new data to query it. It also uses a rotating quorum, or subset, of validators (Scalable Byzantine Fault Tolerance or sBFT) instead of using all the validators concurrently (Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance or pBFT). Users register identities on Platform to use the chain, which are then associated with their private keys on the Core chain. They use these to receive and use Credits, which are Dash equivalents on the Platform chain. Credits are minted when they’re bridged from the main Dash chain. The Dash is locked via an asset lock to mint the equivalent amount of Credits, and then burned when the Dash on the main chain is redeemed. The chain is validated by EvoNodes, with quorum signatures being written to the Core chain, thereby benefiting from the security of the Core chain as well. Users use credits to pay fees to process state transitions, as well as store data. Data Contracts Evolution executes data contracts to the network. A data contract is a database schema that specifies how data is written to the Evolution platform. Data contracts are associated with owner identities and state transitions on the Platform chain execute them to write documents, which are stored in Dash’s storage mechanism. A developer registers the data contract via state transition, and users then access and in turn use state transitions to write their resulting documents. Contracts can be modified by the owner in certain backward-compatible ways such as adding new documents and optional properties, adding non-unique indices, and so on. They can optionally include a contract revision history. Documents can be created, replaced, and deleted from storage by their owner. (2/4)

Data Storage Evolution stores decentralized data from data contracts in a multi-layered, indexed, and highly queryable database system, mainly: Drive, GroveDB, and RocksDB. Drive essentially tells the network to insert/store a given document, while GroveDB sorts it into a particular reference/subtree/etc., and RocksDB stores the key-value mapping (i.e. “name = evan”). It’s a much more thoroughly developed data storage solution than many alternatives and is optimized to be indexed and able to be quickly queried in a decentralized and provable way. This is an abbreviated version, and more in-depth information on the subject can be found in the developer documentation. DAPI DAPI, or the Decentralized API, is how users and developers communicate with the Dash blockchain. It allows users to interface with both the Core and Platform chains, directly with the network itself, without having to run a full node. This significantly cuts down on infrastructure costs for interfacing with the decentralized network and also cuts out the need for a trusted third-party service to run nodes on the user’s behalf. WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH DASH EVOLUTION? As mentioned above, Evolution is a platform for executing data contracts to write to, and access from, decentralized storage. But what is it good for? Why did we build it in the first place? There are endless use cases for Evolution; however, the initial, foundational two applications/data contracts are DPNS and Dashpay. DPNS DPNS, or the Dash Platform Name Service, is a naming service for identities. Essentially, it allows users to associate certain human-readable usernames with their identities for easy lookup and display. This is the foundation for other contracts such as DashPay which facilitate interactions and payments between users. A username is registered and associated with an identity, which can then be interacted with via a username. DashPay DashPay is a payment app contract that allows users to exchange payments easily. It interfaces with DPNS for username lookup and then allows identities to form connections with each other. Once a connection is formed, encrypted extended public keys are shared between the new contacts, so that payment information can be exchanged in a fully private and encrypted way without exposing public keys. The relationship between the contacts is tracked internally so that each has a record of payments to and from the other. If a user device is lost, via recovery phrase they may recover not only their funds, but their username, contacts, and history with their contacts. This re-creates the modern payment experience in a fully decentralized and trust-minimized way, without exposing sensitive payment details to the public blockchain. (3/4)

WHY USE DASH EVOLUTION? A user will want to use Dash because they can enjoy a much easier and more intuitive payment experience thanks to DPNS and DashPay, all privately and without trusting a centralized third party such as a company that could lose or sell their data, or which could be shut down or censor them. Users will also want to use apps built on Dash because they can truly own their data: when interacting with data contracts, their resulting data stored by the Dash network will be owned by them. Their data stays with them, even if the application they were using shuts down. We believe this is a major incentive to use apps built on Dash over legacy apps. Each new app built adds more utility to a user registering an identity and owning their data. We eventually envision a single “login with Dash” function where users can completely wean themselves off of trusting their data and credentials to legacy centralized companies, and can simply tap into a unified decentralized network instead. A developer will want to develop on Dash because they can easily build a legacy Web2-style app in familiar languages such as JavaScript, easily read-write data to the network without needing to run a node or pay for an infrastructure provider, and pay as they go for data storage on an immutable network that can’t be shut down, and that they can modify if need be. Their data can be easily queried and accessed on-demand. They can essentially build on the familiarity, performance, and ease of use of legacy systems, combined with the immutability, decentralization, and universal access of blockchain. The Genesis release includes all of the above-mentioned functionality, plus non-fungible token (NFT) support. Immediately after release, we will be focusing on improving network stability and launching DPNS and DashPay, after which we will focus on enabling credit withdrawals for EvoNodes, fungible token support, and throughput improvements. We’re incredibly excited about this release, nine years in the making since its initial conception, and we can’t wait to see developers and users building the decentralized futures on Dash. The Evolution of money and data is here. If you would like to start building on Evolution, please fill out this Questionnaire: https://lnkd.in/de9AsgMk (4/4)

Why hasn't crypto taken over the developing world? We've all heard the hype, that crypto banks the unbanked, and so on. But largely, we've seen the developed world take up the lion's share of attention and investment in crypto. This isn't to say it isn't making inroads into the developing world. It definitely is. It just isn't (yet) on the same level of financial inclusion as what we'd like. Here's some of the biggest reasons this hasn't happened yet: 1??The developing world can't afford to lose money on volatility If Bitcoin or Dash (or whatever) goes down 15% over the course of a week, a US or western European merchant can handle that risk on a few small payments. But a merchant in the developing world may not be able to make bills. Their position is much more precarious, and volatility is a real adoption killer. ? 2? The developing world doesn't have on-ramps/infrastructure In the US and Europe for example, it's super easy to buy crypto: link your bank and debit card and you're good to go. You can also spend it on bills and more through many companies that make this convenient. Elsewhere, the same infrastructure just isn't there. Fewer on-ramps, fewer users have access to banking services to buy it in the first place, fewer cash on-ramps, and so on. It's much harder to acquire a new user this way. 3??The easier money is in the developed world Sad truth, but the crypto world has chased easy gains, and the easier gains are from high-net-worth individuals who can grow capital in the project. The value you get out of an acquisition in the developed world is much higher for roughly the same cost, especially in this heavily speculative world. Reaching the unbanked is the hard path forward. But, we don't think this state of affairs is good enough. Dash is money for the world. We're working on some solutions: ?? Stablecoins solve the volatility problem A stablecoin denominated in the US dollar (for example) is a valuable anti-volatility tool. We're working hard on getting some stablecoin options on Evolution the new Evolution chain. This will make our job of reaching the developing world a lot easier. Yes, being tied to fiat valuations isn't ideal, and longer-term (or right now for those who can take the risk), Dash as the base currency unit is the way to go. But stablecoins can onboard the more risk-averse until Dash starts to lose its volatility. ?? We're working on tools for bill pay etc. in the developing world We're in open conversations with infrastructure providers who could help us service the developing world. Stay tuned as we onboard more! ???We're working on ways to earn Dash We're working on partnerships that would allow people to earn Dash natively, without having to buy with fiat first. We believe this will be a killer app that would allow users everywhere to start participating in the Dash economy today. It's a long road to service the whole world, but we're committed to it. Dash is freedom money for everyone.

Dash Evolution, nine years in the making, has launched! Get fast, reliable access to decentralized, query-able data for your project now. https://lnkd.in/d4Bq34BK

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