Nomos/Requirements

Software Requirements Specification

for Nomos: A Privacy-Preserving Multi-Chain Heterogeneous Blockchain Network

Version 1.0 Prepared by Jarrad Hope 29-12-24

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

This Software Requirements Specification (SRS) document provides a detailed description of the Nomos blockchain network. It outlines the functional and non-functional requirements for a privacy-preserving multi-chain heterogeneous blockchain network designed to serve as infrastructure for Network States.

As such the sovereignty of the system is paramount, requiring privacy through all layers of a typical Blockchain network - network level privacy, validator & consensus privacy, mempool privacy, transaction privacy, bridging/intent privacy, etc.

Consequentially, the network participants create a decentralised authority - a digital parliamentary sovereign, and become ‘Subject-Individuals’ who are bestowed Civil Liberties.

1.2 Document Conventions

This document uses the following conventions:

• MUST/REQUIRED - Indicates mandatory requirements for MVP
• SHOULD/RECOMMENDED - Indicates requirements for subsequent releases
• MAY/OPTIONAL - Indicates optional features

Terms in italics are defined in the glossary.

1.3 Intended Audience and Reading Suggestions

This document is intended for:

• Developers implementing the Nomos protocol
• Validators and node operators
• Network State builders and application developers
• Security auditors and researchers

Readers should start with Section 1 for an overview, then:

• Developers should focus on Sections 3 and 4
• Node operators should focus on Sections 2.4 and 5
• Application developers should focus on Sections 2.2 and 4.3
• Security auditors should focus on Sections 4.4 and 5.2

1.4 Product Scope

The Nomos module is a blockchain network designed to serve as foundational infrastructure for Network States. Its key objectives are:

• Enable privacy-preserving blockchain transactions and computations
• Support multiple sovereign execution environments (Zones)
• Provide censorship resistance through network-level privacy
• Ensure high network resilience through decentralization
• Enable trust-minimized communication between Zones
• Support light client verification

The system aims to overcome limitations of existing blockchain networks by providing comprehensive privacy at every layer:

• Network level: Private P2P communication through libp2p-mix
• Consensus level: Private Proof of Stake through Blend Network & Cryptarchia
• Mempool level: Private transaction propagation
• Execution level: Privacy-preserving computation in Zones
• Cross-zone level: Private cross-zone communication (bridging and intent matching)
• Light client level: Private verification capabilities

This is achieved through:

• Modular architecture separating consensus, execution, and data availability
• Sovereign zones with flexible configurations
• Multiple specialized privacy systems working together

1.5 References

• Nomos Darkpaper v0.6
• Nomos Blend Network Documentation
• Cryptarchia Protocol Specification
• Native Zones Documentation
• IEEE 830-1998 Recommended Practice for Software Requirements Specifications

2. Overall Description

2.1 Product Perspective

Nomos is a novel blockchain system composed of three main layers:

1. Base Layer (BL)

• Provides data availability and consensus
• Implements Private Proof of Stake
• Focuses on network resilience and censorship resistance
• Scales through sharding and data availability sampling

1. Coordination Layer (CL)

• Enables state transition verification through zero-knowledge proofs
• Provides intent matching and proof aggregation
• Handles cross-zone communication
• Manages special operations like zone creation

1. Zones

• Independent execution environments
• Can be configured as ZK-rollups or virtual sidechains
• Share data availability and consensus from Base Layer
• Support arbitrary execution models and privacy requirements

The system is verified by a network of Light Nodes that provide additional security and decentralization.

2.2 Product Functions

The major functions of Nomos include:

Base Layer MUST:

• Execute Private Proof of Stake consensus through Blend Network & Cryptarchia
• Provide data availability guarantees
• Enable network-level privacy through the libp2p-mix module
• Support sharding for scalability
• Process and order data blobs

Coordination Layer MUST:

• Verify zero-knowledge proofs
• Enable cross-zone communication
• Manage zone lifecycle operations
• Support intent matching and aggregation
• Process special operations

Zones MUST:

• Support independent state execution
• Enable flexible security/performance tradeoffs
• Allow arbitrary execution models
• Support privacy-preserving computation
• Enable data availability sampling

2.3 User Classes and Characteristics

The system serves the following user classes, who collectively participate in network governance:

1. Validators

• Operate nodes in the Base Layer and Coordination Layer
• Require technical knowledge to run nodes
• Need to stake tokens as security deposit
• Participate in consensus and verification
• Contribute to network security and decentralization

1. Zone Operators

• Deploy and manage sovereign execution environments
• Require deep technical knowledge
• Need to ensure zone security and performance
• May implement custom privacy features
• Enable sovereign community governance

1. Application Developers

• Build applications on zones
• Need to understand zone capabilities
• Implement corruption-resistant institutions
• Interact with cross-zone communication
• Create tools for community coordination

1. End Users

• Interact with applications built on zones
• Run light nodes for verification
• Require privacy protections
• Need simple interfaces
• Participate in network validation and governance

2.4 Operating Environment

The Base Layer MUST:

• Support commodity hardware for validators
• Operate on standard Linux/Unix systems
• Support home internet connections
• Handle intermittent connectivity

The Coordination Layer MUST:

• Support specialized hardware for proof generation
• Operate on high-performance systems
• Handle high bandwidth requirements
• Support distributed proof generation

Zones MAY:

• Require specialized hardware
• Implement custom networking protocols
• Support different consensus mechanisms
• Have unique performance requirements

2.5 Design and Implementation Constraints

The system has the following constraints:

1. Required Privacy Constraints (MVP)

• Network communication MUST be privacy-preserving through libp2p-mix
• Validator stakes MUST remain private through Blend Network
• Block proposers MUST remain anonymous through Cryptarchia
• Cross-zone communication MUST support basic privacy guarantees
• Intent matching SHOULD preserve privacy where possible

1. Performance Constraints (MVP)

• Base Layer MUST support commodity hardware
• Light nodes MUST operate with minimal resources
• Proof generation MUST be practical
• Network bandwidth usage MUST be optimized
• Message mixing overhead MUST be manageable

1. Security Constraints (MVP)

• No trusted setup for core protocol
• No centralized components
• Basic cryptographic primitives MUST be proven secure
• Security MUST scale with network size
• Privacy guarantees MUST be maintained under partial compromise

1. Compatibility Constraints (MVP)

• MUST support different zone architectures
• MUST enable cross-zone communication
• MUST support core privacy technologies
• MUST enable sovereign execution environments
• MUST allow flexible privacy/performance tradeoffs

2.6 User Documentation

The following documentation MUST be provided:

• Node operator guides
• Zone deployment documentation
• Application development guides
• Light node user guides
• Protocol specifications
• Security documentation

2.7 Assumptions and Dependencies

Assumptions:

• Cryptographic primitives remain secure
• Network bandwidth continues to increase
• Hardware costs continue to decrease
• Privacy remains a priority for users

Dependencies:

• Required Privacy Technologies:

 * Zero-knowledge proof systems for state verification
 * Message mixing and blending for consensus privacy
 * Cover traffic generation for anonymity sets
 * Private P2P communication protocols

• Recommended Privacy Enhancements:

 * Intent privacy techniques
 * Relationship hiding mechanisms
 * Advanced cryptographic primitives

• Core Infrastructure:

 * Data availability sampling
 * Distributed key generation
 * Threshold cryptography

3. External Interface Requirements

3.1 User Interfaces

The system MUST provide the following interfaces:

1. Validator Node Interface

• Command line interface for node operation
• Configuration management interface
• Monitoring and metrics interface
• Key management interface

1. Zone Operator Interface

• Zone deployment interface
• Zone management interface
• State transition interface
• Cross-zone communication interface

1. Developer Interface

• Zone development SDK
• Smart contract interfaces
• Privacy-preserving computation interfaces
• Cross-zone communication APIs

1. Light Node Interface

• Simple setup interface
• Verification interface
• Network coordination interface
• Data availability sampling interface

3.2 Hardware Interfaces

Base Layer Nodes MUST:

• Support commodity CPU hardware
• Support standard network interfaces
• Support standard storage interfaces
• Support consumer-grade memory

Coordination Layer Nodes MUST:

• Support specialized proof generation hardware
• Support high-bandwidth network interfaces
• Support high-performance storage
• Support sufficient memory for proof generation

Zone Nodes MAY:

• Require specialized hardware
• Support custom networking hardware
• Implement specific storage requirements
• Need high-performance memory

3.3 Software Interfaces

The system MUST provide:

1. Network Protocol Interfaces

• P2P networking modules, i.e. libp2p-mix (for network privacy)
• Blend Network modules:

 * PTM (validator connections and drop messages)
 * MBM (consensus message mixing and timing)
 * CTM (cover traffic generation)

• Data availability protocols
• Cross-zone communication protocols

1. Cryptographic Interfaces

• Zero-knowledge proof systems
• Threshold encryption systems
• Key management systems
• Commitment schemes

1. Storage Interfaces

• Data availability storage
• State storage
• Proof storage
• Configuration storage

1. Development Interfaces

• Zone development frameworks
• Smart contract languages
• Privacy-preserving computation tools
• Cross-zone communication libraries

3.4 Communications Interfaces

The system MUST implement:

1. Network-Level Communication

• Privacy-preserving P2P protocols through libp2p-mix module
• Consensus privacy as Blend Network protocol
• Data availability sampling
• Consensus communication as Cryptarchia

1. Cross-Zone Communication

• Trust-minimized bridging
• Message passing protocols
• State verification
• Atomic operations

1. Light Node Communication

• Data availability verification
• Proof verification
• Network coordination
• Exit protocols

4. System Features

4.1 Base Layer

4.1.1 Private Proof of Stake

Description: The Base Layer MUST implement a Private Proof of Stake consensus mechanism that preserves validator privacy and prevents targeted attacks.

Functional Requirements:

PPOS-001: Validator Privacy

• The system MUST implement basic privacy:

 * Hide validator stakes through Blend Network
 * Preserve block proposer anonymity
 * Prevent stake deanonymization attacks
 * Maintain validator metadata privacy

• The system SHOULD support enhanced privacy:

 * Advanced timing analysis protection
 * Enhanced anonymity set generation
 * Improved network attack resistance

PPOS-002: Consensus Security

• The system MUST provide basic security:

 * Prevent stake grinding attacks
 * Ensure fair block production
 * Maintain consensus finality
 * Handle network partitions

• The system SHOULD implement advanced security:

 * Quantum attack resistance
 * Eclipse attack prevention
 * Advanced fork choice rules
 * Complex partition handling

PPOS-003: Network Resilience

• The system MUST ensure basic resilience:

 * Support commodity hardware validators
 * Handle intermittent connectivity
 * Recover from network failures
 * Maintain liveness under attack

• The system SHOULD provide enhanced resilience:

 * Advanced recovery mechanisms
 * Dynamic attack mitigation
 * Adaptive network topology
 * Self-healing capabilities

4.1.2 Data Availability

Description: The Base Layer MUST provide scalable data availability with light client verification capabilities.

Functional Requirements:

DAS-001: Data Sampling and Verification

• The system MUST implement basic sampling:

 * Efficient data availability sampling
 * Light client verification support
 * Sample size optimization
 * Verification latency targets

• The system SHOULD support advanced sampling:

 * Adaptive sample sizes
 * Enhanced verification methods
 * Optimized proof generation
 * Advanced fraud proofs

DAS-002: Data Organization

• The system MUST implement basic sharding:

 * Data segmentation and distribution
 * Cross-shard verification
 * Shard synchronization
 * Data redundancy management

• The system SHOULD support advanced sharding:

 * Dynamic shard allocation
 * Cross-shard optimization
 * Adaptive redundancy
 * Load balancing

DAS-003: Data Integrity and Recovery

• The system MUST ensure basic integrity:

 * Data reconstruction capabilities
 * Integrity verification
 * Error detection and correction
 * Bandwidth optimization

• The system SHOULD implement advanced features:

 * Advanced reconstruction methods
 * Enhanced error correction
 * Optimized bandwidth usage
 * Proactive integrity checks

4.1.3 Network and Consensus Privacy

Description: The Base Layer MUST implement two complementary privacy systems:

• Required for MVP:

 * Nomos Blend Network: A specialized privacy system for Private Proof of Stake with three modules:
   * PTM (Persistent Transmission Module): Manages validator connections and drop messages
   * MBM (Message Blending Module): Processes consensus messages through mixing and timing obfuscation
   * CTM (Cover Traffic Module): Generates anonymity sets through cover messages
 * libp2p-mix: A P2P networking module for general network privacy

• Future Enhancements:

 * Advanced timing analysis protection
 * Enhanced anonymity set generation
 * Improved network attack resistance

Functional Requirements:

BNP-001: Persistent Transmission Module

• The system MUST maintain persistent validator connections with basic privacy:

 * Establish and maintain secure validator connections
 * Handle drop messages for connection privacy
 * Monitor connection quality and health
 * Manage connection lifecycles securely

• The system SHOULD implement advanced connection features:

 * Dynamic connection management based on network conditions
 * Enhanced privacy through adaptive drop message rates
 * Advanced connection health monitoring and recovery
 * Optimized connection resource management

BNP-002: Message Blending Module

• The system MUST process and blend consensus messages:

 * Process consensus messages through mixing
 * Implement basic timing analysis protection
 * Integrate fully with Cryptarchia protocol
 * Maintain message timing obfuscation

• The system SHOULD enhance message privacy:

 * Advanced timing analysis protection mechanisms
 * Enhanced message mixing algorithms
 * Complex timing pattern obfuscation
 * Optimized message processing and blending

BNP-003: Cover Traffic Module

• The system MUST generate minimum required cover traffic:

 * Generate and maintain cover message streams
 * Create sufficient anonymity sets
 * Optimize resource usage for cover traffic
 * Balance privacy and bandwidth usage

• The system SHOULD implement advanced cover traffic:

 * Dynamic cover traffic generation based on network activity
 * Enhanced anonymity set management
 * Advanced traffic pattern obfuscation
 * Efficient resource utilization strategies

BNP-004: Network Privacy Integration

• The system MUST provide network-level privacy:

 * Network-level privacy for non-consensus messages
 * Basic private P2P communication capabilities
 * Private data dissemination mechanisms
 * Basic traffic analysis protection

• The system SHOULD enhance network privacy:

 * Advanced traffic analysis protection
 * Optimized cover traffic generation
 * Larger anonymity set maintenance
 * Improved network attack resistance

4.2 Coordination Layer

4.2.1 Zero-Knowledge Verification

Description: The Coordination Layer MUST provide efficient zero-knowledge proof verification for state transitions and cross-zone communication.

Functional Requirements:

ZKV-001: Proof Verification Core

• The system MUST implement basic verification:

 * Efficient ZK proof verification
 * Support for multiple proving systems
 * Basic proof validity checks
 * Verification cost optimization

• The system SHOULD support advanced verification:

 * Hardware-accelerated verification
 * Parallel proof verification
 * Advanced validity checks
 * Dynamic cost optimization

ZKV-002: Proof Aggregation

• The system MUST support basic aggregation:

 * Proof batching and combining
 * Cross-zone proof aggregation
 * Aggregation validity checks
 * Resource usage optimization

• The system SHOULD implement advanced aggregation:

 * Dynamic batch sizing
 * Multi-layer aggregation
 * Complex validity preservation
 * Enhanced resource efficiency

ZKV-003: System Evolution

• The system MUST handle basic updates:

 * Proof system upgrades
 * Parameter updates
 * Backward compatibility
 * Version management

• The system SHOULD support advanced features:

 * Zero-downtime upgrades
 * Seamless version transitions
 * Cross-version compatibility
 * Update verification guarantees

4.2.2 Intent Solving

Description: The Coordination Layer MUST provide private intent matching and solving capabilities that preserve user privacy while enabling efficient cross-zone transaction processing.

Functional Requirements:

ISM-001: Intent Matching Core

• The system MUST implement basic matching:

 * Match compatible intents efficiently
 * Ensure atomic execution across zones
 * Handle partial transactions
 * Support different intent types

• The system SHOULD support advanced matching:

 * Dynamic matching optimization
 * Complex intent compatibility rules
 * Multi-party intent matching
 * Resource-aware matching

ISM-002: Intent Privacy

• The system SHOULD provide basic privacy:

 * Basic intent privacy during matching
 * Simple relationship hiding
 * Minimal information disclosure
 * Privacy-preserving validation

• The system SHOULD implement enhanced privacy:

 * Advanced intent obfuscation
 * Complex relationship hiding
 * Zero-knowledge intent matching
 * Privacy-preserving optimization

ISM-003: Cross-Zone Coordination

• The system MUST enable basic coordination:

 * Cross-zone atomic execution
 * Basic state synchronization
 * Intent propagation
 * Failure handling

• The system SHOULD support advanced features:

 * Complex atomic operations
 * Advanced state management
 * Optimized propagation
 * Comprehensive failure recovery

4.3 Zones

4.3.1 Execution Environments

Description: Zones MUST provide flexible and sovereign execution environments with configurable security and performance characteristics.

Functional Requirements:

ZEE-001: Virtual Machine Support

• The system MUST provide support VM capabilities
• The system SHOULD enable VM extensibility:

 * Zero-knowledge virtual machine integration
 * Multi-party computation environments
 * Hardware-accelerated execution environments
 * Domain-specific VM optimization

ZEE-002: Consensus and State Management

• The system MUST enable sovereign execution:

 * Independent consensus mechanism selection
 * State transition rule customization
 * Cross-zone state verification
 * State sovereignty preservation

• The system SHOULD support execution evolution:

 * Consensus mechanism upgrades
 * State transition rule modifications
 * Cross-zone state synchronization
 * State recovery mechanisms

ZEE-003: Privacy and Scalability

• The system MUST implement execution privacy:

 * Private state transitions
 * Confidential smart contracts
 * Selective state disclosure
 * Private cross-zone interactions

• The system SHOULD enable execution scaling:

 * Parallel transaction processing
 * State sharding capabilities
 * Cross-zone execution optimization
 * Resource utilization management

4.4 Network Privacy

Description: The system MUST implement comprehensive network-level privacy through libp2p-mix and Blend Network protocols to prevent traffic analysis and protect validator identities.

Functional Requirements:

NWP-001: Network Communication Privacy

• The system MUST implement private P2P communication:

 * Encrypted peer connections through libp2p-mix
 * Private peer discovery mechanisms
 * Network topology obfuscation
 * Traffic pattern hiding

• The system SHOULD enhance network privacy:

 * Dynamic peer selection strategies
 * Advanced routing algorithms
 * Network partition resistance
 * Topology optimization

NWP-002: Traffic Analysis Protection

• The system MUST prevent traffic analysis:

 * Message size normalization
 * Timing pattern obfuscation
 * Flow correlation prevention
 * Cover traffic integration

• The system SHOULD implement enhanced protections:

 * Adaptive traffic shaping
 * Dynamic cover traffic generation
 * Advanced timing obfuscation
 * Flow fingerprint resistance

NWP-003: Network Resilience

• The system MUST provide network resilience:

 * Peer connection redundancy
 * Network attack resistance
 * Failure recovery mechanisms
 * Byzantine fault tolerance

• The system SHOULD enable advanced resilience:

 * Self-healing network topology
 * Dynamic route optimization
 * Attack mitigation strategies
 * Automated recovery procedures

4.5 Cross-Zone Communication

Description: The system MUST provide secure and private cross-zone communication through two complementary mechanisms:

• Trust-minimized bridging through the Coordination Layer for verifiable state transitions
• Direct message passing between zones with Base Layer fallback for data availability

Functional Requirements:

CZC-001: Trust-Minimized Bridging

• The system MUST implement bridging through Coordination Layer:

 * Zero-knowledge state transition verification
 * Cross-zone transaction atomicity
 * State commitment verification
 * Bridge security guarantees
 * Atomic intent execution

• The system SHOULD support bridge evolution:

 * Multi-zone atomic operations
 * Optimized proof generation
 * Enhanced bridge security
 * Efficient state verification
 * Advanced bridging protocols

CZC-002: Message Passing Protocol

• The system MUST enable direct zone communication:

 * Reliable message delivery guarantees
 * Base Layer fallback mechanisms
 * Message ordering preservation
 * Communication failure recovery
 * State synchronization protocols

• The system SHOULD enhance messaging capabilities:

 * Optimized message routing
 * Advanced failure detection
 * Efficient state synchronization
 * Resource-aware communication
 * Dynamic routing optimization

CZC-003: Privacy Preservation

• The system MUST protect cross-zone privacy:

 * Transaction source/destination hiding
 * State transition confidentiality
 * Relationship metadata protection
 * Communication pattern obfuscation
 * Intent privacy preservation

• The system SHOULD implement privacy enhancements:

 * Zero-knowledge message passing
 * Enhanced metadata protection
 * Advanced pattern hiding
 * Cross-zone anonymity sets
 * Relationship hiding protocols

4.6 Light Node Network

Description: The Light Node Network MUST provide efficient verification capabilities while minimizing resource requirements, enabling users to validate the network’s integrity without running full nodes.

Functional Requirements:

LNV-001: Data Availability Verification

• The system MUST enable light client verification:

 * Data availability sampling verification
 * Fraud proof validation
 * Sample size management
 * Bandwidth-efficient verification
 * Resource usage optimization

• The system SHOULD support verification enhancements:

 * Adaptive sampling strategies
 * Optimized proof validation
 * Enhanced fraud detection
 * Network-aware sampling
 * Dynamic sample size adjustment

LNV-002: Zero-Knowledge Proof Validation

• The system MUST support proof verification:

 * Zone state transition validation
 * Cross-zone communication verification
 * Selective proof verification
 * Resource-efficient validation
 * Proof aggregation verification

• The system SHOULD enable advanced validation:

 * Parallel proof verification
 * Proof aggregation validation
 * Optimized verification paths
 * Hardware acceleration support
 * Batched proof verification

LNV-003: Network Security

• The system MUST provide security features:

 * Secure network exit protocol implementation
 * Verifiable data reconstruction mechanisms
 * Decentralized coordination protocol
 * Byzantine fault detection
 * Network partition handling

• The system SHOULD enable advanced security:

 * Automated exit coordination
 * Enhanced data reconstruction
 * Advanced fault detection
 * Network attack resistance
 * Self-healing mechanisms

5. Other Nonfunctional Requirements

5.1 Performance Requirements

1. Base Layer Performance

• MUST support at least 10,000 validators
• MUST process at least 1000 transactions per second
• MUST maintain block times under 2 seconds
• MUST support home internet bandwidth limits
• SHOULD optimize proof verification costs
• SHOULD minimize state growth

1. Coordination Layer Performance

• MUST verify proofs within 100ms
• MUST handle proof aggregation efficiently
• MUST support parallel proof generation
• MUST optimize cross-zone communication
• SHOULD minimize proof sizes
• SHOULD optimize intent matching

1. Zone Performance

• MUST support custom performance requirements
• MUST handle state transitions efficiently
• MUST optimize cross-zone operations
• MUST support parallel execution
• SHOULD enable horizontal scaling
• SHOULD minimize resource usage

5.2 Security Requirements

1. Required Network Security (MVP)

• MUST prevent stake deanonymization through Blend Network
• MUST prevent traffic analysis through libp2p-mix
• MUST ensure message privacy for consensus
• MUST prevent targeted attacks on validators
• MUST protect against basic network attacks

1. Required Cryptographic Security (MVP)

• MUST use proven cryptographic primitives
• MUST ensure proof soundness for state verification
• MUST protect private keys and validator identities
• MUST implement secure message mixing
• MUST ensure atomic cross-zone operations

1. Required Protocol Security (MVP)

• MUST prevent double spending
• MUST ensure consensus safety
• MUST handle byzantine behavior
• MUST protect against grinding attacks
• MUST maintain validator anonymity

1. Enhanced Security (Future)

• SHOULD resist quantum attacks
• SHOULD prevent eclipse attacks
• SHOULD support key rotation
• SHOULD implement forward secrecy
• SHOULD prevent MEV extraction
• SHOULD handle network partitions
• SHOULD enhance intent privacy
• SHOULD protect relationship metadata

5.3 Software Quality Attributes

1. Reliability

• MUST maintain network availability
• MUST ensure data persistence
• MUST handle node failures
• MUST recover from errors
• SHOULD provide redundancy
• SHOULD implement fault tolerance

1. Maintainability

• MUST support protocol upgrades
• MUST enable bug fixes
• MUST allow parameter updates
• MUST support backwards compatibility
• SHOULD enable modular updates
• SHOULD minimize upgrade complexity

1. Usability

• MUST provide clear interfaces
• MUST support easy deployment
• MUST enable simple configuration
• MUST handle errors gracefully
• SHOULD provide helpful documentation
• SHOULD implement intuitive APIs

5.4 Business Rules

1. Tokenomics

• MUST implement fair token distribution
• MUST provide validator incentives
• MUST handle transaction fees
• MUST support restaking
• SHOULD prevent stake centralization
• SHOULD optimize economic security

1. Governance

• MUST enable protocol upgrades
• MUST support parameter changes
• MUST handle disputes
• MUST enable coordination
• SHOULD support decentralized governance
• SHOULD enable stake-weighted voting

6. Other Requirements

1. Legal Requirements

• MUST comply with privacy regulations
• MUST handle data protection
• MUST support regulatory compliance
• MUST enable selective disclosure
• SHOULD support identity verification
• SHOULD enable compliance reporting

1. Internationalization

• MUST support multiple languages
• MUST handle different timezones
• MUST support various regions
• MUST enable local customization
• SHOULD support cultural differences
• SHOULD handle different regulations

Appendix A: Glossary

• Base Layer (BL): The foundational layer providing consensus and data availability
• Blend Network: A specialized privacy system for Private Proof of Stake consisting of:

 * PTM (Persistent Transmission Module): Manages validator connections and drop messages
 * MBM (Message Blending Module): Processes consensus messages through mixing and timing obfuscation
 * CTM (Cover Traffic Module): Generates anonymity sets through cover messages

• Coordination Layer (CL): The layer handling proof verification and cross-zone communication
• Cryptarchia: A consensus protocol that works with Blend Network to implement Private Proof of Stake
• Data Availability Sampling: A technique for efficient data verification
• Intent: A high-level description of desired transaction outcomes
• libp2p-mix: A P2P networking module providing general network-level privacy
• Light Node: A resource-efficient node for network verification
• Private Proof of Stake: A privacy-preserving consensus mechanism implemented through Blend Network and Cryptarchia
• Zero-Knowledge Proof: A cryptographic method for verifying computations
• Zone: An independent execution environment with sovereign state
• Cross-Zone Communication: Interaction between different execution environments

Appendix B: Analysis Models

1. Network Architecture

• Base Layer topology
• Coordination Layer structure
• Zone relationships
• Communication paths

1. Protocol Flows

• Consensus process
• Proof verification
• Cross-zone operations
• Light node verification

1. Security Models

• Threat models
• Attack vectors
• Defense mechanisms
• Privacy guarantees

Appendix C: To Be Determined List

1. Base Layer

• Optimal sharding parameters
• Stake inference mechanisms
• Network scaling limits
• Upgrade mechanisms

1. Coordination Layer

• Proof aggregation schemes
• Intent matching algorithms
• Cross-zone protocols
• Verification optimization

1. Zones

• Execution model standards
• Privacy technology integration
• State transition schemes
• Communication protocols

1. General

• Governance mechanisms
• Economic parameters
• Upgrade procedures