Consensus Mechanisms

RuneVM employs a hybrid consensus mechanism that combines proof-of-stake (PoS) with zkRollups to ensure fast finality and reduce energy consumption. The PoS mechanism allows for the efficient validation of transactions by selecting validators based on the amount of staked tokens. Validators are incentivized to act honestly to avoid losing their staked assets, ensuring network security and integrity.

zkRollups aggregate multiple transactions into a single cryptographic proof, which is then verified on the Bitcoin mainnet. This hybrid approach ensures that RuneVM can achieve high throughput and low latency while maintaining the security and decentralization of the Bitcoin network. By offloading transaction processing to a Layer 2 solution and using zkRollups for verification, RuneVM significantly reduces the load on the Bitcoin mainnet, enhancing overall network performance.

zkRollups and zkSync

zkRollups are a Layer 2 scaling solution that aggregates multiple transactions into a single proof, which is then verified on the mainnet. This method allows for a significant reduction in on-chain data, as only the proof, not the individual transactions, is recorded on the blockchain. RuneVM uses zkSync to process transactions off-chain, ensuring that only valid transactions are committed to the Bitcoin blockchain. This approach significantly reduces the on-chain footprint and enhances transaction throughput.

By utilizing zkRollups, RuneVM can handle a large number of transactions in a single batch, which are then rolled up into a compact proof. This proof is verified on the Bitcoin mainnet, ensuring the integrity and security of the transactions without burdening the network with excessive data. This method not only enhances scalability but also maintains the security guarantees of the underlying blockchain.