Tendermint Explained

Introduction

Creating a cryptocurrency or blockchain network requires substantial investment, extending far beyond merely initializing a database. It necessitates finding a delicate balance between security, decentralization, and scalability. Various teams have explored multiple approaches to building robust blockchain ecosystems. In this article, we will delve into one such approach: Tendermint.

Key Information About Tendermint

If you have a basic understanding of blockchain, you will find many of Tendermint's concepts familiar. Before we delve deeper, let’s first review some key foundational concepts.

Understanding Blockchain Architecture

Tendermint is a blockchain stack, similar to other blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. It encompasses not just the blockchain database itself but also the peer-to-peer network of nodes, how they interact, and the functionalities achievable through transactions and smart contracts. Its goal is to achieve consensus on the state of the system (for instance, a snapshot of the database) without trusting other participants.

Today's leading blockchains have discovered some "secrets" to achieve this goal. However, they often rely on monolithic architectures—a software engineering concept where components are interconnected and interdependent. You cannot remove a part and insert it into another architecture.

If you wish to maintain flexibility, a monolithic architecture is not the optimal choice. In a modular architecture, you can adjust individual components without disrupting the overall system. Conversely, with a monolithic architecture, you must ensure that all components remain compatible when upgrading any single component.

Having understood these differences, we can continue exploring the Tendermint protocol.

Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT)

You may have heard that one of Bitcoin's significant innovations is its solution to the Byzantine Generals Problem. We do not intend to discuss this issue in detail here (if you're interested, you can check out our article on Byzantine Fault Tolerance). You only need to know that it describes the scenario in which participants communicate in a distributed environment.

These participants cannot ascertain whether others are lying or whether the messages exchanged have been tampered with. As long as the participants can reach consensus on a set of facts, the system is considered to possess Byzantine fault tolerance.

Understanding this is crucial in a decentralized environment. Cryptocurrencies lacking Byzantine fault tolerance cannot function effectively—you need some form of centralized organization to coordinate, which contradicts the goal of decentralization. Many digital currencies, like Bitcoin, address this issue through a Proof of Work (PoW) consensus algorithm.

The Three Layers of Blockchain

We have discussed the differences between monolithic and modular architectures and recognized that decentralized cryptocurrency networks need to possess Byzantine fault tolerance. Next, let’s talk about the three-layer architecture commonly seen in blockchains: the application layer, consensus layer, and network layer.

The consensus layer and network layer are where the network nodes communicate with each other and strive to reach agreement on a set of facts. The application layer allows for operations, such as the decentralized applications and smart contracts on Ethereum, or custom transactions in Bitcoin.

Tendermint Core

First, we need to clarify some terminology. In this article, we will use "Tendermint" and "Tendermint Core" interchangeably, as our primary focus is on this technology.

It is worth mentioning that Tendermint is the name of the company founded by Jae Kwon, the original author of the white paper, while Tendermint Core refers to the specific software being developed by this company. More specifically, this software consists of two main components: the core consensus engine (Tendermint Core) and the Application Blockchain Interface (ABCI).

Tendermint Core is a fault-tolerant system that essentially functions as a large distributed computer, presenting the same state to all users simultaneously. As long as at least two-thirds of the participants remain honest, the system operates smoothly. But what makes Tendermint special compared to nearly all other blockchains?

Firstly, Tendermint Core employs a Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. In each cycle, a node is randomly selected from a group of validators to propose the next block (in a round-robin manner). If the other validators are satisfied with this proposal, the new block is added to the chain and updated in real-time. This is different from Bitcoin or Ethereum, which require waiting for confirmations to ensure the validity of transactions.

But wait, there’s more! Tendermint Core utilizes a modular architecture, separating the application layer from the consensus and network layers. This means you can embed your own application layer into the stack without worrying about complex incentive mechanisms or consensus algorithms.

For end-users, this might not seem particularly special, but for developers, leveraging an existing framework means they can build applications directly without having to construct the entire network from scratch. The blockchain data can be piped into the integration layer, allowing developers to code in any programming language.

Interesting things happen at the so-called Application Blockchain Interface (ABCI). You can think of it as GPIO pins on a Raspberry Pi, allowing various third-party components to connect to these pins, ranging from LEDs to complex plant watering systems. ABCI similarly defines the boundaries between the blockchain and the applications running on it.

Advantages of Tendermint Core

The separation of the application interface from the consensus mechanism provides greater flexibility for distributed applications, enabling any programming language to integrate into their business logic.

To better understand this, consider the specific example of Ethermint: Ethermint leverages the Ethereum codebase, removes the Proof of Work mechanism, and builds the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) on Tendermint. This makes some interesting operations possible. Ethereum developers can easily migrate their smart contracts to the new engine or write new contracts using Solidity. In addition to offering Ethereum's functionality, Ethermint also supports Ethereum's Proof of Stake, giving us a glimpse of how Casper will be implemented in Ethereum 2.0.

Blockchain Interoperability

The vision of a "blockchain internet" has attracted many to use the Tendermint protocol. Interoperability is highly anticipated in the cryptocurrency realm, as it means that hundreds of independent blockchains will be cross-compatible.

Currently, the Cosmos SDK has invested significant effort; it is an open-source framework that allows anyone to create application-specific public or private blockchains. These blockchains can then connect to the broader Cosmos network via the Cosmos Hub, enabling communication with other blockchains.

Many popular projects have been built using the Cosmos SDK, including Binance Smart Chain (BSC), KAVA, Band Protocol, Terra, and IRISnet.

Conclusion

As a blockchain engine, Tendermint has garnered attention from numerous stakeholders within the cryptocurrency space, including developers and end-users. If this software continues to attract interest, it is likely to become a cornerstone of the blockchain internet. As we have seen, several projects are already leveraging the Cosmos SDK to realize this vision.

Risk Warning

While the cryptocurrency market offers significant growth potential and innovation opportunities, it also carries a high level of market risk and price volatility. The value of crypto assets can fluctuate dramatically in a short period, potentially leading to substantial financial losses for investors. Additionally, the cryptocurrency market faces multiple risk factors, including technical risks, legal and regulatory uncertainties, cybersecurity threats, and market manipulation. We strongly advise users to conduct thorough research and due diligence before making any investment decisions and to consult professional financial advisors. All investment decisions are made at the user’s own risk. Thank you for your trust and support of Venkate!

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