The Evolution of Aleo with Howard Wu & Alex Pruden
Jan 17, 2024
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Anna catches up with Howard Wu, co-founder of the Aleo Network, and Alex Pruden, executive director of the Aleo Foundation. They discuss the evolution of the Aleo project, including technical decisions, breakthroughs, detours, and initial goals. They also explore the challenges of running marketplaces in the crypto industry, the introduction of Veruna as the proof system, and the transition to a hybrid consensus of proof of work and proof of stake. The podcast ends with a discussion on the network's governance plan and excitement for the upcoming mainnet launch.
The evolution of the Aleo system has led to the development of the Versuna proof system, which supports multiple proofs and enables batch proofs, enhancing efficiency and compiler capabilities.
The tech stack of Aleo has undergone significant changes, including the adoption of Arcworks and Snark VM, allowing for a more versatile opcode layer and better upgradability through the use of Leo language that compiles down to opcodes.
Privacy remains a key focus for Aleo, recognizing its importance for real-world blockchain adoption, and aiming to offer a range of privacy options to suit different needs, including regulators and policymakers to establish compliant frameworks.
Deep dives
Evolution of Alio System: Veruna Proof System
The Alio system, previously based on Marlin, has evolved into the Veruna proof system. Veruna now supports multiple proofs of the same circuit and multiple circuits simultaneously, enabling batch proofs. This advancement allows for a more efficient compiler and aggregation of statement proofs. The emphasis on generality and the ability to craft a more efficient compiler sets the Veruna proof system apart. This direction aligns with the trajectory of other ZK projects, recognizing the importance of decentralized verifiers rather than provers.
Tech Stack Evolution: Opcode Layer and Compiler Changes
The tech stack of Alio has seen significant changes. The original library, Libsnark, was abandoned in favor of Arcworks and Snark VM. Snark VM underwent a major transformation, discarding previous designs and introducing a more versatile opcode layer with the concept of alien instructions. The opcode layer enabled a more efficient compiler and a focus on the R1CS gadget level. Another notable change is Leo, the language used in Alio, which now compiles down to opcodes rather than directly mapping to R1CS circuits. This new architecture allows for better upgradability and bug fixing within the system.
Leo and Alien Instructions
Leo is the high-level language in Alio that compiles down to the opcode layer. It maps the language constructs to the alien instructions, which correspond to specific opcodes and R1CS circuits. This separation of layers provides flexibility and allows developers to use any language that targets the alien instructions. The use of alien instructions offers a cleaner and more efficient approach to building circuits and enables easier bug fixing and upgradability within the system.
Privacy and its Importance in Aelio
Privacy has always been a key focus for Aelio, and the team believes that it is a massively underutilized feature in the crypto space. While other projects may have shifted their focus to scaling, Aelio remains committed to privacy. They recognize that privacy is crucial for real-world adoption of blockchain technology, especially in areas like identity and payments. Aelio aims to offer a spectrum of privacy options, allowing developers to choose the level of privacy that suits their needs. They believe that privacy is not only essential for individuals but also enables regulators and policy makers to define legal and compliant frameworks. By finding the right balance, Aelio seeks to unlock the full potential of privacy in the crypto space.
The Hybrid Consensus Model of Aelio
Aelio has taken a unique approach to consensus by combining proof of stake and proof of work in a hybrid model. This decision was driven by the need to strike a balance between security and ecosystem development. Proof of stake ensures the security of the network while allowing new users to acquire tokens without necessarily buying them. The proof of work component provides a way for network participants to earn tokens through organic work while also addressing environmental concerns through a linear decay over time. This hybrid consensus model sets Aelio apart from other projects and enables its ecosystem to grow and evolve in a secure and sustainable manner.
Security and Governance in Aelio
Aelio has prioritized security through various measures. They have invested in formal verification, extensive external audits, and bug bounty programs to ensure the reliability and integrity of the system. The team has also established a technical advisory board for ongoing security evaluation and governance oversight. While Aelio does not plan to implement explicit on-chain governance, they are focused on creating an inclusive and transparent off-chain governance process. They believe that technology should serve the needs of the community, and governance is a vital aspect of ensuring the technology's long-term growth and success.
This week, Anna caught up on all things Aleo with Howard Wu co-founder of the Aleo Network & Alex Pruden executive director of the Aleo Foundation. Howard was last on the show back in 2020 when Aleo was in its infancy, so the group dive into how the project has evolved over the last few years, covering lessons learned along the way as well as technical decisions, detours, breakthroughs and reflecting on initial goals as they built out the system.
Launching soon, Namada is a proof-of-stake L1 blockchain focused on multichain, asset-agnostic privacy, via a unified shielded set. Namada is natively interoperable with fast-finality chains via IBC, and with Ethereum using a trust-minimised bridge.
Follow Namada on Twitter @namada for more information and join the community on Discord discord.gg/namada.
