Ideas on how to achieve blockchain decentralization abound among developers and technologists, and the lack of consensus has led to the creation of numerous networks competing for user interest.
Of course, one thing most people can agree on is that power within a blockchain network should rest with the people and not with a central authority. While countless blockchains recognize this, many have fallen short in their attempts to put it into practice. Clearly, the key to achieving such a hopeful ideal lies in empowering the users who support and operate the network, yet we see valid criticism being leveled at many supposedly decentralized platforms.
The team behind the Layer3 public blockchain infrastructure Orbs believes it has achieved a high level of decentralization by taking a unique approach. Specifically, it has sought to empower community members by creating “Guardians” within its ecosystem. Guards are not just participants; rather, they are critical stakeholders in the Orbs universe, with their role transcending traditional participation and giving them responsibilities similar to those of network administrators.
The Blockchain Backbone: Community Engagement
If we can 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 such users are the foundation upon which the network’s resilience and functionality rest, Orbs created the Guardian designation to provide select community members the opportunity to contribute in a significant capacity. Please note: Guardians can be companies or individuals!
The Guardians ecosystem in Orbs is charged, among other things, with assessing and monitoring network validators to ensure these critical nodes adhere to the protocol and maintain network security. Guardians also maintain the integrity of the chain by retaining the power to vote out Validators who misbehave. In addition to such technical functions, these permissionless PoS validators engage with the Delegator community, representing their interests while actively participating in Orbs’ governance decisions.
The Guardian-Delegator relationship can be seen as a pillar of Orbs’ philosophy of decentralization. Here’s how it works: Delegators – ORBS token holders who do not directly participate in the consensus process – assign their voting weight or share to Guardians they trust, with this interaction representing a crucial building block of the network’s decentralized governance structure. In turn, Guardians keep the Delegators informed of news and developments regarding Orbs. They must also hold a personal interest of at least 8% of their total delegated interest, a caveat intended to ensure a high level of involvement.
The relationship between Guardian and Delegator is symbiotic, with the former answerable to those who entrust them with their interests. Guardians also determine the level of rewards given out to their Delegators, further strengthening the relationship. The result is a more democratic and decentralized network. To research and select a Guardian, Delegators can view statistics about candidates through Orbs.
To compromise the Orbs network, attackers would have to overpower the collective deployment of the Guardians, a difficult feat given the distributed nature of the stakes; Staking rewards are allocated based on the stake Guardians has chosen And their delegates contribute to network security. This divided interest not only strengthens the chain against the actions of bad actors, but also deepens the sense of ownership and responsibility within the broader community.
Guardians who abuse the system, meanwhile, not only lose the value of their own staked tokens, but also the trust of their Delegator.
By handing more control over to users, Orbs comes closer to realizing the true ethos of decentralization: a network governed by and for its users. The introduction of Guardians is a testament to the platform’s commitment to giving community members a true sense of ownership. By empowering them to take on meaningful roles in network management and security, whether as Guardian or Delegator, Orbs favors an approach that perfectly aligns with the fundamental principles of blockchain technology.