roadmap/content/nomos/updates/2024-03-18.md

title	tags	date	lastmod	draft	description
2024-03-18 Nomos weekly	nomos-updates	2024-03-18	2024-03-18	false	Weekly update of Nomos

Cryptarchia

Research

• No research updates at this moment.

Development

• Stake Relativization Specification - the spec implementation has revealed some bugs in our orphan proof handling logic. Those bugs are still being worked through in this PR.
• Refactored Cryptarchia implementation into ledger and consensus crates: PR.
• Refactored nomos header and block definition so that it's now responsibility of the nomos-core crate: PR.
• Added Cryptarchia consensus service: PR.

Mixnet (Network Privacy)

Research

• Mixnet incentivization document has been further updated, more precisely the "Rewards" chapter that showcases the mathematic analysis and some of the parameters.
• Focused on researching the problem of mixing transactions by briefly investigating the economic perspective - emphasized on the fact that it can be a main source of the revenue for the mix network. Furthermore, we discussed the privacy perspective and potential negative impact on the privacy due to direct staking.
• Started work on the Message Type Indistinguishability (WIP name) section, where we discuss the potential sizes of the messages, their impact on the throughput, mixnet capacity, and noted a rewarding thing leading to a negative on the privacy. Both this and the previous point can be found in this (WIP) document.
• Analysis of the fraction of compromised paths in the mix network: optimized code which computes the (asymptotic) lower bound on the probability that the fraction of compromised paths, alpha, belongs to the interval [alpha_0, alpha_1]. The code takes the mixnet size n, sampled from N nodes where M nodes assumed to be adversarial, some initial fraction of compromised paths alpha_0 and outputs minimal fraction of compromised paths alpha_1 such that prob. that fraction of compromised paths belongs to the interval [alpha_0, alpha_1] is 1. The code can be used to design a program which optimizes the number of layers L given some threshold, on the alpha_1, which can be tolerated. However, one has to test if the asymptotic lower bound is suitable for this and gives alpha_1 which is not too loose. Summary of numerical results and simulations is provided in this document. Summary of analysis is provided in this document and the detailed analysis can be found in the Overleaf document.

Development

• Integrated mixnet network service for consensus, DA, and mempool: PR.
• Updated nomos-node integration tests for Mixnet: PR.
• Refactoring mixnet code: PR - and further PRs to be opened soon.

Data Availability

Research

• A case for dispersing the same VID Certificate multiple times was discussed during development, shorter version can be found in this document (VID Related Open Questions chapter).
• BLS threshold details have been added in the relevant document. It was concluded that there could be a significant overhead in communication when using DKG. Instead, an agreement was reached to apply a different solution using aggregate BLS. The relevant changes have been updated in the specification document. At this stage, we will proceed with this method. To find the best solution for this part, we might ask for support from the VAC team.

Development

• Initial DA API spec structure revised and merged: PR.
• Tests using DA Protocol specs have been developed. Currently, there are 2 types of tests, which are showcased in the first PR and the second PR.
• Finalizing DA verifier protocol specification: PR.
• Finalizing DA encoding protocol specification: PR.
• Finalizing DA dispersal protocol specification. Full flow with tests included, using Encoders and Verifiers: PR. Also, they have gone through reviews and we started discussions in several PRs - #1, #2, #3
• Added attesters bitfield to DA certificate. Missing compressed bitfield so we can use BLS aggregation of signatures as a threshold scheme: PR.
• Added certificate verification specification.

Coordination Layer

Research

• Synchronous Composability with Partial Transactions document with a proposed design.
• Progressed with the discussion on Atomic Asset Transfer w/ Taiga in this document.
• The Taiga circuit structures have been reviewed again. Relevant comments have been added to the document.

Development

• No development updates.

Testnet

Development

• No updates at this moment.

Miscellaneous

• Blog is now live - feel free to take a look at the first article here. More to come soon!