Welcome to our deep dive series on the Metal Blockchain!
In this series, we will be taking an in-depth look at the various components and features of the Metal Blockchain. We will explain the Layer 0 concept, explore the history of consensus mechanisms, and why the Metal Blockchain employs Avalanche protocols as the latest advancement in consensus technology.
We’ll also take an in-depth look at the flow of a single blockchain on the Metal Blockchain, the underlying components, such as the Virtual Machine, Subnets, and the $METAL token, including its tokenomics, fee burns, fee schedule, and staking rewards.
Decentralized independent governance model
This series aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Metal Blockchain for both experienced and new users. Join us as we delve into the technical details and discover the unique advantages of the Metal Blockchain.
In the third article of our deep dive series, we will explore the concept of subnets in the context of the Metal Blockchain. We will describe the properties and options of subnets, as well as the four built-in blockchains that make up the Primary Network.
Metal Blockchain is a decentralized network that uses a subnet architecture to enable high-throughput, low-latency, and secure transactions. The subnet architecture of the Metal Blockchain allows it to process thousands of transactions per second, making it faster and more efficient than many other blockchain networks.
By understanding the role of subnets in the Metal Blockchain, we can gain insight into the capabilities and potential of this decentralized network. Let's dive in and take a closer look at the subnet architecture on the Metal Blockchain.
Subnets are designed for scalability
The Metal Blockchain's design enables an infinite number of subnets to be deployed, each capable of processing 4,500 transactions per second, theoretically allowing for unlimited total transactions per second across all subnets.
This unique approach to scalability ensures that the Metal Blockchain can handle a massive volume of transactions, making it a highly efficient and scalable solution for decentralized applications and enterprise blockchain deployments.
Metal Blockchain’s Subnet Architecture
In the subnet architecture of the Metal Blockchain, the network can be divided into several smaller networks, or subnets, which operate independently of each other. Each subnet is responsible for processing transactions and maintaining its own ledger of data. This allows for parallel processing of transactions, which increases the overall speed and throughput of the network.
Additionally, the subnet architecture of the Metal Blockchain allows for the deployment of different types of consensus algorithms on different subnets. This allows for flexibility and customization within the network, as different subnets can use different algorithms depending on their specific needs.
In the Metal Blockchain network, a subnet is a sovereign network that defines its own rules for membership and token economics. It is made up of a dynamic group of Metal Blockchain validators who work together to reach consensus on the state of one or more blockchains.
Each blockchain is validated by a single subnet, and a subnet can have multiple blockchains. Validators can be members of multiple subnets.
All validators in a subnet must also validate the Primary Network of the Metal Blockchain. This ensures that the entire network is secure and that all subnets are in agreement on the state of the network.
The Primary Network
Metal Blockchain has four built-in blockchains: the Proton Chain (A-Chain), the Platform Chain (P-Chain), the Contract Chain (C-Chain), and the Exchange Chain (X-Chain). These blockchains are validated and secured by all the validators on the Metal blockchain, which make up a special subnet known as the Primary Network.
The Proton Chain
The Proton Chain (A-Chain) allows for the creation and use of smart contracts in C++ and Typescript. It implements the Antelope Virtual Machine (AVM), allowing developers to easily deploy Proton-based dApps on the Metal Blockchain. The A-Chain uses the Snowman consensus protocol.
Proton is built to handle payments, decentralized finance, dApps, DAOs, and payment messaging (Banks, PSPs, Fintechs) with a higher resource efficiency.
The Contract Chain
The Contract Chain (C-Chain) allows for the creation and use of smart contracts. It implements a modified version of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing developers to easily deploy Ethereum-based dApps on the Metal Blockchain. The C-Chain uses the Snowman consensus protocol.
The Platform Chain
The Platform Chain (P-Chain) coordinates validators, creates and manages subnets, and allows for individual blockchains (permissioned or permissionless) to launch on the Metal Blockchain. It also enables cross-communication between different internal blockchains. The P-Chain uses the Snowman consensus protocol.
The Exchange Chain
The Exchange Chain (X-Chain) is used to create and transfer digital assets. It allows for peer-to-peer transactions and cross-chain subnet transfers, and it uses the Avalanche consensus protocol to secure the network.
Subnets are independent entities
Subnets in the Metal Blockchain network are independent entities that specify their own execution logic, determine their own fee structure, maintain their own state, facilitate their own networking, and provide their own security.
They do not share execution threads, storage, or networking with other subnets, including the Primary Network. This allows the network to easily scale up while providing lower latency, higher transactions per second (TPS), and lower transaction costs.
Each subnet has its own unique characteristics and can be customized to suit the needs of the specific blockchain or application it is supporting. This independence and flexibility allow for a wide range of uses and applications on the Metal Blockchain network.
Subnets in the Metal Blockchain network have the ability to define their own token economics, including the use of native tokens and fee markets. They can also launch their own blockchains with customized virtual machines, allowing for a wide range of applications and uses on the network.
This flexibility and customization allows subnets to tailor their operations to suit their specific needs and requirements. It also enables a diverse range of applications and use cases on the Metal Blockchain network, from decentralized finance (DeFi) to gaming and beyond.
Compliance for subnets
The subnet architecture of the Metal Blockchain makes it easy to manage regulatory compliance. As mentioned earlier, a subnet can require its validators to meet certain requirements, such as being located in a specific country, passing KYC/AML checks, or holding a certain license.
This flexibility allows subnets to tailor their operations to comply with local regulations and requirements. It also enables the creation of subnets that are specifically designed for compliance, making it easy to ensure that transactions on the Metal Blockchain network are conducted in a legal and compliant manner.
It's important to note that the examples provided above do not apply to the Primary Network of the Metal Blockchain.
Application-specific requirements
The flexibility of the subnet architecture in Metal Blockchain allows for the creation of subnets that meet the specific requirements of different applications. For example, a blockchain application may require a large amount of RAM or CPU power to operate effectively. In this case, a subnet could require that its validators have the necessary hardware capabilities to support the application and avoid performance issues.
This ability to customize subnets to meet the needs of specific applications is a key advantage of the Metal Blockchain. It enables the creation of subnets that are optimized for different types of applications, ensuring that they can operate efficiently and effectively on the network.
Support for private blockchains
The subnet architecture of the Metal Blockchains allows for the creation of private subnets, where only certain predefined validators are allowed to join. This is useful for organizations that want to keep their information private, as the contents of the blockchains on these private subnets would only be visible to the validators who are members of the subnet.
This ability to create private subnets is a valuable feature of the Metal Blockchain, as it enables organizations to securely and privately conduct transactions and maintain their data on the decentralized network. It also allows for the creation of customized, permissioned networks that can be tailored to the specific needs of different organizations.
In the following deep dive article, we will examine the history of consensus mechanisms and explore why the Metal Blockchain employs Avalanche protocols as the latest advancement in consensus technology.
