From Vision to Reality: The Evolution of Xandeum's Storage Layer on Solana

Hey there, Xandeum enthusiasts! Grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and let's chat about where we've been, where we're going, and why we're all aboard the Solana express now.

First off, let me just say this: We’ve come a long way since our first idea of what Xandeum would be. And, as you all know, with progress comes change—sometimes big, sometimes small, and sometimes a complete rethinking of what we’re trying to build. Today, I want to take you through that journey, talk a bit about where we started, where we are now, and why we believe our new direction creates the most value for everyone involved.

The Original Vision of Xandeum

Let’s rewind to mid-2022, a time when Xandeum was just a gleam in our eyes and a lot of scribbled notes on whiteboards. Back then, our vision was to create Xandeum as its own Layer 1 blockchain, leveraging the Solana codebase but carving out our own space in the world of decentralized storage. The idea was pretty ambitious: we would have our own validators, and we even sold licenses—Nodes—to people who wanted to be part of this new network.

Now, looking back, maybe we were a bit wide-eyed, dreaming of becoming the next big thing in blockchain with our own ecosystem, our own rules, and our own network of validators. It was an exciting time, but as with all things in tech, the devil’s in the details. And, boy, did those details start adding up!

The Solana Shift

Over the past few months, I've kept you all in the loop about our explorations into integrating with Solana. Well, it's time to make it official. Fast forward through countless coffee-fueled nights and whiteboard sessions, we finally got the architecture of Xandeum on Solana squared: Here's the scoop – we're integrating Xandeum's scalable storage directly into Solana. Why, you ask? Because Solana isn't just fast; it's lightning in a bottle, and by building on it, we amplify our potential tenfold.

Here's a sneak peek of the architecture you'll hear a lot about the details from us in the future:

Solana already does what it does best—fast, scalable, and efficient blockchain technology. So why not build on top of that instead of trying to create a parallel universe?

We decided to shift our focus from being an independent L1 to becoming an integral part of the Solana ecosystem, specifically by adding a scalable storage layer that complements Solana’s existing strengths. Enter Xandeum Buckets: a storage layer that scales up to exabytes and integrates seamlessly with Solana dApps, all while offering an Amazon S3 compatible API.

Now, if you’re wondering why this is such a big deal, let me break it down for you. Solana has compute (CPU) power and the Solana accounts, which you can think of as RAM in this “world computer.” But what it lacks is scalable storage. Xandeum fills that gap, adding a crucial component to the decentralized world server of the future.

Why Aim for Maximum Solana Integration

Solana's ecosystem is vibrant, its tech is top-notch, and frankly, it's where the action is.

• Speed and Scale: Solana's infrastructure allows us to scale without the headaches of building from scratch. It's like moving from a bicycle to a rocket ship.

• Community and Ecosystem: Solana's ecosystem is thriving. By joining forces, we're not just adding to our tech; we're multiplying our community impact.

• Value for Everyone: This move means more value for developers, users, and yes, for you, our stakeholders. It's about creating a seamless world where storage isn't just an add-on; it's integral.

The Techy Bits: Peek, Poke, Prove

Our main challenge was how to integrate this storage layer with Solana in a way that’s smooth, efficient, and doesn’t require every single validator to be “Xandeum-aware.” We came up with two key operations: Peek and Poke.

    •    Poke: Imagine this as copying data from a Solana account into a specific Xandeum Bucket. The Xandeum-aware RPC nodes handle the data storage, communicating with the pNodes (our storage provider nodes). This operation gets wrapped in a Solana program call instruction, which means it’s transparent to vanilla Solana validators—they don’t need to do anything special.

    •    Peek: This is where things get interesting. Peek fetches data from a Xandeum Bucket and copies it into a Solana account. To make sure this is secure and verifiable, we use Merkle proofs and a Threshold Signature Scheme (TSS). The pNodes create these proofs, sign them, and then the Xandeum-aware validators validate them, ensuring the integrity of the data.

This way, we’ve effectively extended Solana with scalable storage without disrupting the existing network or requiring all validators to be Xandeum-aware. And all of this is happening under the hood, making it easy for Solana dApp developers to integrate storage into their projects.

The New Fee Structure: A Win-Win for Everyone

One of the big questions was how to handle fees, especially when you have storage operations happening off the main Solana chain. Here’s how we solved it:

    •    Storage Fees in SOL: The XandeumProgram will collect storage fees in SOL, which will be accrued into a Fee Distribution Account per validator per epoch. These can then be claimed by the validators and pNodes and potentially redistributed to their stakers. Validators will also send part of their collected storage fees to the pNodes for their work.

    •    Validator Participation: Validators running Xandeum-Solana software will earn additional rewards for supervising pNodes—sort of like Proof of SpaceTime (PoST) but within the Solana ecosystem. This supervision ensures that the storage layer remains secure, decentralized, and reliable, with validators earning extra SOL for their efforts.

The Economics of Storage

We're setting up a fee system where SOL fuels the storage operations, rewarding both validators and pNodes. And with the new XAND token, you're part of our governance, our decisions, and our rewards. By owning XAND, you have full governance not only of the liquid staking pool, but also over the pNode network once it goes live. That way the XAND token lets you participate in our whole ecosystem, A to Z. It's like choosing the best seats in the house for the blockchain concert.

A Personal Note

I've shared our ups and downs, our "what ifs" and "why nots". Transitioning from our original plan might feel like we're changing the recipe mid-cook, but trust me, this new dish? It's going to be delicious. We've had our share of self-criticism, laughed at our ambitious missteps, but here we are, stronger and more focused. We're onto to a solution that's not just good; it's great.

Looking Ahead

This blog isn't just an announcement; it's an invitation to witness the evolution of Xandeum. We're not just adapting; we're innovating within an ecosystem that's already proven. Our liquid staking and our focus on storage rewards, it's all coming together to make blockchain storage as intuitive as using your favorite app. Together, we're making Xandeum storage on the blockchain as common as cat pictures on the Internet.

We’re no longer building a standalone L1 blockchain. Instead, we’re focusing on creating a powerful, scalable storage layer that complements Solana’s strengths. This isn’t just a pivot; it’s a leap forward in delivering value to the entire Solana ecosystem.

For those of you who’ve been with us since the beginning, thank you for sticking around as we navigate these changes. We’re excited about the direction we’re heading and believe this new approach will unleash a Cambrian explosion of storage-enabled web3 dapps (sedApps) that were previously unimaginable.

And for those who bought Nodes for the original Xandeum L1, don’t worry—we’re working on a transition plan that will ensure your investment continues to hold value as we move forward with our new architecture.

In closing, let’s embrace this evolution together. We’re not just building a product; we’re building the future of decentralized storage, and it’s going to be a game-changer.

Thanks for being part of this journey. Let's make some waves together!

Keep peeking and poking,

Bernie Blume