True Randomness.

Innovation continues to drive the growth of Interchain Applications. On such innovation is Nois Network, a groundbreaking initiative spearheaded by a team that includes the founders of Drand, Terrand+Loterra, Terra Vegas, and the CosmWasm maintainer. Nois Network is on a mission to bring secure and public randomness to the CosmWasm ecosystem while harnessing the power of Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC). This article explores what Nois Network is and why Juno, one of the first chains to implement Nois, stands to benefit significantly from this integration.

The Quest for True Randomness

Blockchain applications often require random data to perform various functions, but achieving genuine randomness on a blockchain can be challenging. Many seemingly random values in blockchain environments can, in fact, be predicted or manipulated. For instance, block timestamps, block hashes, block time in Tendermint, and block height all exhibit low entropy or susceptibility to manipulation.

One misguided approach has been using signatures as a source of randomness, where a predefined signer is asked to sign a challenge. However, this approach proved flawed, as common signing algorithms produce deterministic but non-unique signatures, allowing the signer to choose convenient values.

To address these issues and ensure reliable randomness, the CosmWasm maintainers opted not to expose block hashes. Instead, they recognized the need for better technology that might not be native to the blockchain itself.

Enter Nois Network: A Beacon of Secure Randomness

Nois Network aims to provide a secure solution within the IBC ecosystem and deliver an exceptional user experience across various applications. Unlike other consensus algorithms, Tendermint-based blockchains don’t inherently provide randomness at the block production layer. Therefore, Nois Network’s initial approach focuses on the application level of the chain, making it straightforward for developers to utilize their technology via a simple library.

In its first iteration, Nois Network leverages random beacons generated by the drand network. This network comprises a consortium of participants utilizing multi-party computation to create randomness. Each generated randomness is tied to a specific round and delivered periodically, ensuring a direct mapping between drand rounds and real-world time. Importantly, this randomness is based on a BLS threshold signatures schema, producing values that are unpredictable and resistant to manipulation by any drand participants.

The drand mainnet, operated by the League of Entropy, has been running successfully in production for over two years, with projects like Filecoin relying on it for block production and storage proofs. Drand’s random beacons, capable of undergoing BLS signature verification, can be seamlessly integrated into blockchains, providing a secure source of randomness.

Nois Network’s Impact on Juno

Juno, known for its permissionless nature and the use of the latest ComsWasm and IBC technologies, is poised to be one of the first chains to integrate Nois Network. This integration holds tremendous promise for the Juno community, offering access to secure and genuinely random data.

With the power of Nois Network at its fingertips, Juno can provide support for a wide range of applications that require true randomness. Whether it’s gaming platforms, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, or other blockchain-based services, Juno stands to benefit from the enhanced security and trustworthiness that Nois Network brings to the table.

Randdrop: A Game-Changer in Token Distribution

Randdrop goes live for Juno stakers on the 8th Nov 2023. Randdrop introduces a unique twist to the traditional airdrop concept, adding an element of unpredictability and excitement to the distribution process. Unlike conventional airdrops, where all eligible wallet holders receive a fixed allocation, Randdrop selects a subset of stakers to receive a more substantial share of tokens. This selection process is mathematically unpredictable, unbiased, and verifiable thanks to Nois leveraging drand technology. By adopting Randdrop, Nois Network can target larger communities without diluting claimed tokens too significantly, offering winners the chance to claim a substantial amount. In the Nois Randdrop, a wallet has a 1/3 probability of winning, and if it does, it can claim three times the amount of a traditional airdrop. This not only ensures fairness but also introduces an element of surprise and anticipation for participants, making the distribution process more engaging and fun.

How Randdrop Works and Its Impact on Juno Stakers

To conduct a Randdrop, a list of stakers is compiled at a specific block height in each network. From this list, a random subset of stakers is selected to receive a higher allocation of $NOIS tokens. This selection process is transparent, unpredictable, and verifiable, ensuring fairness and equal opportunity for all eligible stakers. In the case of Juno, the Randdrop represents a significant opportunity for stakers, as they could receive a substantial allocation of $NOIS tokens. The allocation of $NOIS tokens for the Randdrop is set to represent 4% of the total Nois token supply and will be sourced from the community pool. Additionally, after the initial batch of Randdrops, more networks are planned for future Randdrops, with the community invited to suggest networks they’d like to see included. This innovative approach to token distribution promises to strengthen the connection between Nois and various blockchain communities, showing gratitude to early adopters and highlighting the power of Nois Network in introducing randomness and excitement to the world of Inter-Blockchain Communication (IBC).

• Block height: 8372000
• Minimum staked: 8 JUNO; Cap: 80'000 JUNO
• Check if you are eligible: Juno Randdrop List

Conclusion

Nois Network represents a pivotal development in the world of blockchain technology, offering a secure and reliable source of randomness for decentralized ecosystems. As Juno explores the integration of Nois Network, the community can look forward to a new era of innovation, with the potential to unlock a multitude of use cases across the blockchain landscape. The journey toward secure public randomness continues, and Nois Network is leading the way.