Mina Protocol is a minimal "succinct blockchain" built to reduce compute requirements in order to run DApps more efficiently. Mina has been described as the lightest blockchain in the world, as its size is designed to remain constant despite growing usage. Furthermore, it remains balanced in terms of security and decentralization. The project changed its name from Coda Protocol to Mina in October 2020. The Mina network is only 22KB in size, which is miniscule compared to Bitcoin's 300GB blockchain.
What is the main objective of the Mina Protocol?
Mina is working on an efficient distributed payment system that allows users to natively verify the platform directly from the genesis block. Their whitepaper calls it a "succinct blockchain".
The protocol uses zero-knowledge non-interactive succinct knowledge (zk-SNARK) arguments, a cryptographic proof that allows someone to authenticate information without revealing it. However, allowing a user to trace the platform back to their genesis block can be impractical on a large network. As such, Mina incrementally computes SNARKS that focus only on the most recent blocks, which means that end users verify that compressed proof with zk-SNARK, rather than the entire transaction history of a block.
The protocol uses zero-knowledge non-interactive succinct knowledge (zk-SNARK) arguments, a cryptographic proof that allows someone to authenticate information without revealing it. However, allowing a user to trace the platform back to their genesis block can be impractical on a large network. As such, Mina incrementally computes SNARKS that focus only on the most recent blocks, which means that end users verify that compressed proof with zk-SNARK, rather than the entire transaction history of a block.
At the heart of the Mina protocol is MINA, its native currency, which functions as both a utility currency and a medium of exchange.
How does the Mina protocol work?
Mina is similar to Bitcoin aside from the way it handles transactions, but it also uses the account model used in Ethereum.
In this sense, the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum is that the blockchain state of Bitcoin contains a list of unspent coins, while the state of Ethereum consists of account balances.
In this sense, the difference between Bitcoin and Ethereum is that the blockchain state of Bitcoin contains a list of unspent coins, while the state of Ethereum consists of account balances.
Mine, on the other hand, uses a tester (or snarker, if you prefer), the equivalent of a miner, to ensure that every block is committed to the state.
Mina uses Ouroboros Samasika, a type of PoS mechanism specially designed for succinct decentralized networks, as it provides the bootstrap from a genesis block.
Mina uses Ouroboros Samasika, a type of PoS mechanism specially designed for succinct decentralized networks, as it provides the bootstrap from a genesis block.
Succinct blockchains contain two main functions: verification and updating. Verification touches consensus, blockchain summary and blocks, while the update function interacts with consensus and chain summary.
In addition to the above implementations, the project uses a parallel scan state to optimize transaction processing speed, which works by grouping untested blocks and assigning the process to parallel testers.
Main participants in the protocol of the Mina
Mina aims to revolutionize the current blockchain landscape, where most platforms have verifiers such as miners / participants and light clients acting as third parties when verifying transactions.
Mina takes a different approach by having multiple participants, each managing a specific role in the decentralized network.
Mina takes a different approach by having multiple participants, each managing a specific role in the decentralized network.
The three main roles include verifiers, block producers, and detractors.
Verifiers
The verifiers interact with zk-SNARKS which has the task of certifying the consent information. Every user of the Mina protocol is considered a verifier, as long as their devices can handle a 22 KB string and support a few milliseconds of processing time.
Snarkers
Snarkers, also known as testers, produce zk-SNARKs which are used to verify transactions.
Block makers pay snarkers with the general transaction fees they receive for adding new blocks. However, to benefit from the rates, they must post offers. Note that a snarker's zk-SNARK must be used in a block, while the manufacturer of the block using it is responsible for the snarker's incentive.
Block makers pay snarkers with the general transaction fees they receive for adding new blocks. However, to benefit from the rates, they must post offers. Note that a snarker's zk-SNARK must be used in a block, while the manufacturer of the block using it is responsible for the snarker's incentive.
This creates an entrepreneurial economy where multiple snarkers can post offers related to the same transaction. Block makers, on the other hand, follow the profit and choose the offer with the lowest commissions. As a result, snarkers are challenged to produce SNARKS at low cost.
How transactions take place in Mina
Let's take a closer look at the course of a transaction before finding a permanent record on the Mina blockchain.
The process begins with a user initiating a transaction, after which the transaction goes into the mempool, a pool of valid but unconfirmed transactions.
The process begins with a user initiating a transaction, after which the transaction goes into the mempool, a pool of valid but unconfirmed transactions.
Then snarkers take control by running tests or SNARKS. The process continues with the selection of a block producer (BP) to group the transactions into a block. Note that a BP filters the mempool for profitable transactions.
The BP then chooses a SNARK according to the rules of the consensus mechanism. Note that a block manufacturer selects offers for the SNARK with the lowest price. In addition, newly added transactions have an updated SNARKS order register.
So it's time to embed the SNARKS into a block, then add the block to the chain and update the network. Sarcastic transactions are removed from the chain to keep the protocol size constant.
The block manufacturer then updates the protocol's zk-SNARKS.
Eventually, the new block becomes an immutable part of the chain.
Eventually, the new block becomes an immutable part of the chain.
Conclusion
Using zk-SNARKS allows you to check the status of the Mina protocol without exposing the contents of the blockchain, thus offering a censorship-resistant platform.
In addition, zk-SNARKS greatly contributes to maintaining a constant size network, enabling scalability, security and decentralization.The presence of various critical participants, such as snarkers, block producers and verifiers, helps to optimize the different functions of the protocol.
In addition, zk-SNARKS greatly contributes to maintaining a constant size network, enabling scalability, security and decentralization.The presence of various critical participants, such as snarkers, block producers and verifiers, helps to optimize the different functions of the protocol.
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