Blockchain security is the number one priority for every blockchain project. With Komodo's delayed Proof of Work (dPoW), you can protect your chain with the power of the Litecoin network's hash rate. It's Blockchain Security as a Service.
Update: In June 2021, dPoW switched to the Litecoin network for more efficient cross-chain notarizations.
Most Blockchains Are Not Secure
Blockchains do not have inherent blockchain security services and most remain vulnerable to attacks.
A Constant Threat
It’s simply a matter of time before a vulnerable project is attacked. If a blockchain is not secure, it becomes a target for malicious hackers.
Catastrophic Consequences
Stolen funds are only the beginning of the damage an attack causes. Negative media coverage and reduced faith in the project are also inevitable results of poor crypto security.
A Perfect Crime
Attacks are inexpensive to execute and often extremely profitable. See just how cheaply many blockchains can be 51% attacked on Crypto51.app.
An Industry-Wide Blockchain Security Solution
Komodo’s blockchain security solutions provide superior protection to the entire industry. Blockchains outside of the Komodo ecosystem can utilize Komodo’s Security Service, too. Any hashing algorithm and any UTXO blockchain is eligible, regardless of the consensus mechanism or hashing algorithm.
Komodo's Security Solutions for Blockchain
Komodo offers blockchain security solutions that enable your project to thrive and focus on user growth.
Protection Against 51% Attacks
A 51% attack is the most commonly-used attack vector. Komodo’s Security Service provides an extra layer of security to deter potential thieves from targeting your blockchain.
Preserve Your Project’s Reputation
When a successful attack occurs, confidence in a blockchain is destroyed. Adopt Komodo’s Blockchain Security Service to preserve the integrity of your project.
Maintain Progress Made
Centralized exchanges may choose to delist insecure blockchains. Safeguard the progress you’ve made and stay listed with Komodo’s security solution.
Focus On Your Passions
Outsource security so you can concentrate on what you’re most passionate about— making your blockchain project a success.
A Proven Blockchain Security Solution
Here’s what blockchain projects and experts have to say about it.
"Komodo [dPoW] is the only way I know of (currently) to get high security in small and medium coins without hardly any centralization." Scott Roberts (zawy), Difficulty Algorithm Expert.
“The Einsteinium network experienced a real 51% attack. Komodo dPoW, that we implemented in our code recently, kicked in and protected the chain. We are very pleased that this solution worked well and that Einsteinium chain is protected from any attacks in the future.” Einsteinium Foundation
“We’re incredibly excited about this Komodo integration, as it offers an extra layer of security that very few other POW coins currently have. Our new Komodo notarization feature greatly reduces the impact of such an attack. Komodo notaries are running GameCredits clients and monitoring the network 24/7/365.” GameCredits Foundation
How Komodo's Blockchain Security Service Works
Komodo’s Blockchain Security Service is powered by the innovative delayed Proof of Work (dPoW) security mechanism. Here’s how the dPoW process protects integrated blockchains with the power of the Litecoin network.
- A block hash from every protected blockchain is saved onto the KMD chain using the OP_RETURN command, providing all previous transactions with an added layer of security.
- Every ten minutes, a block hash from the KMD chain is written onto the BTC ledger, extending Litecoin-level security to all of the transactions that occurred prior to the most recently-notarized block.
- This process takes place every ten minutes, continuously protecting all integrated chains with the power of the Litecoin network. It’s Litecoin-level security at a tiny fraction of the cost.
Secure Your Blockchain Today
Komodo’s Blockchain Security Service is an industry-wide solution that's available to all UTXO-based blockchains, regardless of the consensus rules. Contact one of Komodo's certified solutions providers for more information on securing your blockchain with Komodo.
Security For Komodo Blockchains
A block hash from every protected blockchain is saved onto the KMD chain using the OP_RETURN command, providing all previous transactions with an added layer of security.
Security For External Blockchains
Get BTC-level security for any UTXO-based blockchain outside of the Komodo ecosystem. Inquire with a service provider for pricing and integration time estimation.
Delayed Proof Of Work (DPoW) FAQs
Are Notary Nodes The Same Thing As Masternodes?
Not at all. Technically speaking, Notary Nodes and Masternodes do not share any similarities.Masternodes typically have special powers, such as the ability to provide lightning payments or privacy features. Both Proof of Work (PoW) and Proof of Stake (PoS) blockchain networks can have Masternodes.To run a Masternode on a project’s network, you must hold a significant investment in that project’s currency. For this investment of funds and services, Masternode operators are rewarded with a certain percentage of block rewards. On the other hand, Notary Nodes are dedicated servers that perform notarization transactions. You do not need to hold any KMD to become a Notary Node operator.
Anyone can become a Notary Node operator by getting elected in Komodo’s annual Notary Node election.Most of the Notary Node network’s notarization transactions occur on the Komodo blockchain itself, which writes important blockchain data from all dPoW-protected blockchains onto the KMD ledger. Then, roughly every 2.5 minutes, Notary Nodes also perform one notarization transaction on the Litecoin blockchain, providing BTC-level security to all dPoW chains.Apart from participating in notarization transactions, Notary Nodes have no special powers. They do not have the power to approve or reject transactions or blocks. They do not have the power to decide which blocks get validated by a blockchain’s network; all ordinary consensus rules still apply.
Notary Nodes simply perform cross-chain notarizations after the network has come to consensus on which block should be notarized.Each Notary Node is given the opportunity to mine one block with an easy difficulty level roughly every 100 blocks. As the KMD blockchain has one minute block times and 3 KMD block rewards, this amounts to roughly 1500 KMD per month per Notary Node. This incentivizes talented system administrators to act as Notary Node operators in the Komodo ecosystem.
Is DPoW Permissioned?
dPoW is not permissioned, as it is a completely open source technology. Anyone can adopt dPoW by setting up their own Notary Node network and integrating dPoW to their blockchain. Using Komodo’s Notary Node network is permissioned, in the sense that any blockchain that wishes to integrate with the network must work closely with the Komodo Dev Team. Komodo’s Notary Node network must make updates to start notarizing a new blockchain.dPoW is not permissioned in the sense that the Komodo team decides who can use dPoW and who cannot.
Everyone is welcome to adopt dPoW and the Komodo team has never denied a request from a blockchain project that wants to start using Komodo’s Notary Nodes for dPoW.It’s important to bear in mind that, in a way, all blockchains are permissioned, in some sense of that word. For example, only core developers can approve changes to a blockchain’s source code. Allowing anyone to make changes to a blockchain’s soure code would introduce major security vulnerabilities. The same is true for dPoW— allowing any blockchain to integrate to the Notary Node network without supervision from the Komodo Dev Team would present security risks.
As such, projects that want to use Komodo’s Notary Nodes must work closely with the Komodo Dev Team.It’s important to re-emphasize that using Komodo’s Notary Node network is not a requirement for adopting dPoW. Setting up a notary node network is costly and time-consuming, but it is an option available to those concerned about using Komodo’s permissioned Notary Nodes.
Is DPoW The Same As Or Similar To DPoS?
No, dPoW and dPoS are completely different. They don’t have much in common, apart from the first 3 letters of their acronyms.Delegated Proof of Stake (dPoS) is a specific implementation of Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus rules that uses voting and and election processes to provide security. In short, all holders of a dPoS coin vote on which “witnesses” or “delegates” that they would like to entrust with the power of creating and validating blocks. Since all dPoS witnesses are heavily invested in the currency of that particular blockchain, it is assumed that it’s in their own interest to behave and validate blocks honestly.
Delayed Proof of Work (dPoW) is a second-layer security mechanism that works in addition to a blockchain’s ordinary consensus rules. dPoW provides Litecoin-level security through a series of cross-chain notarizations. These notarizations are performed by Komodo’s Notary Node network.Unlike witnesses or delegates in a dPoS system, Notary Nodes do not have the ability to create, validate, reject, or change transactions or blocks.Although Notary Node operators are chosen in an annual stake-weighted election, there is no voting or electoral procedure involved in the functioning of dPoW itself. Instead, dPoW relies on network-wide consensus to decide which blocks to notarize. Then, the Notary Node network simply follows the notarization orders they’ve been given.
