Genesis Block (GB)

What does Genesis Block (GB) mean?

Every blockchain must start somewhere; at Geeq they start with Block 0.

Main Idea:

Every blockchain is initialized with its own set of rules.

Numbering Convention at Geeq

The genesis block of any instance of a GeeqChain is called Block 0 of {ChainName}.

What is Required in a Genesis Block?

After the chain information, the genesis block at Geeq has a number of special features. Let’s take a tour.

What does the Genesis Block (GB) tell us about this Protocol?

1. The GB for a permissionless validation network has to equip the network with a way to bootstrap itself. It does this with a set of initial nodes, after which other nodes may join (and exit).
2. Every set of active validating nodes in the network is called the Active Node List (ANL).
3. Each node is indexed, beginning with 0, because that is what computer scientists do.
4. As part of Proof of Honesty, nodes on the ANL rotate through as the hub. You will see a hubOrderList, beginning with “0”, which is conceptually the first node in the ANL that computer scientists have named “0”.
5. After the hubOrderList, you will see the list of nodes in the ANL.
6. These equip the first round of the hub-and-spoke validation network for the blockchain, although the same nodes are likely to be included in the ANL for a bootstrapping period while the chain or application becomes known.

Details

1. The hubOrderList points to the node (identified by its index) in the ANL from the previous block. Since there is no block before the GB, it points to the nodes in the order of the initial ANL.
2. The GB and each Current Ledger State (CLS) that follows, contains information about the ANL. It contains the node’s public key, the node’s user account (which is a hash of its public key), and its IP address.

Exactly as you would expect

1. The GB contains an initial Current Ledger State (CLS) for any {ChainName}’s user accounts with a positive initial balance.
2. It contains the system account for the {ChainName}.
3. Finally, the genesis block is signed with the private key of Geeq Corp.

After launch, Proof of Honesty is completely decentralized. Although Geeq Corp may provide anchor node services or certified node services (see the Technical Paper, Section 8 for suggestions to harden the network), it is not necessary.

Last Updated: February 25, 2023