Interview with Felix Xu
As a journalist, I receive hundreds of requests for interviews and articles every week. When I came across information about Randcast, I was intrigued. Most pitches for Web3 game stories are about new releases, updates, or partnership announcements for games I’ve never heard of before. However, when I started reading ARPA’s approach to randomness, my academic curiosity increased even more.
My first thought was to pray to ‘RNGesus’, then I thought about whether random number generation (RNG) is more important in web3 than web2. I reached out to ARPA again and wanted to address some tough questions.
Why so random?
Randcast is an on-chain verifiable random number generator that offers a suite of APIs designed for a variety of applications, including NFT allocation, game attribution, and even determining the outcomes of battle scenarios. Randcast creator ARPA believes its approach positions Randcast as a potential game changer in developing a fairer, more creative metadatabase.
Randcast’s model takes a decentralized approach to randomness; It collects entropy from a network of nodes spread across multiple regions. This process provides what ARPA describes as “unparalleled unpredictability and fairness.” Additionally, the random numbers generated are designed to be tamper-proof, reducing the likelihood of forgery or manipulation.
Uniqueness and verifiability are also said to be inherent to Randcast’s system. An advanced cryptographic primitive supports the generation of random numbers, ensuring they are both unique and verifiable. Numbers are specifically generated for a particular signing group and user input, providing an additional layer of assurance.
Finally, Randcast offers an important practicality: wage estimation. It provides accurate estimates of the amount of coins required to cover request fees, helping users keep enough funds in their accounts and avoiding failed requests due to insufficient coins.
CryptoSlate He spoke with founder Felix Xu to discuss why randomness is so important in games and how Randcast works.
Felix Xu, Crypto enthusiast, early adopter and NFT collector. Felix founded two crypto projects BARLEY And Bella Protocol, is among the global top 500 by market capitalization. Felix previously worked at Fosun Investment, the Sackler family office and Vertical Research in New York and Beijing.
How does ARPA’s Randcast maintain decentralization while maintaining the security of generated random numbers?
ARPA’s Randcast achieves decentralization and secures random number generation by leveraging a decentralized approach to collect entropy from a group of nodes distributed across multiple regions. These nodes use the BLS threshold signature process, which ensures that the generated random numbers are both tamper and manipulation resistant.
Since no node can influence the final randomization result, this method simultaneously supports decentralized management and security principles, ensuring unpredictability, fairness and cryptographic security of the generated numbers.
Can you share more information about the BLS threshold signature tasks performed by ARPA Network nodes? What makes them uniquely suitable for verifiable random number generation?
BLS threshold signature tasks performed by ARPA Network nodes involve an encryption process in which multiple nodes cooperate to create a single signature on a message without revealing their private keys. This mechanism guarantees that as long as a predetermined number (or threshold) of these nodes operate honestly, the resulting signature remains intact and secure.
The inherent randomness of BLS threshold signatures provides a robust source of entropy. This inherent randomness, when paired with the verifiable nature of BLS signatures, creates an optimally designed system for generating on-chain random numbers that are both verifiable and resistant to manipulation by any participant in the network.
Read this article to learn what efforts we are making to adapt TSS-BLS to blockchains.
What are some of the practical applications of your technology in the gaming industry? Can you share any usage scenarios or examples?
Randcast offers a verifiable on-chain random number generation service designed specifically for the gaming industry. The API suite allows developers to enhance gaming experiences with dynamic random elements, such as assigning random attributes to characters and items, determining matchmaking, generating random in-game maps or dungeons, and deciding probability outcomes of various in-game events.
For example, a Web3 game might use Randcast to generate a random dungeon layout for players to explore or assign rarity tiers to in-game loot; thus ensuring that each player’s experience is unique, fair and verifiable.
How does the subscription model work for Randcast? So how does financing with ETH come into play?
Randcast’s subscription model allows users to manage payments for the fulfillment phase of the randomization process. Users create a subscription by interacting with certain functions in the Randcast Adapter contract, which provides them with a unique subscription ID. This identity helps track status and manage various consumer contracts associated with DApp or Web3 games.
To facilitate transactions on this system, users fund their subscriptions using ETH. In the current version, Randcast v0.1.0, the service itself is free, but users must cover Gas fees, which are transaction costs on the ethereum network, using their funded ETH.
Can you detail the automatic gas prediction feature? How does it help users manage their costs?
Definitely. The automatic gas estimation feature in Randcast is specifically designed to estimate gas costs required for operations during the randomization process. This feature calculates and adjusts the required gas parameters, ensuring that the randomization process is completed without any hindrance due to gas limitations.
By offering this prediction mechanism, Randcast eliminates the guesswork for users, allowing them to adequately fund their subscription and avoid unexpected charges or failed transactions due to insufficient fuel. This not only simplifies the user experience but also provides a more predictable cost structure.
How does Randcast ensure that random number generation is not biased or manipulated, even by those operating the service?
Randcast uses a decentralized approach to random number generation, drawing entropy from a distributed network of nodes spread across various regions, making it resistant to one-sided manipulation. Additionally, the platform leverages the ARPA Network, where multiple nodes collaboratively perform BLS threshold signature tasks to generate randomness.
Because BLS threshold signatures are inherently verifiable and random, no single node or entity has the ability to influence the final randomness outcome. This distributed and cryptographic method ensures that the numbers generated are tamper-proof, neutral and verifiable, protecting against possible bias or manipulation even by those operating the service.
Contact Felix Xu
#Interview #Felix
As a journalist, I receive hundreds of requests for interviews and articles every week. When I came across information about Randcast, I was intrigued. Most pitches for Web3 game stories are about new releases, updates, or partnership announcements for games I’ve never heard of before. However, when I started reading ARPA’s approach to randomness, my academic curiosity increased even more.
My first thought was to pray to ‘RNGesus’, then I thought about whether random number generation (RNG) is more important in web3 than web2. I reached out to ARPA again and wanted to address some tough questions.
Why so random?
Randcast is an on-chain verifiable random number generator that offers a suite of APIs designed for a variety of applications, including NFT allocation, game attribution, and even determining the outcomes of battle scenarios. Randcast creator ARPA believes its approach positions Randcast as a potential game changer in developing a fairer, more creative metadatabase.
Randcast’s model takes a decentralized approach to randomness; It collects entropy from a network of nodes spread across multiple regions. This process provides what ARPA describes as “unparalleled unpredictability and fairness.” Additionally, the random numbers generated are designed to be tamper-proof, reducing the likelihood of forgery or manipulation.
Uniqueness and verifiability are also said to be inherent to Randcast’s system. An advanced cryptographic primitive supports the generation of random numbers, ensuring they are both unique and verifiable. Numbers are specifically generated for a particular signing group and user input, providing an additional layer of assurance.
Finally, Randcast offers an important practicality: wage estimation. It provides accurate estimates of the amount of coins required to cover request fees, helping users keep enough funds in their accounts and avoiding failed requests due to insufficient coins.
CryptoSlate He spoke with founder Felix Xu to discuss why randomness is so important in games and how Randcast works.
Felix Xu, Crypto enthusiast, early adopter and NFT collector. Felix founded two crypto projects BARLEY And Bella Protocol, is among the global top 500 by market capitalization. Felix previously worked at Fosun Investment, the Sackler family office and Vertical Research in New York and Beijing.
How does ARPA’s Randcast maintain decentralization while maintaining the security of generated random numbers?
ARPA’s Randcast achieves decentralization and secures random number generation by leveraging a decentralized approach to collect entropy from a group of nodes distributed across multiple regions. These nodes use the BLS threshold signature process, which ensures that the generated random numbers are both tamper and manipulation resistant.
Since no node can influence the final randomization result, this method simultaneously supports decentralized management and security principles, ensuring unpredictability, fairness and cryptographic security of the generated numbers.
Can you share more information about the BLS threshold signature tasks performed by ARPA Network nodes? What makes them uniquely suitable for verifiable random number generation?
BLS threshold signature tasks performed by ARPA Network nodes involve an encryption process in which multiple nodes cooperate to create a single signature on a message without revealing their private keys. This mechanism guarantees that as long as a predetermined number (or threshold) of these nodes operate honestly, the resulting signature remains intact and secure.
The inherent randomness of BLS threshold signatures provides a robust source of entropy. This inherent randomness, when paired with the verifiable nature of BLS signatures, creates an optimally designed system for generating on-chain random numbers that are both verifiable and resistant to manipulation by any participant in the network.
Read this article to learn what efforts we are making to adapt TSS-BLS to blockchains.
What are some of the practical applications of your technology in the gaming industry? Can you share any usage scenarios or examples?
Randcast offers a verifiable on-chain random number generation service designed specifically for the gaming industry. The API suite allows developers to enhance gaming experiences with dynamic random elements, such as assigning random attributes to characters and items, determining matchmaking, generating random in-game maps or dungeons, and deciding probability outcomes of various in-game events.
For example, a Web3 game might use Randcast to generate a random dungeon layout for players to explore or assign rarity tiers to in-game loot; thus ensuring that each player’s experience is unique, fair and verifiable.
How does the subscription model work for Randcast? So how does financing with ETH come into play?
Randcast’s subscription model allows users to manage payments for the fulfillment phase of the randomization process. Users create a subscription by interacting with certain functions in the Randcast Adapter contract, which provides them with a unique subscription ID. This identity helps track status and manage various consumer contracts associated with DApp or Web3 games.
To facilitate transactions on this system, users fund their subscriptions using ETH. In the current version, Randcast v0.1.0, the service itself is free, but users must cover Gas fees, which are transaction costs on the ethereum network, using their funded ETH.
Can you detail the automatic gas prediction feature? How does it help users manage their costs?
Definitely. The automatic gas estimation feature in Randcast is specifically designed to estimate gas costs required for operations during the randomization process. This feature calculates and adjusts the required gas parameters, ensuring that the randomization process is completed without any hindrance due to gas limitations.
By offering this prediction mechanism, Randcast eliminates the guesswork for users, allowing them to adequately fund their subscription and avoid unexpected charges or failed transactions due to insufficient fuel. This not only simplifies the user experience but also provides a more predictable cost structure.
How does Randcast ensure that random number generation is not biased or manipulated, even by those operating the service?
Randcast uses a decentralized approach to random number generation, drawing entropy from a distributed network of nodes spread across various regions, making it resistant to one-sided manipulation. Additionally, the platform leverages the ARPA Network, where multiple nodes collaboratively perform BLS threshold signature tasks to generate randomness.
Because BLS threshold signatures are inherently verifiable and random, no single node or entity has the ability to influence the final randomness outcome. This distributed and cryptographic method ensures that the numbers generated are tamper-proof, neutral and verifiable, protecting against possible bias or manipulation even by those operating the service.
Contact Felix Xu
#Interview #Felix
