Exertive Proof of Stake (EPoS) Proposal
Tags: Blockchain, Technical Documentation

The purpose of EPoS is to replace the current distributed ledger technology (DLT) verification methods of proof of work/ stake ect with biological human input. Allowing humans to have the ability to verify, come to consensus and gather rewards based upon biological signals/ states of the body. This will allow everyday people an opportunity to contribute to the movement and verification of blockchains via specific biological states which aim at benefiting overall health.

The mining/ staking market is massive and as blockchains gain popularity + use, the method of verification will become more popular & profitable making one of the largest industries we have yet to see .

Here is a rough EPoS roadmap for the Stakenet blockchain. Phase 1 and 2 are a mobile app and wearable device respectively. The precursor to the phase 2 device would be a hardware device

Phase 1 (0–1 year)

Centralized proof of concept. app tracks steps we develop simple algorithms to avoid cheaters — payouts centralized and daily/ weekly limits how much users can earn

Phase 2

added verifications through wearable hardware mechanisms + sensors (Fitbit style heart rate monitor) creating a tougher environment to hack, can raise daily/ weekly limits gradually

Phase 3 (1–2 years)

As sensors grow more sophisticated and tougher to hack can start gradually testing + applying modes of verifications to second layer of blockchain — will still have limits + semi centralization but proof of concept will be clear

Phase 4 (3–5+ years)

level of exertion would determine the “stake weight” — higher level of exertion, larger the weight + higher chance of obtaining reward. Lower exertion lower chance.

Subject would need to own coins in order to participate in EPoS loop creating a hybrid POS/EPoS model

Dealing with Issue of Faking of Sensor Outputs

from what we know thus far the potential faking of sensor output seems to be a very tricky problem, & would most likely require semi-centralization

The following are some blockchain tools that could be helpful in achieving these semi-decentralized solutions, until a full decentralized model (see #4) may be possible.

1. Utilizing DPoS (Delegated Proof of Stake) like model

Most popularly implemented by the project EOS, they have a group of 21 elected “delegates” who are voted in to produce blocks for the network, constantly under the supervision of the community (coin holders able to vote for delegates) in the case of bad or dishonest actions they would immediately get voted out. Rather than the job of “block producer” perhaps these could be laboratories or specialized facilities where users are able to check into, and exercise being policed by the “delegates”.

This leaves the onus on the delegates to prove to the community there is no tampering or dishonesty

2. Utilizing our masternode layer as a tool for verification

masternodes provide certain services to the network (currently we have 1600+ active on XSN) & we are investigating currently if and how we could use this technology and apply it to assisting the verification and validation of bio-sensors. We have a theoretical concept of multiple sensors being inserted into a body, each sensor is controlled by a masternode. All MN’s within that given body would need to come to consensus on what the reality is, because of the collateral this makes it highly expensive to compromise or attack.

A great functionality available to us are masternode quorums as well. These pick a number of MN’s at random (usually 10) and ask them to come to consensus on the truth (commonly used for instant verifications).

3. building EPoS infrastructure on top of first PoS layer, so this EPoS acts as an enhancement of stake weight

The key to a Proof of Stake algorithm is “Stake Weight”. This takes in a few different variables such as coin age (how long a user has held his coins in a given address) and amount of coins held. We could add another variable to the stake weight in the form of EPoS input and also put a cap on it for security purposes as the technology is introduced. (for example coin age can be capped at 1 hour, 24 hours, 30 days ect)

4. Theoretical model for full decentralization

From a purely theoretical standpoint if it is possible in the future to insert micro/nano sensors in the body that cannot be easily targeted or gathered by the user, collateralized trusted nodes (see #2) could connect to these bots and come to consensus stating what the truth is (achieving full decentralization)

This way, even if the user got a hold of a few sensors it wouldn’t matter, user would need to get a hold of X amount of total sensors to cheat the system.

Deliverable XSN Products: “XSN Sport”

Wearable technology is rapidly advancing alongside exponential adoption, offering the individual user crucial information about their health in real time. Sedentary lifestyles as well as heavily processed food Payment as motivation (higher continuation rate if people can exercise for free)

Not only could XSN Sport offer unprecedented security for their XSN coins, capabilities of cross chain/cold staking + exchanging, it would offer all of the features current fitness trackers offer. The fitness data collected, as well as input by the user (for example: emotional status, weight, calorie intake/calculated burnt calories, symptoms (reward for daily input; might help to track some medication side effects or early signs), diagnoses, vaccination status, blood type and blood related laboratory results (easier to predict/ follow up some diseases) , water reminder, simple surveys for sleep quality (the wearable actually might be able to track some sleeping behavior/quality in the future too), pain, feelings, stress level (nice because of the high level of media attention related to burn out; could be encrypted and thereby stored anonymously via Masternodes on the blockchain.

People would be incentivised to continue to wear the device, exercise and input data because simply wearing it rewards them through staking, (since increased activity allows for greater stake rewards). And the more health information they input into the device the more they are rewarded. Help preventing diagnosis which are related to unhealthy behavior (increase of cancer in younger ages for example (especially Colon cancer is a well known example); related to more fast food and a lesser level of physical work; There is an increase of mental diseases through the lack of lesser active behavior combined with lower level of fresh air/sunlight as well) activity outside can prevent various diseases in general and is especially beneficial for the older generations ( Vitamin D deficiency; osteoporosis)

Monetising health data:

Health data will be like the advertising market is now, it will be a multi trillion dollar industry (it’s already heading there, insurance companies are paying unprecedented amounts to obtain genetic information…). Initially, the health data will be stored on stakenet.io where the data is completely anonymised, the data can then be sold, used for scientific publications (this is an absolute goldmine of information for identifying and preventing disease; if successful,this would make stakenet the owner of the world´s largest owner of patient related and biomedical data ) and profits are used to fund development, XSN buy back and burn, fund hackathons, giveaways, maybe even for a foundation to further do something good in form of educational materials or wearable devices for lower income children etc.etc…. Eventually the data is stored on the Masternode network. (Really important outlook since no one needs to be afraid of an hack, even though not that relevant since everything is completely anonymous; would actually help circumventing some governmental restrictions on this data)

This document will undergo ongoing updates and is being authored by Che Stafford, John Draper, and Lukas Vogel