Ideas on how to achieve blockchain decentralization abound among developers and tech experts, and the lack of consensus has led to the creation of numerous networks vying for user interest.
One thing most people can agree on, of course, is that the power within a blockchain network should reside with the people rather than any central authority. While many blockchains recognize this, many have failed to put it into practice. Evidently, the key to realizing such a promising ideal lies in empowering the users who support and manage the network, yet we still see worthy criticisms leveled at many supposedly decentralized platforms.
The team behind Orbs, Layer3 public blockchain infrastructure, believes they have achieved a high level of decentralization by following a unique approach. Specifically, it sought to empower members of its community through the creation of “Guardians” within its ecosystem. Guardians are not simply participants; rather, they are key stakeholders in the Orbs universe, their role transcending traditional participation and giving them responsibilities similar to those of the network’s custodians.
The Backbone of Blockchain: Community Engagement
If we agree that blockchains depend on the strength, commitment, and loyalty of their communities, then it stands to reason that such community members should be incentivized for their contributions. Recognizing that these users are the very foundation upon which the resilience and functionality of the network is based, Orbs created the Guardian designation to give some members of the community the opportunity to contribute in a meaningful way. Note: Guardians can be companies or individuals!
Among other tasks, the Guardians in Orbs ecosystem is tasked with reviewing and monitoring network validators, ensuring that these essential nodes adhere to the protocol and maintain network security. Guardians also defend the integrity of the chain by maintaining the power to vote to exclude misbehaving validators. Beyond these technical functions, these permissionless PoS validators interact with the delegating community, representing their interests and actively participating in Orbs governance decisions.
The Guardian-Delegator relationship can be seen as a pillar of Orbs’ decentralization philosophy. Here’s how it works: Delegators (ORBS token holders who don’t directly participate in the consensus process) assign their voting weight or stake to gatekeepers they trust, with this interaction representing a core element of the decentralized governance structure of the network. In turn, the Guardians keep the Delegators updated on news and developments relating to the Spheres. They are also required to have a personal stake of at least 8% of the total delegated stake, a caveat intended to ensure a high level of commitment.
The Guardian-Delegator relationship is symbiotic, with the former responsible towards those who entrust them with their stakes. Guardians also determine the level of rewards to distribute to their delegates, further strengthening the relationship. The result is a more democratic and decentralized network. To review and select a guardian, incidentally, delegators can view candidate statistics via orbs.
To compromise the Sphere network, attackers would have to overwhelm the Guardians’ collective quota, an onerous undertaking given the distributed nature of participation; episode prizes are awarded based on the episode that elected the Guardians AND their delegates contribute to the security of the network. This distributed participation not only strengthens the chain against the actions of bad actors, but also deepens the sense of ownership and responsibility in the broader community.
Guardians who abuse the system, meanwhile, not only lose the value of their staked tokens, but also the trust of their Delegate.
By placing more control in the hands of users, Orbs is moving closer to realizing the true ethics of decentralization: a network run by and for its users. The introduction of the Guardians is a testament to the platform’s commitment to giving community members an authentic sense of belonging. By empowering them to take on significant roles in network governance and security, whether as a Guardian or Delegator, Orbs fosters an approach that aligns perfectly with the fundamental principles of blockchain technology.
