Waterfall Network recently launched its mainnet, implementing a new approach to blockchain architecture based on Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG). This article explores the unique aspects of this technology.
DAG Architecture and Its Importance for Blockchain Scaling
Waterfall Network is a layer-1 protocol that utilizes a DAG as its foundational data structure. A DAG is a non-linear structure where blocks are represented as vertices in a directed graph.
Each new block or transaction references one or more prior blocks, eliminating the need for global sequencing when creating transactions. Instead of a single ordered chain, the ledger evolves as a concurrent graph of interlinked blocks, growing in various directions.
Unlike earlier DAG systems, Waterfall does not completely discard linear ordering. Instead, it separates concerns across two subsystems: the Shard Network and the Coordinating Network.
Waterfall's Validator Design and Throughput
During benchmarking, Waterfall achieved a peak throughput of 12,777 TPS, outperforming high-speed competitors such as Monad and SEI. Its validator design supports up to 1.5 million participants, and running a validator requires only 2-core CPUs and 8GB RAM, significantly lower than the requirements for most high-performance chains. This allows lightweight hardware to join the network and helps avoid centralization.
Conclusion and Future of Waterfall Network
Waterfall Network presents an innovative approach to scaling challenges in blockchain by utilizing DAG architecture and a unique validator model. This makes it an interesting prospect for further inquiry in the realm of decentralized technologies.
Waterfall Network illustrates how new technologies can transform traditional blockchain models, offering more efficient solutions for scalability and decentralization.
