A little bit of chit-chat
Penumbra underwent two audits by NCC Group and zkSecurity to evaluate its protocol design and zero-knowledge circuits. The audits focused on Penumbra's multi-asset shielded pool, abstract statements for zero knowledge proofs, and implementing circuits in Rust and Arkworks. The assessments revealed 16 issues, with 8 classified as security concerns. Penumbra Labs promptly fixed the vulnerabilities, and the circuits were integrated into testnet 59 on August 21, 2023.
Skip Protocol has released a new toolkit for building customized blocks called the Block SDK, which aims to address some of the limitations that have been observed in block construction. One of the main issues that the Block SDK aims to tackle is the susceptibility of many Cosmos chains to Maximum Extractable Value (MEV). To overcome these limitations, the Block SDK introduces a lane-based system that is similar to a transaction highway. Each lane serves a specific purpose and has its own set of rules and traffic management systems.
Interchain Money?
In a recent forum discussion, community member Elijah Fox presented crucial proposals and thoughts to shape the Cosmos Hub's future. The central theme revolved around recognizing focus as a precious and limited resource and the need for efficient allocation to ensure the Hub's sustainable growth.
Elijah stressed that, as a fledgling protocol with finite resources, the Cosmos Hub requires a well-defined vision to judiciously allocate these resources. An essential component of this proposal was the introduction of objective functions and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to gauge the success of various initiatives.
The proposal outlined two primary areas of focus for the Hub: "Interchain Money" and "Security." Interchain Money seeks to make ATOM, the Hub's native token, widely applicable throughout the interchain. This enables ATOM's liquidity across various chains, making it a valuable asset for diverse use cases, including collateral for stablecoins, lending, and NFT purchases.
Crucially, Elijah underlined the symbiotic relationship between Interchain Money and Security. As ATOM gains adoption as interchain money, its value increases, strengthening its role as a security provider for the entire Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC) ecosystem.
The proposal also raised critical questions for the community to address collaboratively, fostering discussions about the Hub's future direction.
Auto-slashing
Informal Systems is on the verge of launching a feature set to enhance the Interchain Security mechanism. This development will automate the slashing process by introducing a cryptographic evidence verification system on the provider chain, rendering equivocation proposals like prop 818 obsolete. Although the current system can validate major evidence types, it faces challenges in pinpointing the precise infraction time and block height.
Under the proposed consumer chain slashing framework, all delegations will be subject to slashing upon the receipt of evidence, regardless of their state, significantly intensifying the security protocol. This approach, while stringent, aligns with ICS commitment to transparency and trust. Notably, evidence will no longer have an expiration date, meaning that even older infractions could lead to slashing if evidence emerges. However, ICS's key assignment protocol provides an exemption: if a validator reassigned their key at least three weeks ago, delegators will be shielded from infractions committed with their old key.
The Informal Systems team is actively seeking feedback and opinions from the community before proceeding with this groundbreaking slashing mechanism. By enhancing blockchain security without compromising network incentives, ICS aims to create a more secure and trustworthy blockchain ecosystem.
Wrap Up
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