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Kaia Overview

Kaia is a highly optimized, BFT-based public blockchain designed to meet enterprise-grade reliability and performance standards. This overview details Kaia's architecture, features, and ecosystem.

Key Design Goals​

Kaia blockchain aims to:

  • Achieve immediate finality for transactions.
  • Provide high transaction processing speed for real-world use cases.
  • Lower the cost of running blockchain applications.
  • Reduce barriers to entry for end-users.
  • Facilitate easy technology adoption for various industries.

Core Specifications​

Kaia blockchain offers:

  • 1-second block generation and confirmation time.
  • Processing capability of 4,000 transactions per second.
  • Low gas price, approximately 1/10 of Ethereum.
  • EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) compatibility, supporting Solidity contracts.
  • Governance by reputable corporations worldwide forming Kaia Governance Council.

Network Architecture​

Kaia's network is structured into three logical subnetworks:

Kaia Ecosystem and its Logical Subnetworks (CCN, ENN, SCN)

  1. Core Cell Network (CCN): Consists of Core Cells (CCs) responsible for transaction verification, execution, and block creation.

  2. Endpoint Node Network (ENN): Composed of Endpoint Nodes (ENs) that handle RPC API requests and process data for service chains.

  3. Service Chain Network (SCN): Auxiliary blockchains independently operated by dApps, connected to the main chain via ENs.

Node Types​

Kaia Main Chain Physical Topology and Tiered Architecture (CNN, PNN, and ENN)

  1. Core Cell (CC): Composed of one Consensus Node (CN) and two Proxy Nodes (PNs).

    • Consensus Node (CN): Participates in block generation.
    • Proxy Node (PN): Provides network interface, transmits transaction requests, and propagates blocks.

  2. Endpoint Node (EN): Serves as network endpoints, handling API requests and data processing.

  3. Bootnode: Special nodes operated by Kaia to help new nodes join the network.

Consensus Algorithm​

Kaia uses an optimized version of Istanbul BFT, implementing Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT) with blockchain-specific modifications. The consensus process involves:

  1. Election of a committee (proposer and validator) using Verifiable Random Function (VRF).
  2. Block generation by the elected proposer.
  3. Block verification and signing by the committee.

This consensus mechanism enables Kaia to achieve high performance, processing 4,000 transactions per second with instant transaction finality.

Block Generation and Propagation​

  • Blocks are generated in rounds, targeting a 1-second interval.
  • Proposer and committee selection is random but deterministic.
  • Blocks require signatures from more than two-thirds of committee members.
  • Separate propagation channels for blocks and transactions (multichannel approach) manage network congestion.

Kaia Virtual Machine (KVM)​

The Kaia Virtual Machine (KVM) provides a robust environment for smart contract execution:

  • Based on the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
  • Supports all EVM opcodes and additional Kaia-specific precompiled contracts.
  • Compatible with Solidity and Ethereum development tools (e.g. Remix, Hardhat, Foundry).
  • Allows developers to port Ethereum smart contracts to Kaia with minimal modifications.

Security Measures​

Kaia implements several security measures:

  • VRF for random selection of block proposers, adding unpredictability to the process.
  • Separation of validator keys and reward keys to protect validators from potential key theft.
  • Transparent block verification process, with all committee members verifying signatures on proposed blocks.

Interoperability​

Kaia is designed for seamless interaction with other blockchain networks:

  • EVM-compatible, allowing easy deployment of Ethereum smart contracts.
  • Designed to interoperate with other EVM-SDK based chains.
  • Supports cross-platform transactions and smart contract execution.

Token Economy​

Kaia's native token, KAIA, plays a central role in the blockchain's economy:

  • KAIA tokens are issued automatically with each new block.
  • Initial annual inflation rate: 5.2%.
  • Block rewards are distributed as follows:
    • CCO and Community: 50% (20% Block Creator rewards, 80% Staking rewards)
    • KEF (Kaia Ecosystem Fund): 25%
    • KIF (Kaia Infrastructure Fund): 25%

This distribution model incentivizes network participation while supporting the growth and development of the Kaia ecosystem.

Governance​

Kaia implements an on-chain governance system designed to be fair and inclusive:

  • Voting rights are proportional to the amount of KAIA tokens staked.
  • A cap on voting rights prevents suppression of minority opinions.
  • Delegation of voting power is allowed.
  • All governance proposals are recorded on-chain, ensuring transparency.

Auditability and Transparency​

Kaia prioritizes transparency and auditability:

  • All transactions provide an immutable and verifiable history of state changes.
  • Two primary tools for blockchain exploration:
    • Kaiascope: A comprehensive blockchain explorer.
    • Kaiascan: A user-friendly interface for quick blockchain data lookups.
  • The "Square" voting platform discloses all expenses and quarterly known transactions.

Network Monitoring​

To ensure optimal performance and reliability, Kaia implements:

  • A multi-channel approach to manage network congestion.
  • Dedicated network monitoring for all validators.
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