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Glossary
Get quick definitions of common Supra and blockchain terms
Blockchain Throughput
Blockchain throughput is defined as the number of transactions processed by a blockchain in a specified period. It is often measured in transactions per second (TPS). Throughput generally does not include internal operational transactions processed by the network or failed transactions.
Core Decentralized Applications (CDAs)
Core Decentralized Applications, or CDAs, are the most popular and widely used decentralized applications (dApps) on a specific blockchain. Whether a dApp is a CDA is generally determined by its relative total value locked (TVL). Still, other factors, like the number of users, the number of transactions, and the market cap of the protocol’s native token (if it has one), may also be considered when determining if a dApp is truly a CDA.
Chained Moonshot
Moonshot is Supra’s new family of high-throughput, low-latency blockchain-based SMR (State Machine Replication) consensus protocols characterized by Optimistic Proposals. Chained Moonshot was an early variant of Moonshot that leveraged QC Chaining and block proposal pipelining.
Decentralized Oracle
This generally refers to a blockchain oracle that is not operated by a single entity. Like blockchains, decentralized oracles are generally governed by independent node operators who stake the protocol’s native currency for rewards. These nodes aggregate and send real-time price data (for a fee, also in the protocol’s native currency), to various clients.
distributed Verifiable Random Function (dVRF)
A distributed Verifiable Random Function (dVRF) is a more robust form of VRF developed by Supra that generates truly random numbers, often for purposes like blockchain lotteries and random NFT trait generation. In essence, it is a smart-contract-based flexible dVRF service framework that is fully decentralized via a threshold cryptographic architecture.
DORA (Distributed Oracle Agreement)
DORA (Distributed Oracle Agreement), developed by Supra, is a methodology and protocol that utilizes decentralized nodes to aggregate fast, accurate blockchain price data. DORA allows Supra’s Oracles to reach consensus quickly while still providing high-quality data.
HyperNova
HyperNova, developed by Supra, is a trustless bridge design where the bridge nodes only act as relayers and not as validators of information. This means that the source and destination chains validate the events from the other chain themselves, not the nodes. This removal of the possibility of third-party corruption by bridge nodes makes HyperNova significantly more secure than traditional multi-sig bridges
KZG Commitments
A KZG commitment, named after the creators Aniket Kate, Gregory M. Zaverucha, and Ian Goldberg, is a type of cryptographic proof, specifically,a polynomial commitment scheme, that is used to transfer and cryptographically prove blockchain data in a highly-secure fashion. KZG Commitments allow users to succinctly commit to data and prove values at specific points, making it more efficient to validate smart contract transactions helping to scale distributed systems.
IntraLayer
In the context of blockchain technology, IntraLayer refers to products, services, and protocols that aim to connect different L1 and L2 blockchains, maximizing interoperability, ease of use, speed, and security. Supra’s suite of IntraLayer protocols includes HyperNova, a decentralized cross-chain bridge, and DORA (distributed Oracle Agreement), a cross-chain decentralized oracle service.
Liquidity Fragmentation
In cryptocurrency, liquidity fragmentation occurs when various crypto assets are difficult to purchase for reasonable market prices. This may be due to issues bridging, the fact that not enough of a crypto asset is locked in a DEXs liquidity pool, a lack of functioning market makers, or other issues. Supra aims to partially address this issue through its upcoming liquidity provisioning protocol, Proof-of-Effiecient Liquidity (PoEL), and its highly-secure HyperNova decentralized bridge.
Moonshot Consensus
Moonshot, a new family of high throughput, low latency blockchain-based State Machine Replication (SMR) blockchain consensus protocols characterized by Optimistic Proposals.
Move/MoveLang
Move, sometimes referred to as MoveLang, is a blockchain programming language first developed for Facebook’s canceled Diem blockchain project and is now being used by projects and protocols, including the Supra, Aptos, Sui, and Starcoin blockchains. Move, which is based on Rust, is a stack-based programming language that provides a major emphasis on access control and scarcity, which is enforced by non-duplicatable default structs. Therefore, may consider Move to be significantly more secure than other popular blockchain programming languages, like Solidity.
Proof of Efficient Liquidity (PoEL)
Proof of Efficient Liquidity, or PoEL, developed by Supra, is a liquidity provisioning and liquidity bootstrapping protocol designed for Proof-of-Stake (PoS) blockchains. PoEL focuses on maximizing staking incentives and reducing risk to attract more stakers and node operators to a blockchain network. PoEL also attempts to manage risk using various methods, including diversifying staked assets and carefully controlling collateralization ratios.
Real-World Assets (RWAs)
In the context of blockchain technology, real-world assets, or RWAs, are non-crypto assets, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, commodities, or collectibles. The blockchain industry is increasingly tokenizing RWAs to create new tokenized assets, such as gold-backed tokens, like PAX Gold (PAXG). In addition, various projects are focusing on tokenizing many other assets, including silver, real estate, and even oil
Service Fee Credits
Service fee credits are an incentive protocol for blockchains and blockchain oracles. Specifically, service fee credits are non-transferable, timed, and limited credits, which are denominated in the native staking token and linked to a user’s wallet address, such that they can be used to offset future costs arising from the user’s use of the network or be delegated to another user. These credits are granted to users when they submit capital to a core decentralized application’s (CDA’s) liquidity pool(s) and PoS scheme.
State Machine Replication (SMR)
State Machine Replication, or SMR protocols, are blockchain consensus protocols that achieve deterministic finality. They ensure that if any node commits a new block to its blockchain, it will never have to replace that block with another. More precisely, SMR protocols ensure that if any two honest processes both commit a block to the same position in their respective local blockchain, then these two blocks are the same.
Stake Centralization Attack
A stake centralization attack occurs when a proof-of-stake (Pos) blockchain or blockchain application experiences a group of nodes that collude to control or manipulate the chain or dApp. This usually occurs when the number of nodes that turn Byzantine reaches above 50% or above 66%, depending on the blockchain’s security structure.
Tribes and Clans
A tribe is a set of nodes. A tribe can continue to function safely and make progress on the services it offers as long as the number of nodes that turn Byzantine is less than one-third of all the nodes. From a tribe, we uniformly randomly draw subsets of nodes. We call each such subset a clan. Each clan is drawn so that the probability of having half or more Byzantine nodes in a clan is negligible.
Trustless Bridge
A trustless bridge (such as Supra’s HyperNova) is typically a blockchain bridge where the nodes act solely as relayers and not as validators of information so that the source and destination chain themselves validate the events from the other chain. This removal of the possibility of corruption by bridge nodes yields a higher level of security than multi-sig bridges.
Verifiable Random Function (VRF)
A Verifiable Random Function (VRF) is a protocol that aims to generate a truly random number. VRFs can be centralized or decentralized, and are often used for things like random NFT trait generation, blockchain lotteries, and sometimes, blockchain node randomization.