The blockchain universe is rapidly expanding, yet with this growth comes a prominent challenge: the ability to scale without sacrificing performance. Traditional main chains, as they swell with burgeoning transactions and a growing user base, frequently encounter bottleneck issues, causing transaction delays and soaring fees. Such obstacles emphasize an urgent need in the blockchain community for innovative solutions that can gracefully handle increased demand. This urgency has turned the spotlight towards blockchain-agnostic layer 2 platforms, which offer a beacon of hope. These platforms promise to bridge the existing gaps, ensuring both efficiency and scalability, crucial for the widespread adoption of blockchain technology. And at the forefront of this transformative wave is a name that resonates with promise: Cartesi.

What Is Cartesi (CTSI)?

In 2018, an ambitious idea took form in the minds of four visionaries: Erick de Moura, Augusto Teixeira, Diego Nehab, and Colin Steil. Initially envisioned as a trustless AI marketplace for data experts, Cartesi’s destiny shifted towards addressing the scalability and infrastructure challenges of blockchain.

De Moura, with a solid history in software and entrepreneurship, became the project’s CEO, bringing to the table insights from his software development stint at Arizona Bay. Diego Nehab, an Associate Professor at IMPA in Brazil with a Princeton PhD in computer graphics, took on the position of CTO. Augusto Teixeira, renowned for his role in creating IOTA, also juggled duties as an Associate Professor at IMPA and became the project’s Chief Scientific Officer. Colin Steil, with a business-rich background from Anchor Taiwan to co-founding the Canada China Youth Foundation, took on the mantle of COO.

The project gained traction, catching the eyes of tech giants like Microsoft and academic stalwarts ETH Zurich. Both recognized Cartesi’s potential to revolutionize blockchain capacities. Their vision culminated in 2020 when Cartesi raised $1.5 million from an ICO, issuing 100 million CTSI tokens. With strong backing from investors like ICONIUM, Taiwan Startup Stadium, and SOSV, Cartesi evolved from its trustless AI roots into a beacon of hope for blockchain’s scalability and decentralization aspirations.

How Does Cartesi Work? Virtual Machine, Rollups and Staking

The technological world witnesses an innovative union with Cartesi, which intertwines the robust capabilities of Linux programming with the unparalleled security features of blockchain. Central to this synthesis is the Cartesi Machine. As a Linux-based virtual entity operated by Cartesi nodes, this machine significantly mitigates the computational burden on the primary blockchain. By executing dApp calculations in the Linux environment and subsequently transmitting results back to the blockchain, Cartesi unlocks the doors for developers to utilize a plethora of established programming languages.

But it does not stop there. Cartesi’s brilliance extends with its Noether sidechain, a mechanism designed for temporary data storage. Noether’s key attribute is its ability to efficiently hold short-term data, and upon its expiry, discard it, promoting optimal storage management and cost savings. This intricate hybrid structure, operating synchronously across on-chain and off-chain domains, assures that dApp executions, even when performed off-chain, are verifiable and trustworthy once relayed on-chain.

A cryptographic hash serves as a vital link between these two domains, encapsulating the state of off-chain DApp functions and guaranteeing the authenticity of off-chain operations. Cartesi’s ability to execute off-chain transactions on Noether, followed by seamless data transfer to the blockchain, underscores its commitment to transparency and trust.

Cartesi’s fusion of the Noether sidechain and the hybrid structure fosters a blockchain ecosystem that is scalable, secure, and cost-effective.

In short, Cartesi exemplifies a beacon in the blockchain sphere, seamlessly bridging traditional software with the futuristic vision of decentralized smart contracts, thereby presenting developers with a holistic, scalable, and efficient dApp development avenue.

Source: Cartesi Foundation

Rollups

Cartesi Rollups is a revolutionary approach to address the scalability challenge.

Traditionally, blockchain base layers bear the brunt of executing complex computations. Cartesi’s model takes a different route. It ensures that the blockchain base layer is never burdened with the complete execution of computations. Instead, it operates on a straightforward principle: no disputes, no on-chain computation; in case of a dispute, a single instruction is needed to distinguish between misbehavior and honesty. This streamlined approach means that the bulk of computation occurs off-chain, unleashing its full potential.

Key to Cartesi Rollups is the Cartesi Machine that is, as already mentioned, a virtual powerhouse tailored for off-chain computations in blockchain applications. It abstracts infrastructure concerns, allowing developers to focus on code without worrying about server management or language constraints. Flexibility in programming languages and a relentless pursuit of scalability underscore its design philosophy.

The Cartesi Machine operates as a state machine, transitioning through discrete states as RISC-V instructions are executed. Determinism is its hallmark; given the same initial state and input, it unfailingly produces identical outputs, ensuring transparent verification of off-chain computations.

Cartesi Rollups introduce the concept of Cartesi Optimistic Rollups. These rollups empower smart contract computations to shift off-chain onto the Cartesi virtual machine. By unburdening the main blockchain from resource-intensive computations, Cartesi’s blockchain OS aims for unmatched scalability, positioning itself as a formidable contender compared to platforms tethered to Ethereum’s Virtual Machine (EVM).

For developers and users, Cartesi Rollups herald a future where blockchain’s latent potential meets efficiency head-on, promising a more scalable and reliable blockchain ecosystem.

Source: Cartesi Foundation

Staking Delegation

Cartesi’s staking delegation process is essential for network security and active involvement. To begin, users need wallets like Metamask or Ledger. Through Cartesi’s Staking Portal, they connect their wallet, select a pool, and set an allowance for secure transactions. Depositing Cartesi tokens (CTSI) and staking them in the pool initiates the process. Rewards are gained from validating blocks, with automatic compounding. Users can also unstake tokens at any time. For deeper involvement, running a private node is an option, but it requires an Ethereum node, Docker engine installation, and ETH for transaction costs. This system ensures security, transparency, and accessibility within Cartesi’s network.

Cartesi Use Cases

Cartesi’s groundbreaking technology opens doors to a multitude of real-world applications, setting a new standard for blockchain usability. Its unique approach to scalability and off-chain computation paves the way for transformative solutions across diverse industries. Some of the use cases are:

• Decentralized Gaming: Cartesi revolutionizes the gaming landscape, enabling developers to create immersive blockchain games with advanced interactivity, security, and fairness.
• DeFi Solutions: In the world of decentralized finance, Cartesi facilitates efficient trading, yield farming, and lending, delivering faster, cost-effective solutions.
• AI and Machine Learning: Cartesi’s off-chain computation capabilities empower AI and machine learning applications on the blockchain, driving data analysis, predictive modeling, and more.
• Supply Chain Transparency: Businesses gain transparency and traceability in their supply chains, ensuring product authenticity and reducing fraud.
• Tokenization of Assets: Cartesi simplifies the creation and management of tokenized assets, from real estate properties to digital art, democratizing ownership.

Cartesi’s adaptability and scalability make it a game-changer in various sectors. From gaming and finance to supply chain management and asset tokenization, Cartesi’s innovative solutions redefine the boundaries of blockchain technology, promising a more accessible, efficient, and versatile future.

What Is the CTSI Coin?

CTSI is Cartesi’s native utility token powering the blockchain ecosystem. Its maximum supply is 1 billion units, of which 742,6 million (74.26%) are in circulation (October 2023).

CTSI serves as a fundamental component of the platform, providing various essential characteristics and use cases:

• Staking: CTSI tokens can be staked within the Cartesi network, enabling users to participate in consensus mechanisms and secure the blockchain. Stakers are rewarded with additional CTSI tokens for their contributions, thus incentivizing network participation and security.
• Transaction Fees: CTSI tokens are used to pay for transaction fees within the Cartesi ecosystem. Whether executing smart contracts or transferring assets, CTSI acts as the medium of exchange, facilitating seamless transactions.
• Computational Services: The Cartesi platform leverages CTSI tokens to access its computational services. Developers and users can utilize CTSI to perform off-chain computations using the Cartesi Machine, a feature that significantly enhances the capabilities of decentralized applications.
• Governance: CTSI holders have a say in the platform’s governance. They can participate in decision-making processes, including protocol upgrades and improvements, by voting on proposals using their CTSI holdings.
• Access to DApps: CTSI tokens are used to interact with decentralized applications (DApps) built on Cartesi. Users need CTSI to initiate transactions, interact with smart contracts, and utilize the functionalities of these DApps.
• Incentives: Developers and users are incentivized with CTSI tokens for contributing to the Cartesi ecosystem. This can include building and deploying DApps, participating in the network’s security, and engaging in community activities.

In summary, CTSI is a versatile utility token that powers the Cartesi blockchain, offering a wide range of use cases from transaction processing to network security and governance. Its flexibility and integral role make it a crucial element in the Cartesi ecosystem, driving the platform’s growth and adoption. Furthermore, thanks to the extreme versatility of the Cartesi machine, CTSI can run on various blockchains, including Ethereum, Polygon and Arbitrum.

Cartesi Ecosystem

Cartesi’s ecosystem encompasses a diverse range of features and collaborations, each contributing to the platform’s growth and versatility.

Ultrachess

Ultrachess is a fully on-chain chess application developed using Cartesi Rollups, and introduces a new dimension to chess gaming. It allows players to compete with real value at stake, pushing the boundaries beyond traditional Elo rankings. Additionally, Ultrachess demonstrates Cartesi’s capability by enabling the upload and compilation of chess engine source code within the Cartesi Machine.

Productive

Productive is a specialized software development house, and plays a pivotal role in the Cartesi ecosystem. Focusing on web and mobile development projects, Productive ensures the design, development, updates, and maintenance of Cartesi’s websites, enhancing user accessibility and experience.

Aetheras

Aetheras is a blockchain company with expertise in game development, and is actively involved in creating engaging experiences within the Cartesi ecosystem. Projects like Texas HODL’em Poker and Dazzle, a match-3 strategy game, showcase Aetheras’ dedication to expanding the Cartesi gaming landscape.

UXboost

This product engages in comprehensive user research and service flow analysis, targeting Cartesi’s hacker and developer community. By understanding user needs, learning experiences, and grant application processes, UXboost aims to enhance the overall developer experience within the Cartesi ecosystem.

Carti

Part of Cartesi’s DApp incubation program, Carti focuses on infrastructure development. It pioneers a packaging system for Cartesi Machines, streamlining resource reuse and boosting productivity for Cartesi-powered DApps.

Descartes SDK

Descartes SDK serves as a decentralized computational oracle for Ethereum. It executes complex computations off-chain using a Linux virtual machine defined by smart contracts, expanding Ethereum’s capabilities.

With these innovative features and collaborations, Cartesi continues to evolve as a versatile and developer-friendly blockchain platform, fostering creativity and utility within its ecosystem.

Is CTSI a Good Investment?

It is worth noting that Cartesi’s approach to scalability sets it apart from traditional layer 2 blockchains. Its adaptable blockchain structure presents a distinctive solution for enterprises seeking to leverage blockchain technology. Unlike conventional layer 2 solutions, Cartesi combines the security of the blockchain with off-chain computation, allowing complex tasks to be performed efficiently. This innovation opens doors for businesses seeking scalable and adaptable blockchain solutions, potentially making CTSI an intriguing investment option for those interested in the long-term prospects of blockchain technology. As with any investment, it is essential to conduct thorough research and consider your financial goals and risk tolerance.

How to Own CTSI?

To own CTSI, you can use the services of a centralized crypto exchange. Start by creating a Gate.io account, and get it verified and funded. Then you are ready to go through the steps to buy CTSI.

News on Cartesi

According to what was reported on the official Cartesi blog dated 27 September 2023, Honeypot, the first Cartesi Rollup DApp on the Ethereum Mainnet, has been launched. Honeypot presents a unique hacking challenge for web3 developers, with a growing reward of 35,000 CTSI. Participants aim to breach the code and withdraw the funds to their own accounts, testing the security of Cartesi Rollups V1. If successful, they claim the prize, while Cartesi further fortifies its technology. This DApp operates within the Cartesi Rollups framework, addressing blockchain’s computational limitations and offering a mainstream software stack for decentralized applications.

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