In this issue...
- Transaction Engine v1: Introducing Segregated Witness, shorter addresses, and new programmability features.
- Action Required: Upgrade before block 39,000 to stay in consensus.
- The Bridge Ahead: How this upgrade enables the next stage of Nockchain's roadmap.
Protocol Upgrade at Block 39,000
We are excited to announce a protocol upgrade for Nockchain, which will activate at block height 39,000. This release (commit d18c6e7) represents a complete rewrite of our transaction engine, designed to enhance scalability, privacy, and programmability for the network.
This is a consensus-breaking change, meaning it is a mandatory upgrade for all node operators and miners. To continue validating and mining on the canonical Nockchain network, you must update your software before the activation block.
This upgrade is the culmination of months of research and development, and it lays a foundation for the future of Nockchain.
Introducing Transaction Engine v1
The upgrade introduces Transaction Engine v1, which brings new features to the protocol. Here’s a look at what’s new and why it matters.
- Shorter Addresses (Pay-to-Public-Key-Hash): We are moving from full public key addresses to a Pay-to-Public-Key-Hash (P2PKH) format. This change reduces address length by more than half, improving user experience and reducing onchain data bloat. Hashing the public key also provides a layer of privacy, as the full key is not revealed until a note is spent.
- Segregated Witness (SegWit): By separating transaction signatures (the "witness") from the core transaction data, SegWit reduces the onchain footprint of each transaction. This improves efficiency and introduces a privacy primitive, allowing users to commit to a complex spending script without revealing it until the time of execution.
- Programmability: The upgrade introduces lock scripts and the ability to attach arbitrary data to notes. These features are the building blocks for complex functionality, enabling features like Hash Time Locked Contracts (HTLCs) for atomic swaps and paving the way for token standards and other onchain applications.
- Modular Architecture: The new transaction engine has a modular design, allowing us to add new opcodes and features without requiring protocol-breaking upgrades.
Action Required: How to Upgrade
To ensure a smooth transition, all network participants must update their software.
Please pull the latest code from our official GitHub repository.
For miners, the following steps are required: You must generate a new v1 P2PKH address to receive coinbase rewards after block 39,000. The new software is designed for a seamless cutover if configured correctly.
- Build the new wallet from the updated repository.
- Generate a new v1 key using the wallet’s keygen command. This will provide you with a new, shorter P2PKH address.
- Update your .env file to include both your current public key address and your new P2PKH address. You will need to set both MINING_PUBKEY (your old address) and MINING_PKH (your new address).
This configuration ensures that you will continue to receive coinbase rewards at your old address up to block 38,999 and automatically switch to receiving them at your new P2PKH address from block 39,000 onward.
What's Next?
This work was a necessary precondition for the next milestone on our roadmap: building our first bridge to another ecosystem.
Much more on that soon!
We are quite pleased with this upgrade and grateful to our community for their continued support.
That's all for this week! If you have any questions or comments, hit reply.
Get Involved
The best way to get involved is through our Telegram channel.
The Zorp team is there every day, alongside the larger Nockchain developer community.
That's all for this week!