Beam Chain* R&D Progress * new name soon!
Track Beam Chain research progress across all workstreams
Timeline
Beam Chain Concepts
Long-term Vision
- Complete the roadmap in 4-5 years so Ethereum can go into maintenance mode
- Start thinking about ossification like Bitcoin
- Renaissance of solo validating through "Zen Staking," "Fish Staking," and "Fiverr Staking"
- Clean and simple protocol worthy of a neutral global base layer
- Fully verifying light clients that can work on even the smallest devices
Rationales
- Small incremental upgrades are only applicable to certain types of changes
- Governance batching optimization: batch everything to a single fork
- Avoid existing technical debts
Key Resources
- Keynote: [title redacted] at Devcon SEA(Nov 2024)
- Ethereum Roadmap & Beamchain at Bankless Summit(Nov 2024)
- Deep Dive into Ethereum's Beam Chain with The Defiant(Nov 2024)
- Beam chain tldr at Devcon SEA Community-Led Session(Nov 2024)
- Ethereum's Three Front War on Bankless Podcast(Dec 2024)
- Future of Ethereum: Beam Chain by Seungmin Jeon(Jan 2025)
- Twitter post on the beam chain roadmap by Vitalik Buterin(Jan 2025)
Research Tracks
Poseidon Cryptanalysis Initiative
Comprehensively tests the security of the Poseidon hash function through a multi-faceted approach including competitive bounties, targeted research grants, specialized workshops, academic awards, and advanced hardware testing.
Key Milestones
Bounties established ($66k already earned)
Jan 2025
Research grants (three recipients chosen)
Feb 2025
Workshop on Cryptanalysis of Algebraic Hash Functions at 31st Fast Software Encryption Conference
Mar 2025
Workshop at Algebraic Hash Cryptanalysis Days
May 2025
Groebner basis exploratorations
Resources
Lead: Dmitry Khovratovich
Hash-Based Multi-Signatures
Develop and analyze hash-based multi-signatures using Winternitz XMSS as a post-quantum replacement for BLS signatures.
Key Milestones
Paper publication (including proofs) and prototype implementation
Jan 2025
Efficiency analysis of hash-based signature candidates
Mar 2025
Exploring further optimizations for hash-based signature candidates
Identification of alternatives for post-quantum multi-signatures
Resources
Lead: Benedikt Wagner
Minimal Zero-Knowledge Virtual Machines
Explore minimal zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVMs) specifically optimized for signature aggregation, including various options like Binus M3, SP1, KRU, STU, Jolt, and OpenVM.
Key Milestones
Benchmark hash in SNARK (Plonky3, STwo, Binius, Hashcaster)
Feb 2025
Hashcaster exploration work
Feb 2025
Snarkify hash-based signature aggregation with SP1 & OpenVM
Feb 2025
Explore GKR style provers
Explore WHIR
More explorations over binary field techniques
Resources
Lead: Thomas Coratger
Falcon Signatures
Exploring lattice-based signatures as an alternative to hash-based signatures for their significantly smaller signatures, potentially allowing Ethereum to support five times more validators.
Key Milestones
Proposal for Falcon signature aggregation
Feb 2025
Combining Falcon signatures with code-based SNARKs
Resources
Lead: Josh Beal
Formal Verification
Mathematically prove the security properties of cryptographic proof systems like FRI, STU, and WER using the Lean 4 framework, creating structured blueprints that map out theorem dependencies to verify that the zkEVM implementations are correct.
Key Milestones
zkEVM formal verification project initiation
Jan 2025
Lean 4 framework implementation
Mar 2025
FRI proof system specification
STU proof system specification
WER proof system specification
Resources
Lead: Alex Hicks
Client Teams
15 client teams (9 new + 6 existing) are committed to building the Beam Chain.
Ream
✨ NewThe high-performance Beam consensus client written in Rust, focusing on delivering the most performant and user-friendly Beam Chain client.
Zeam
✨ NewThe Zig-based client team focused on representing Asia in the Ethereum ecosystem, building foundational components and integrating with various ZKVMs.
Quadrivium
✨ NewThe blockchain infrastructure team based in Kazakhstan with expertise in C++ implementations, notably maintaining a C++ libp2p library previously used in Polkadot.
Lantern
✨ NewThe team developing C-based Ethereum consensus layer libraries focused on enabling devices with limited compute to verify state root with zk proofs.
LambdaClass
✨ NewThe team with experience in ZK development across multiple projects, currently working on both an Elixir consensus client and considering Rust or their own language called Concrete for their Beam client.
Colibri
✨ NewThe client team focused on ultra-light client development for resource-constrained IoT devices, with experience building small-footprint implementations.
Afream
✨ NewThe African-led Beam consensus client initiative focusing on regional blockchain adoption.
Nethermind
✨ NewThe high-performance .NET execution client with enterprise-grade features and extensive APIs.
DV Labs
✨ NewThe Obol Collective team building Charon, Ethereum's distributed validator middleware client in GoLang.
Grandine
💪 ExistingThe research-focused Ethereum consensus client implementing novel approaches to consensus mechanisms.
Lodestar
💪 ExistingThe JavaScript/TypeScript implementation of the Ethereum consensus client focused on modularity and extensibility.
Teku
💪 ExistingThe enterprise-grade Ethereum consensus client built in Java by ConsenSys, designed for institutional staking.
Lighthouse
💪 ExistingThe high-performance Ethereum consensus client built in Rust, focused on security and efficiency.
Prysm
💪 ExistingThe Go implementation of Ethereum consensus, emphasizing usability and reliability for validators.
Beam Calls
February 14, 2025
The kickoff call covering social layer progress, funding structures, legal updates, introductions of research specialists and client teams, and coordinator presentations
Resources:
February 28, 2025
Technical updates on post-quantum cryptography solutions, featuring technical presentations from researchers on signature schemes, hash functions, minimal zkVMs, and formal verification.
Beam Call #3: P2P Networking
Soon!April 4, 2025
Discussion on the latest developments in peer-to-peer networking.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #4: 3SF (Finality)
TBD
Discussion on the finality of the 3SF protocol, including its implementation and implications on the network.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #5: APS (Attester-Proposer Separation)
TBD
Exploration of the Attester-Proposer Separation (APS) concept, its benefits, and potential applications for the Beam Chain.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #6: Rainbow Staking
TBD
Introduction to Rainbow Staking, a novel staking mechanism designed to enhance network security and decentralization.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #7: PQ Sub-Spec
TBD
In-depth discussion on the Post-Quantum (PQ) sub-specification, focusing on its cryptographic aspects and integration into the Beam Chain.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #8: P2P Sub-Spec
TBD
Examination of the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) sub-specification, covering its role in facilitating decentralized communication within the Beam Chain.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #9: 3SF Sub-Spec
TBD
Delving into the 3SF sub-specification, including its technical details and implications for the network's finality.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #10: APS Sub-Spec
TBD
Exploring the Attester-Proposer Separation (APS) sub-specification, its benefits, and potential applications in the Beam Chain.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #11: Beam Spec (Part 1)
TBD
First part of the Beam specification discussion, covering the overall architecture and core components of the Beam Chain.
Recording not yet available.
Beam Call #12: Beam Spec (Part 2)
TBD
Second part of the Beam specification discussion, focusing on the protocol's advanced features, security considerations, and future development plans.
Recording not yet available.