Fast Paxos BFT Research & Implementation for WSTS

Recipient: Distributed Labs Bounty: $20,000

Project Approach

Problem: Stackers need to collectively sign the block for appending to the Stacks blockchain.
- Options:
  - List of Single Signatures:
    - No centralized coordination mechanism needed.
    - Extremely inefficient in size and verification cost.
  - Threshold Signature (WSTS):
    - Fixed and small size and verification cost.
    - Scalable for thousands of participants.
    - Requires a coordination mechanism; vulnerable if the coordinator is dishonest or unavailable.
Proposed Solution:
- Conduct thorough research and analysis to decide which Fast Paxos BFT (Byzantine Fault Tolerance) paper to implement.
- Ensure the chosen solution is rational, efficient, and secure.

1st Phase Deliverables:
- Comprehensive analysis and due diligence report on various Fast Paxos BFT techniques.
  - Comparison of existing Fast Paxos BFT papers.
  - Evaluation of their feasibility, efficiency, and security for staker signatures.
- Recommendation report outlining the best Fast Paxos BFT technique to implement.

Phase 1: Research and analysis (6 weeks).
- Conduct a detailed study of Fast Paxos BFT papers.
- Produce a comprehensive analysis and due diligence report comparing the techniques.
- Deliver a recommendation report on the best Fast Paxos BFT technique for implementation.
Phase 2: Development planning (4 weeks).
- Create a detailed development plan based on the chosen Fast Paxos BFT technique.
- Outline the timeline and budget estimates for implementation.
Phase 3: Implementation (12 weeks).
- Develop the selected Fast Paxos BFT approach into an open-source RUST library.
- Initial testing and iterations based on feedback.