Trust, the cornerstone of any relationship, holds profound significance in our interconnected world. Whether it be interpersonal, inter-corporate, or even between governments, trust is the linchpin upon which successful relationships are built. Partisia Blockchain, in its essence, is a catalyst for redefining trust in the digital realm.
“The art of enabling trust within an inherently untrusting environment.”
But how does Partisia Blockchain achieve this monumental feat?
The importance of trust is a concept we can all readily grasp. Yet, the question arises – what facilitates trust among entities? A critical factor in this equation is privacy. Trust cannot manifest in a realm of complete anonymity. However, it also cannot thrive in a domain of absolute transparency. The sweet spot lies in a harmonious blend of both, where transparency and privacy coexist to cultivate trust.
Consider a simple scenario: applying for a credit card. A bank, to grant you this privilege, requires crucial information about you – your identity, income, contact details, and credit history. These details are essential for the bank to extend its trust in you. However, if you knew that these details would be made public, including your transaction history, your willingness to apply for that credit card would understandably wane.
Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that privacy is the very bedrock upon which trust is constructed.
In our credit card example, you enter a trusted environment where you bestow your trust upon the credit card company to safeguard your personal data. The company is, of course, bound by its business model to keep the sanctity of this trust. However, there is an underlying vulnerability here – data breaches, unauthorized sales, or inadvertent data exposure. These are potential avenues through which your trust can be shattered. In such cases, you are placing trust in the environment.
On the other hand, a trustless environment requires no implicit trust in any single entity but still manages to perform necessary functions seamlessly. Enter the decentralized blockchain, a prime example of an environment where trust in an entity is unnecessary. Here, blocks are formed, and information is inscribed on the ledger without a single entity having dominion over the system. The laws of physics exemplify another trustless environment – they exist without needing trust because the system is transparent, having been measured and documented, and accessible to all for independent confirmation.
Partisia Blockchain ingeniously fuses these concepts to tackle the trust predicament. It enables two entities to work together within a trusted framework, devoid of any single entity’s control. The synergy of multiparty computation (MPC) and blockchain technology underpins this innovation.
MPC, a revolutionary technology, permits the computation of confidential data. It functions as an encryption technology, allowing input values to remain hidden while still computing answers. It empowers us to calculate the sum of 2 and 3 without revealing the original values. Envisaged in the late 1970s and officially introduced in 1988, MPC boasts an illustrious history, with over a thousand research papers and 15 years of practical implementation.
In parallel, blockchain, the other keystone of Partisia Blockchain, has been redefined to its very core. Through our distinctive BYOC tokenomics principles and an infinitely scalable architecture, we make trust in a trustless environment a reality for all – not just for those building on our platform.
By converging these two technologies, Partisia Blockchain democratizes trust within a trustless domain. This manifests as a wealth of opportunities: companies collaborating without exposing their confidential data, creating equitable, private, and accurate voting systems, returning control of data to users, and enabling monetization of data. In the heart of Partisia Blockchain’s mission lies the potential to revolutionize business models and unveil novel value propositions.
At Partisia Blockchain, our journey is guided by over 35 years of relentless dedication to encryption technology. Our Chief Cryptographer, Ivan Damgård, the mastermind behind the Merkle–Damgård Construct, which underpins renowned hash algorithms like MD5, SHA-1, and SHA-2. His groundbreaking work in the 1980s laid the foundation for secure multiparty computation (sMPC), and today, this profound expertise empowers us to champion the most advanced sMPC protocol globally.
Our mission is to redefine the very essence of trust, forging a fresh perspective on how data is employed. To bring this vision to life, we had to excel not only in sMPC but also reimagine the architecture of public blockchains.
Secure multiparty computation is an encryption marvel that permits data computation without revealing the underlying data itself. Imagine a sophisticated dance of algorithms that enables outcomes like auctions, data analysis, voting, surveys, and random number generation without divulging the precious data within.
The blockchain ecosystem grapples with two pressing challenges: interoperability and scalability. From an interoperability standpoint, every blockchain acts as a unique asset class, fueling a competitive zero-sum game mentality. Each Layer 1 blockchain claims supremacy, leading to a winner-takes-all narrative. Furthermore, users are bound to a specific blockchain, having to acquire and use that particular token as an entry ticket, reminiscent of an amusement park experience.
On the scalability front, the single-database nature of blockchains poses hurdles related to both scalability and transaction speed. Overloaded blockchains often suffer from delayed transaction confirmations and a lack of real-time efficiency.
To fulfill our visionary goals, we realized the need for a groundbreaking re-architecture of blockchain technology.
In an environment where blockchain networks resemble amusement parks, we introduce a paradigm shift. Rather than being confined to one park’s rides, our mission is to let anyone access our innovations, irrespective of their token holdings. We have engineered a system that embraces tokens with liquidity, allowing them to serve as transaction payments within our ecosystem. Our BYOC tokenomics foster a vibrant ecosystem where different token types can facilitate transactions, ensuring all users can harness our sMPC technology. Our native MPC token, in turn, bolsters our blockchain’s security, as node operators stake their tokens as collateral, safeguarding our network.
Traditional blockchains grapple with scalability issues, impeding real-time finalization and usability during high traffic. Partisia Blockchain confronts this challenge head-on by adopting a revolutionary approach. We have re-engineered the traditional method, enabling horizontal scaling and boasting a rapid .3-second finalization time in normal conditions. Our network comprises multiple blockchains, each autonomously producing blocks, creating an unparalleled scalability model. Moreover, our unique BFT consensus mechanism ensures “speed of light” finalization. For in-depth insights into this architecture, refer to our yellow paper.
These distinctive attributes empower you to craft pioneering solutions that revolve around trust. We extend an invitation to all those seeking to enhance trust and privacy within their applications. Reach out to us, and let’s explore unique solutions to your challenges. Together, we can reshape the digital landscape and usher in a new era of trust.
In the ever-evolving landscape of regulations, a multitude of rules and safeguards has emerged, from antitrust laws to data protection rights, designed to uphold ethical standards and protect individuals from exploitation in a rapidly changing world. However, the blockchain industry, despite its transformative potential, faces a notable gap in regulatory compliance and ethical conduct, owing to its inherent transparency and anonymity.
Partisia Blockchain emerges as the vanguard of change, offering innovative solutions that bridge this gap and establish a new paradigm of integrity in business.
Illustrating GDPR compliance
One of the most prominent and far-reaching regulations in the realm of data privacy is the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). GDPR, along with similar laws worldwide, dictates the governance of personal and sensitive data, with a key requirement that such data remains within a specific geographical region. This presents a formidable challenge for traditional blockchains, given their inherent transparency and the global distribution of nodes.
Partisia Blockchain, however, is uniquely attuned to regulatory requirements. We have introduced a pioneering feature known as “jurisdiction management” into our system. This remarkable capability empowers users to designate data that must remain within nodes situated in a specific jurisdiction. By leveraging secure multiparty computation (MPC), developers can selectively privatize data, ensuring compliance with stringent data privacy laws while preserving the integrity of the blockchain.
In the realm of corporate governance and shareholder meetings, stringent rules exist to ensure the fairness and impartiality of votes. Maintaining the confidentiality of individual votes is paramount. However, traditional blockchain voting mechanisms, as seen in decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), suffer from complete transparency, making it challenging to protect voter privacy. Existing techniques to privatize votes often stumble due to scalability constraints or the inadvertent revelation of votes after the tally.
Partisia Blockchain introduces a game-changing solution through secure MPC, allowing computation of vote results without disclosing the specifics of individual votes on the blockchain. This innovative approach guarantees an immutable voting record, upholding the highest securities standards while preserving voter anonymity. It is a trustless system that harmonizes blockchain technology with compliance, setting new standards for ethical conduct.
Partisia Blockchain stands as the vanguard of a revolution in the blockchain industry, where privacy and compliance are not just buzzwords, but integral components of the ecosystem. Our solutions transcend the limitations of transparency and anonymity, offering a bridge to ethical and regulatory compliance.
In this rapidly evolving business landscape, where rules and regulations shape the playing field, trust in blockchain technology is not just a vision; it is a reality. Embrace Partisia Blockchain, and unlock the future of ethical, compliant, and privacy-respecting business practices. It is time to redefine the rules and raise the standard of ethical conduct in your organization.
ZUG, 24 OCTOBER 2023. Partisia Blockchain appoints Mathias Glintborg as Senior Technical Program Manager. In this key post, Mathias will spearhead the oversight and coordination of adoption activities, with a primary focus on secure multiparty computation (MPC) and blockchain solutions for DeFi, data sharing, digital identity and more. His responsibilities also extend to providing advice on design and architecture to the builders on our chain.
Mathias brings a wealth of experience in the blockchain industry to his new role. Before joining Partisia Blockchain, he served as the Chief Technology Officer at canow in Tokyo. His contributions in his previous job were instrumental in defining the feasible technical scope, assembling tech teams, designing architecture and delivering cutting-edge blockchain infrastructure and associated services and products. Additionally, he founded and operated his consulting company in Shanghai, specializing in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain solutions, and collaborated with notable clients, such as Chiheal Biomed and OpenOcean.
In his current capacity, Mathias oversees the effective planning, execution, monitoring, and delivery of multiple adoption projects. His role is crucial in collaboration among cross-functional teams, ensuring seamless and efficient execution of activities, and maintaining project alignment for successful realization of goals. Mathias is tasked with establishing a robust KPI framework for project management, diligently tracking activities and progress across each project to guarantee their successful delivery. Furthermore, he manages adoption projects from inception to implementation, providing post-implementation support for sustained success.
Peter Frandsen, Chief Technology Officer at Partisia Blockchain, says: “With Mathias taking the reins of our technical program management, I have great expectations for Partisia Blockchain’s future. His impressive background in blockchain, coupled with his leadership acumen, promises to drive innovation and excellence. Mathias’s rich global experience uniquely situates him as a bridge connecting diverse markets and cultures. Together, we are poised to not only meet our objectives but also establish pioneering industry benchmarks, significantly influencing the trajectory of blockchain technology.”
Mathias spent nearly a decade in Asia, namely China and Japan, before joining Partisia Blockchain. His career included both technical and commercial roles, engaging with cutting-edge technologies, such as AI and blockchain, for various startups and enterprises. His distinctive experience at the intersection of business and technology uniquely qualifies him as a valuable asset in Partisia Blockchain’s adoption strategy. His expertise aligns with the organization’s vision, where individuals who can bridge the gap between business and technology drive projects to mainnet implementations, resulting in tangible achievements for Partisia Blockchain.
Mathias holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the Aarhus University (Denmark) and a Master’s degree in International Business from the Hult International Business School (USA and China). Hailing from Denmark, he also boasts credentials in big data, analytics, data science, AI.
Partisia Blockchain is excited to have Mathias Glintborg as Senior Technical Program Manager and looks forward to his contributions to our continued growth and success. His appointment marks a notable milestone in our journey toward achieving ambitious goals and sustaining our position as a frontrunner in the blockchain industry.
About Partisia Blockchain: Partisia Blockchain brings unparalleled opportunities by empowering privacy-preserving, interoperable and sustainable innovation for fairness and transparency. It fuels the most secure and efficient networks to solve global problems. Distilled with 35 years of rigorous research, Partisia Blockchain future-proofs solutions, solves tomorrow’s challenges by powering fair, secure, distribution of benefits. While preserving privacy and confidentiality, it brings accountable, transparent and decentralized governance. Learn more: www.PartisiaBlockchain.com
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We are pleased to announce that KYC for becoming node operators is now live! As mentioned on our recent AMA, KYC for registering as a node operator has been launched and functioning.
While KYB for registering as a node operator has been live, KYC has been in the works for a while now. After a few hurdles, we are happy to announce that registration for individuals is now available, allowing non business entities to become block producers.
To begin your journey to becoming a node operator, please start here.
If you already have set up your node and just waiting for running through the KYC process, the instructions are here.
In all blockchains, node operators are running their nodes to operate and secure the network. And the compensation model of the blockchain allows node operators to get compensated for maintaining/operating the protocol. On Partisia Blockchain the compensation is a mix of BYOC fees and rewards in MPC tokens. Rewards come from the ecosystem pool used to bootstrap the operation of the network.
Currently the distribution of rewards is the same for staking directly by a node operator account as for any other account that delegates staking to a node operator. On the other hand, node operators receive all BYOC fees. However, at this early stage of the network the main compensation as node operator is the rewards. Hence, to make the total compensation more fair to the node operators operating the network the following adjustment will be put up for voting among node operators: 2% of the rewards gained by delegated staking to be distributed to the node operators that they are staking to. This will allow a fairer staking rewards system where the node operators running the system will be compensated by the community stakers for providing the computing power to stake their tokens to and receive rewards.
A simple example for a community staker would be if the reward for your current period was 100 MPC tokens, during the rewards computation, 2 MPC tokens will be sent to the node you are staking to, and you will receive 98 MPC tokens. This will fairly compensate the node operator for operating the blockchain you are staking to receive your reward.
If you are a node operator, you will receive 2% of all the staking reward your node account generated for all the community stakers you are supporting.
As this is a governance matter for the chain, the proposal will be put to a vote for the block producing node operators to decide on. We suggest for those who are staking, that you reach out to your respective node operators and voice your thoughts with them directly. If passed, this will be implemented as a part of the Q6 reward cycle and subsequent cycles going forward.
We hope this will help create a more fair rewards distribution as well as promote node operators to continue to promote their nodes to the community to stake to.
Thank you for your continued support!
ZUG, 18 SEPTEMBER 2023. Partisia Blockchain is proud to announce the launch of a pioneering integration with MetaMask, the leading self-custody Web3 platform developed by Consensys, opening untapped opportunities for more than 100 million users. With the introduction of MetaMask Snaps, a transformative enhancement for users, we are poised to revolutionize the world of decentralized applications.
Snaps opens a new realm of possibilities for Partisia Blockchain users by leveraging MetaMask’s trusted functionality. The initial Snap integration brings MetaMask signing to Partisia Blockchain users, and opens up an array of innovative programmable features and functionalities within their wallets. After a meticulous selection process, Partisia Blockchain was selected by MetaMask based on the Snaps integration work done by our developer team. The Snaps is set to elevate the user experience, focusing on transaction insights, interoperability with non-EVM blockchains, and notifications, offering users unprecedented control and customization.
In 2022, MetaMask surpassed 100 million users. The launch of Partisia Blockchain Snaps marks a significant milestone as millions of MetaMask users can tap onto our innovation. Each Snap selected by Consensys has undergone rigorous security audits and has been thoughtfully integrated into MetaMask’s allowlist, ensuring a secure and seamless experience for users.
Kurt Nielsen, President of the Partisia Blockchain Foundation, says: “The major driver behind the Partisia Blockchain project is the disruption of data as we know it. With the MPC-as-a-Service built directly into the Partisia Blockchain, any service on the internet can build the next generation of privacy-preserving advertisement, searching or matching services without touching the users’ data. This is a tremendous opportunity, and a large part of the motivation for building the Partisia Blockchain in the first place. While the Partisia Blockchain network is ready, we need to bring in the users of the internet and activate the users’ private data. This is the next major step and why the integration with MetaMask is a major step forward.”
The benefit of the first Snaps iteration is the ease of using MetaMask for transaction signing. It will enable users, which also use other blockchains, to employ a single trusted wallet across chains and remove friction. The ease of cross-blockchain solutions — such as bring your own coin (BYOC) and MPC-as-a-service — will be significantly more user-friendly. In the future, the Partisia Blockchain MetaMask Snap will offer more features helping users secure their confidential personal data by employing MPC technology.
The Partisia MetaMask Snaps will enable developers building on Partisia Blockchain to integrate MetaMask as the signing solution into their own dApps and establish a direct connection with their users. In the long run, users will reap the benefits of the convenience and versatility offered by Partisia Blockchain Snaps, tailored to various use cases and compatible with multiple protocols.
Kurt Nielsen continues: “The Snaps that come with MetaMask allow us to build security solutions that safely and privately bring the more than 100 million users’ data into Partisia Blockchain and the next iteration of the internet — an evolution where technology returns control and privacy to the users of the internet.”
Christian Montoya, Product Lead for MetaMask Snaps, emphasizes the importance of permissionless innovation within a decentralized system: “We believe that permissionless innovation is a cornerstone of a decentralized system — no gatekeepers. Innovation thrives at the pace of the network, not just within an individual development team at Consensys.”
For more information, please click here.
About Partisia Blockchain: Partisia Blockchain brings unparalleled opportunities by empowering privacy-preserving, interoperable and sustainable innovation for fairness and transparency. It fuels the most secure and efficient networks to solve global problems. Distilled with 35 years of rigorous research, Partisia Blockchain future-proofs solutions, solves tomorrow’s challenges by powering fair, secure, distribution of benefits. While preserving privacy and confidentiality, it brings accountable, transparent and decentralized governance. Learn more: www.PartisiaBlockchain.com
About Consensys: Consensys is the leading blockchain and Web3 software company. Since 2014, Consensys has been at the forefront of innovation, pioneering technological developments within the Web3 ecosystem. Through our product suite, we have become the trusted collaborator for users, creators, and developers on their path to build and belong in the world they want to see. Whether building a dApp, an NFT collection, a portfolio, or a better future, the instinct to build is universal. Consensys inspires and champions the builder instinct in everyone by making web3 universally easy to use and develop on. To explore our products and solutions, visit https://consensys.io
During the month of September 2023, I will be traveling to a few conferences, and doing a few speaking engagements. As a part of the conference going, I will be providing a few thoughts on what I have seen, people and projects I have met and the changes and trends emerging in the last year or so in the industry.
My first time in Singapore! The second week of my event experience was at Token2049 in Singapore where I got my first taste of a city I heard so much about but never experienced. I expected it to be a very high end place with expensive cars and high rises. To my surprise it was more like a mix between Hong Kong and Miami. A very laid back Hong Kong maybe? Either way it is an amazing place and I am wishing I could stay a bit longer
The week was far more busy than Korea Blockchain Week (KBW) where there was a significant event every day.
Monday: Eth Singapore — The event was co-hosted by AngelHack who is a good friend of ours. Ryan, the CEO, helped us feel at home and we discussed our potential future collaboration. It was once again devoid of L1 but I did see quite a number of cloud computing providers selling their services. From Google to Huawei, more and more cloud service providers were looking to help build nodes on blockchains.
Tuesday: Decompute (MPC conference) — On Tuesday, I visited a specifically MPC based conference called Decompute. Yes, an actual MPC dedicated conference in a blockchain week. It was amazing to see a ton of MPC focused blockchains coming up and to me it showed the continued emergence of privacy solutions in blockchains. From Nillion to Aptos to other various smaller names, a lot of folks were working on MPC solutions. In fact, during the Q&A session with Aptos, someone raised a question asking “how does this compare to Partisia Blockchain’s preprocessing method?” 0_o Wow, someone who actually has heard of us! I made sure I got his contact and will be following up with him in the future.
Wednesday: IoTex side event (where we were one of the sponsors) —Wednesday was the big event for us where we had Brian Gallagher, one of our Co-Founders, speak in a large side event held by IoTex (one of our future integration partners) and we presented our interoperability model. We also showcased our new banners which we think are much cleaner than our old ones. While I grayed out the new logo here on these pictures, we will be revealing this soon. With Vinny Leow and Markus Spillmann with us, we made sure our presence was felt!
Thursday: Token2049 —Thursday was the visit to the main conference. And there was a huge difference between KBW and Token2049. It was two full floors filled with booths to the brim. There was absolutely no way you could visit them all and all I got was just a very small sample of the different projects that were on display there. It certainly did not feel like a bear market at all.
With that said, like in KBW, the main theme was in ZKP, interoperability, NFT and a lot of service providers.
I met up with a ton of potential leads, which we will combine with the KBW and beginning next week, we will begin following up on them.
My next stop will be in Zug to attend the CV Summit with a larger Partisia Blockchain team in early October and then off to Milan for a speaking engagement at EthMilan. If you are around the area, please let me know.
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During the month of September and early October 2023, I will be traveling to a few conferences, and doing a few speaking engagements. As a part of the travel, I wanted to provide a few thoughts on what I have seen, people and projects I have met and the changes and trends emerging in the last year or so in the industry.
Even just a year ago, zero knowledge proof was barely a topic of conversation. Now, almost everyone had some level of understanding of what MPC was.
My first week of events was in South Korea, my birthplace, and I spent the week going to multiple side events, did a quick speaking engagement (thank you H.E.R. DAO for the opportunity) and met with a variety of builders, projects and community builders.
I also got a chance to meet with two of our Korean Ambassadors, which was an amazing opportunity. We teamed up for three days going around different side events promoting building for privacy using Partisia Blockchain.
My first thought was with the amount of missing L1 blockchains in the industry that was present. It clearly still is a bear market and as a result, L1’s were visibility absent. One person I spoke with, when I mentioned I was from an L1, said “oh no, not another L1!” And I think that reaction makes sense. As mentioned on our interoperability article, L1s are all playing a zero sum game. Everyone is in competition with each other and the industry is trying to mature into more of an interoperable environment. To me it was a good sign not only for the blockchain industry but also for Partisia Blockchain, as people were beginning to understand the importance of interoperability in any industry.
My second thought was the amount of zero knowledge events that were out there. One out of every two to three events was either focused on ZK or had zero knowledge as a topic. Even just a year ago, zero knowledge proof was barely a topic of conversation. Now, almost everyone had some level of understanding of what MPC was. This was an amazing shift in the industry and I will keep you all updated to see if this trend continues.
Just on a side note, even the ZKP experts were conceding that ZKP has limitations in scaling and long computation times. My thought is that as the industry continues to mature, many people will begin to turn to MPC as a potential solution unless ZKP scaling issues can be resolved.
Overall, I met up with quite a number of potential leads and partnership opportunities. Quite a lot of leads to follow up, interesting use cases to delve deeper into and more opportunities to come from what I thought was a very successful event. A lot of the builders were focused on DID/SSI solutions, as well as gaming and ZKP technology.
More to come next week on our presence in Token 2049 where we will have a booth and a speaking engagement at the R3al World @ Token2049: Interoperability, Web3’s Disruption Point conference. If you are in the area, come say hello!
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