Constellation (DAG)

"Constellation provides speed, security, and "layer-zero" consensus in its network (Hypergraph) and transportation protocol (HGTP) without explicitly required fees."

It is currently permissioned with a sanctioned node list (1-2023).

Basics

• Based in: San Francisco(1-2023)
• Started in / Announced on: 25-11-2017
• Testnet release:
• Mainnet release: 1-2020

Audits & Exploits

• Bug bounty program can be found [insert here].

Token

Token Allocation

• Unclear from docs, but the explorer says there is a total supply of 3.550.000.000 DAG.

Utility

• From their docs (10-1-2023):

"The Hypergraph's native cryptocurrency is the $DAG. The $DAG operates on an exclusive state channel that facilitates seamless interaction between state channels and network nodes."

• From their docs (10-1-2023):

"Validator nodes provide computational resources that are used to perform consensus on the state of data that flows through the network. They are incentivized through Constellation Network's native currency, $DAG, which is used to quantify and pay the costs of these consumed compute resources."

Other Details

• Tokenomics pager can be viewed here (4-11-2021).
• L0 (L Zero) is the token standard for utility tokens built on Constellation’s Hypergraph network, just as ERC-20 is the standard for tokens built on the Ethereum network.

Technology

• Whitepaper can be found here (25-11-2017).
• Code can be viewed here.

Implementations

• Built on: its own Hypergraph mainnet.
• Programming language used:
• Runs on a DAG with Proof of Reputable Observation. From its docs (1-2023):

"Constellation encourages node security by attempting to decentralize and minimize trust, using a combination of per-node oracle reputation scoring (provided by and customizable by every peer,) reversibility proofs, and peer to peer reliability scoring mechanisms. This mechanism is referred to as Proof-of-Reputable Observation (PRO) and is a live running model that adaptively responds to insecure conditions in real-time in an effort to minimize overall trust in the network.

Node incentivization is weighted by the total contribution relative to this score and the volume of data they are validating, in a form that encourages even relatively small nodes to operate fairly . Calculations are derived from chain data per finality window (or snapshot) and distributed immediately. The opportunity for nodes to participate in consensus and validation activities will depend on the demand for their compute resources, as difficulty is dynamically adjusted based on overall data throughput metrics."

Transaction Details

• Capacity (TPS): did 80.000 per 7 seconds on a test with 6 nodes (1-2023).
• Latency:

How it works

• From their docs (10-1-2023):

"Both Mainnet 2.0 and Testnet 2.0 currently have a seedlist in place that only allows specific NodeIds to join the network. This provides an extra layer of security and stability as the ecosystem matures, and will eventually be phased out for anyone to join. The seedlist is currently closed although we are accepting applications from state channel developers or integration partners that need access to develop on the network."

• From their docs (10-1-2023):

"The Hypergraph Network is a decentralized network using distributed ledger technology to support transfers of $DAG cryptocurrencies and state channel data validation without explicit fees. It uses a directed acyclic graph (DAG) protocol and the novel Proof of Reputable Observation (PRO) consensus. "Hypergraph" is a central concept in consensus optimizations and refers to graph edges that connect more than two vertices."

• From their website (4-11-2021):

"The Constellation Network is composed of $DAG nodes, state channel nodes, and ‘hybrid’ nodes, which perform consensus for multiple state channels and $DAG. Each state channel can ‘license’ or share its data to accounts, either by granting access rights via payment in $DAG or a throughput allowance for validating data as a node operator (sole state channel node or hybrid). Hybrid nodes allow for direct license exchange via atomic commits from hybrid nodes."

Fees

• From their docs (10-1-2023):

"Most users pay no transaction fees. We offer every wallet a free transaction per snapshot, and each snapshot is roughly 5 seconds long. In other words, all wallets can transact once every 5 seconds for free. That is enough for most users. In order to filter out spam and DDoS attacks, simple heuristics are applied to establish fees for larger compute requirements. When users feel the need for speed or higher throughputs or volumes, however, they can prioritize their transactions by paying a 1 datum (0.00000001 DAG) fee. That means the L1 network will process the transactions as fast as it can. That is typically a rate in the hundreds per snapshot."

Upgrades

• Moved to Mainnet 2.0 on 28-7-2022:

"Mainnet 2.0 is the evolution of the network that will support the L0 token standard and state channel deployment.

Specifically, Mainnet 2.0 features:

1. A new gossip protocol for scaling message passing
2. New schemas and upgrades for ease of use and dependency optimizations
3. Re-usable / extendable abstracted consensus for customization to arbitrary non-currency data types
4. Async threading improvements and performance testing
5. General refactoring and style improvements
6. Dependency and library upgrades
7. Changes to core consensus algorithm for recursive scaling
8. Architectural release of L0 token specification
9. Core state channel examples (Alkimi)
10. NodeCTL for easily deploying a mainnet node"

Staking

Validator Stats

• "300+ globally distributed foundational nodes" (1-2023) but when clicking on the ? it says: "The total number of validator nodes running on Mainnet 1.0 and Testnet 2.0." When checking the explorer of both, I get 253 validators, so either they lost a bunch or they are lying.

Scaling

• Claims infinite scaling through its DAG structure. Each DAG still needs to be verified on the L0 chain however, so this could potentially be a bottleneck.

Roadmap

• Can be found [Insert link here].

Usage

• Tx numbers are low but relatively high in value. On 10-1-2023 there were ~15 tx with most above 100$ in value.

Pros and Cons

Cons

• It is currently permissioned with a sanctioned node list (1-2023).

Team, Funding and Partners

Team

• Full team can be found here. Claims to have over 70 people working within their team.

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