The highly anticipated Leap 5 version is about to be released and is poised to further advance the EOS network with a series of enhancements designed to provide unparalleled value to developers, API providers and node operators alike. This iteration of Leap offers significant improvements in speed, efficiency, control, and flexibility.
In the pursuit of excellence, EOS network engineers are committed to thinking deeply to ensure that every feature meets our high standards. After thorough research, everyone concluded that Instant Finality, originally scheduled for Leap 5, will be available in a subsequent version.
The main challenge facing any blockchain system is to ensure that all honest nodes in the network agree on the precise order of transactions to be processed. This agreement is critical because it enables nodes to replicate deterministic computations to achieve the same state at a given block height. This complex problem is often referred to as consensus, and multiple approaches have been explored over the years to solve it, some of which even predate the advent of blockchain technology. While we have learned a lot from existing consensus research, the needs of public blockchain networks require the incorporation of strict properties in consensus algorithms that have not been fully considered by traditionally available algorithms.
The Antelope Protocol’s current consensus algorithm has been the cornerstone of our ecosystem for more than five years. It was cutting-edge at the time, providing groundbreaking features for the blockchain field, such as true finality of transactions; however, it also had its limitations. A significant limitation of our current consensus algorithm is its linear scalability with the number of active block producers (BPs). In practical terms, this means that although EOS's block time is only 0.5 seconds, with 21 BP, the finalization time is extended to approximately 3 minutes. Furthermore, if the number of BPs is doubled to 42, the finalization time is also doubled to approximately 6 minutes.
EOS has always been at the forefront of blockchain solutions, and recent advances in consensus algorithm research have mitigated some of EOS’ current limitations. Using an algorithm called HotStuff, we can remove the linear scaling constraint. We have an early proof of concept that demonstrates finality in seconds while scaling to a larger number of block producers. However, to adopt this algorithm to meet the higher demands of a public blockchain environment, we must go beyond the academic literature. In fact, we are in the process of formulating a new consensus algorithm that builds on the core ideas of the HotStuff algorithm. In doing so, we must take on the responsibility of protecting the security and effectiveness of the consensus algorithm. Frankly, we will prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the blockchain is secure and double-spending is not possible. In addition, we will continue to build software that meets the highest standards and operates uninterrupted.
We want to emphasize that we must conduct thorough and comprehensive analysis and testing to ensure that the new consensus algorithm has the necessary safety and liveness properties. For such a critical component of the EOS network, our assurance thresholds require mathematically rigorous proofs that the new consensus algorithm has the required properties. We are steadfast in our commitment to maintaining uninterrupted operations for EOS for more than five years. We are resolute in ensuring that the software integral to the core operations of the EOS network is extensively tested to mitigate any potential risks.
We greatly value your understanding and patience as we iteratively refine the algorithm and its implementation, rigorously test the software, and generate mathematical proofs for subsequent peer review. Rest assured that we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering products that meet the highest standards of reliability and trustworthiness.
Leap 5 will greatly enhance the EOS network, providing a solid foundation for future consensus upgrades required to incorporate Leap 6, while still providing significant improvements for developers, API providers, and node operators. This update focuses on four main themes: loosening constraints, increasing speed, improving efficiency, and enhancing control.
Leap 5 modifies the behavior controlled by two parameters that restrict the execution of smart contracts.
The first parameter, max-nonprivileged-inline-action-size, was removed in Leap 5 so that the only constraint on the size of inline actions comes from a target limit (max_inline_action_size) managed on-chain.
In practice, this change means that smart contracts can send larger payloads through inline operations when communicating with other contracts. For example, the new call operation of the EOS EVM can be used to deploy EVM contracts larger than 4 KiB in size in EOS smart contracts.
The second parameter is max-transaction-time, which has been given a new default value so that the transaction clock deadline is effectively driven by the target limit (max_transaction_cpu_usage) managed on-chain.
In practice, this change means that transactions can complete more work in the longer time allotted to them. For example, the EOS EVM can take advantage of the relaxed transaction clock deadlines to successfully execute more computationally intensive EVM transactions that might have previously been rejected.
Leap 5 promises to speed up ABI-bound requests by up to 4x through non-blocking deserialization. It also scales up read-only transactions through parallel processing with up to 128 threads.
Additionally, EOS VM OC can now also be used to better optimize select smart contracts to execute the same smart contract code in a shorter time window. This optimization is currently limited to trusted smart contracts deployed to accounts whose names begin with the "eosio." prefix.
EOS EVM smart contracts are deployed on accounts with the prefix “eosio.” This means that the EOS EVM can take advantage of optimizations to increase speed. This provides more ways for computationally intensive EVM transactions to complete within the constraints of the transaction clock deadline.
Thanks to Leap 5’s features like simplified synchronization and memory-optimized chainbase, the Antelope network becomes more cost-effective, reducing state memory consumption by approximately 20%.
Node operators gain enhanced control options, including custom node settings, the ability to resolve peer challenges through Prometheus logging, and benefit from efficient, secure local-only connections.
As we enter the era of Leap 5, the EOS network is marked by unique improvements tailored for developers, API providers, and node operators. The new version harmoniously combines enhanced performance, scalability, and efficiency to precisely meet the different needs of users.
Developers will enjoy an environment that expands the scope of transactions, paving the way for complex computations and interactions between contracts.
For API providers, Leap 5 is synonymous with performance. With increased read capacity, APIs are not only faster, but also have unparalleled reliability and scalability. In line with the spirit of speed and efficiency, every interaction is designed to be seamless.
Node operators have not been left behind in this transformation journey. Leap 5’s promise of increased transaction processing efficiency is a testament to its engineering prowess. With a reduced memory footprint and richer control over the network, node operators gain access to tools that are not only powerful, but also intuitive and responsive.
Some enhancements, while present in the Leap 5 software, are protocol-level features and cannot be used until the corresponding protocol features are activated. While EOS will not be undergoing a consensus-level upgrade this year, these enhancements are still available for early adoption by any Antelope chain (especially test chains).
The new host functions allow smart contracts to perform mathematical operations using the BLS12–381 elliptic curve. Once activated, smart contracts can use these host functions for a variety of applications, including the new zero-knowledge proof system.
We began disabling delayed transactions on the EOS network by first requiring node operators to change a configuration option that modified the behavior of their block producing nodes so that Leap nodes would not allow delayed transactions to successfully complete within their produced blocks. Leap 5 takes the next step in this process by enforcing the behavior change in code. Leap 5 block producing nodes will block delayed transactions from being included in any new user submissions.
Leap 5 also introduces a new protocol feature that, when activated, will complete the process of disabling deferred transactions by changing the protocol rules so that no new deferred transactions are added to the blockchain and any existing deferred transactions are quickly canceled as expired.
We have outlined the major enhancements that Leap 5 brings to developers, API providers, and node operators. Each of these improvements reflects our commitment to continually evolving the EOS network, ensuring it is not only robust, but also efficient and user-friendly.
And it’s all still being iterated on. Our adaptability stems from our strategic commitment to balancing innovation with the highest standards of reliability and performance that are unique to the EOS network. In this spirit, we will continue to refine features such as Instant Finality, currently scheduled for release in Leap 6, in line with our usual fall consensus upgrade (hard fork) release cadence.
Stay tuned for upcoming articles that will dive deeper into each of the Leap 5 features outlined now. Our goal is to provide clear, in-depth, and detailed information to keep our community fully informed and engaged in the development of the EOS network. We appreciate your patience and anticipation for the innovations to come.
Check out the recent Antelope Alliance call where representatives from alliance chains EOS, WAX, UX Network, and Telos dived into more details of the Leap 5 consensus update.
The EOS network is a model of the blockchain 3.0 era, powered by EOS VM. EOS VM is a low-latency, high-performance and scalable WebAssembly engine that enables near-invisible deterministic transaction execution. The EOS network is designed for Web3 and is committed to achieving the best Web3 user and developer experience. EOS is the flagship blockchain and financial center of the Antelope protocol, and through the EOS Network Foundation (ENF) as a tool for multi-chain collaboration and the development of public infrastructure products, it further improves the infrastructure and drives the rapid development of EOS.
EOS EVM is a simulation of Ethereum EVM and resides in EOS smart contracts. EOS EVM will provide the same functionality as other EVMs in the field, but with unparalleled speed, performance, and compatibility advantages. EOS EVM connects the EOS ecosystem with the Ethereum ecosystem, allowing developers to deploy a large number of Solidity-based digital assets and innovative dApps on EOS. Developers can use EOS EVM to take advantage of Ethereum's battle-tested open source code, tools, libraries, and SDKs while taking advantage of EOS's superior performance.
The EOS Network Foundation (ENF) was created to create a prosperous, decentralized future for the EOS ecosystem. ENF is ushering in a new round of Web3 change by encouraging active participation from key stakeholders in the EOS ecosystem, supporting community projects, providing ecosystem funding, and supporting the construction of an open technology ecosystem. As the center of the EOS network and a leading open source platform, ENF was founded in 2021 and has a stable set of frameworks, tools, and blockchain deployment libraries. Together, we have achieved innovation in community building and are committed to creating a stronger future for all.
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