Original source: Criptomedia (criptomedia.com.br) - portuguese version

Alephium is built on a novel sharding algorithm called BlockFlow. It leverages a stateful UTXO model and DAG data structure to deliver efficient and practical sharding. This enables Alephium to natively support over 10,000 transactions per second while preserving a seamless 'single-chain' user experience.

BlockFlow

Sharding

1. Addresses are randomly divided into G groups
2. Transactions are divided into G x G shards based on the input and output addresses
3. G x G chains in total
4. Transactions from address group B to address group A are committed to shard (B, A)
5. For address group B, one only needs to download the transaction data of 2G - 1 shards related to itself: namely (X,B) and (B,Y), where X, Y ∈ G
6. The amount of data that a single node needs to save is reduced from G² to 2G-1

Consensus

Fork Choice Rule: Dependency Data Structure

• Each block selects several block hashes as dependencies
• Transitively, each new block determines a unique fork for each shard

Finality Algorithm

• Miners find best dependencies and pack valid transactions
• Nodes validate dependencies and transactions
• BlockFlow is agnostic to finality algorithm, Alephium is currently using PoLW

Efficiency in Energy Consumption

Alephium's Proof Of less Work is a simple, consistent and robust consensus mechanism for achieving decentralization while reducing the energy consumption by over 87% compared to classic Proof of Work. On Alephium, anyone can run a full node and verify on-chain data,'Don't trust, verify'.

Alephium's innovative Proof of Less Work (PoLW) consensus mechanism reduces the energy consumption by over 87% compared to Nakamoto’s original Proof Of Work, under the same network conditions. This mechanism dynamically adjusts the difficulty after each new block and triggers a change in the mining schema when the network surpasses 1 Exahash/s of hashrate.

Once the network exceeds this threshold, miners are required to shift part of the external cost to the internal network cost by burning some coins (and consuming proportionally less energy). In this case, mining costs are both external (energy, equipment) and internal (burning coins inside the network).

Since burning coins has a cost but does not requires energy, the energy consumption is reduced without sacrificing security: in PoLW, the cost of mining a new block is the same as in PoW, but composed differently.

Programmable & Secure

Alephium's stateful UTXO model combines the advantages of the UTXO and account models. It supports mutable states, like those found in Ethereum, for smart contracts while leveraging the security benefits of the UTXO model for assets.

There are two types of states in blockchain technology: mutable state (as seen in Ethereum) and immutable state (such as UTXO or eUTXO). Mutable state is more flexible and expressive, as evidenced by the vibrant ecosystem of Ethereum. However, the UTXO model provides inherent security advantages. Alephium's stateful UTXO model combines the advantages of both. It supports mutable states, like those found in Ethereum, for smart contracts while leveraging the security benefits of the UTXO model for assets

This is a huge improvement for developers and users alike, as the ability to have an upgraded account model with a dedicated model for token handling (UTXO) makes the sUTXO model a solid foundation for building smart contracts with the assurance of secure asset management.

Alephium's implementation allows multiple participants and calls to be grouped in a single transaction, unlocking truly trustless P2P transactions and smart contracts. Tokens on Alephium are first-class citizens, UTXO-based, reducing complexity and implementation risks, while granting users true ownership. Tokens can be effectively owned and under the custody of their private key, removing third-party smart contracts risks.

Its own Virtual Machine & Programming Language

Alephium enhances developer experience and security with its Virtual Machine, SDK, and performance-optimized programming language. Its MEV-aware design and built-in security measures eliminate common attack vectors, such as reentrancy attacks, unlimited authorization and flash loans. Alephium allows devs to focus on what matters and pioneers entirely new possibilities for smart contracts, dApps and tokens.

Alephium explorer numbers

• 18.9 Hashrate (PH/s)
• 34.1M Transactions executed
• $14.6M Chain TVL
• $21.7M Bridged TVL

Alephium Explorer

Alephium wallets

Desktop wallet 🖥️

Extension wallet 🌍

Mobile wallet 📱

Ecosystem

Alph.land  

Exchanges

AYIN (DEX)

MEXC

GATE.IO

Bitget

Coinex

Bitmart