FAQ
General
What are the Benefits of a Decoupled Execution Layer?
When you free the execution layer from the constraints of consensus and other functions, you unlock a new dimension of performance and flexibility.
Massive Throughput: A monolithic chain must limit its execution to what can be verified by all consensus nodes. A decoupled execution layer is unbound. It can be architected from the ground up for pure speed, using advanced techniques like granular parallel processing and memory-first storage (SSMT)—solutions that would be impossible to implement in a monolithic environment.
Ultra-Low Latency: Because execution is specialized, it's not burdened by waiting for a global consensus mechanism to finalize every block. This allows for near-instant transaction pre-confirmations and a user experience that feels like a Web2 application.
VM-Agnosticism: Monolithic chains are defined by their VM (e.g., Ethereum is the EVM). A specialized execution layer's job is simply to compute a state root. This allows it to act as a universal engine, with an abstraction layer (like the Altius Interpreter) that can run any VM—EVM, WASM, MoveVM, and more—side-by-side.
Sovereign Interoperability: This VM-agnosticism creates a "hyper-execution" environment. Different applications, and even entire chains (AppChains), can run in their preferred VM while sharing the same underlying execution engine, enabling seamless, bridge-free interoperability.
Does Altius require specialized hardware?
No. Altius runs on commodity infrastructure, cloud or on-prem, without the need for GPUs, SGX, or specialized servers. Altius runs on commodity machines (e.g., standard AWS instances). You don’t need high-end SSDs or customized hardware to get peak performance. All performance gains come from software-level parallelism and optimization.
What is the meaning behind the name “Altius”?
“Altius” means “higher” in Latin - echoing the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius". It reflects our mission: elevate blockchain performance, scalability, and interoperability to new heights.
Technology
What is a VM-Agnostic execution layer?
Via the Interpreter module, Altius can expand support beyond EVM opcodes, and to SVM, MoveVM, WASM, and future stacks like zkVM and BitVM - ensuring long-term compatibility across the multi-chain world.
How does Altius improve blockchain performance?
Altius parallelizes both compute and storage, removing the bottlenecks that plague sequential processing. The result: throughput measured in gigabytes of gas per second, transaction finality under 100ms, and the ability to scale performance linearly with more nodes.
How is Altius compatible with existing chains?
Altius integrates via APIs like JSON-RPC or gRPC. It’s already compatible with Ethereum, L2s, and other EVM chains. More VM support is in the works. No consensus changes or major rewrites needed.
Can Altius match Visa/Mastercard speeds for payments?
Yes. Altius targets hundreds of thousands of transactions per second (TPS) and millisecond-level finality - comparable to legacy card networks, with the added benefits of composability and decentralization.
Can Altius be used by enterprise-level chains?
Absolutely. Its modular architecture, hardware efficiency, and VM flexibility make it ideal for regulated or enterprise-grade infrastructure.
What is the Application Code Assessor (ACA)?
ACA is a performance oracle built into the Altius stack. It analyzes contracts for execution efficiency, flagging conflicts and measuring gas use. High-scoring contracts can qualify for fee discounts or future token-based rewards.
How does Altius optimize parallel execution?
Altius doesn’t just run transactions in parallel - it goes deeper. It analyzes the individual opcodes inside smart contracts to resolve conflicts efficiently. Only the necessary conflicting instructions are rerun, making execution more granular and faster.
Does Altius solve state bloat?
Yes. The sharded database architecture (SSMT) allows horizontal scaling of the state database, mitigating memory and storage issues on highly active chains.
Network
What is the Open Execution Network (OEN)?
OEN is a shared execution pool where chains can tap into a decentralized network of compute nodes. It enables elastic scalability - chains get execution capacity on demand, with fees flowing to contributing nodes.
How does load balancing work in OEN?
Think AWS auto-scaling, but for blockchains. During peak usage (e.g., major NFT mints), workloads are automatically routed to underutilized nodes in the network, preventing local congestion.
Security & Developer Experience
How does Altius ensure safe parallel execution?
Altius uses a deterministic concurrency model: only conflicting instructions are re-executed, not the entire transaction. Every major update is externally audited, and we maintain a fuzzing engine that replays high-volume mainnet traces through our parallel scheduler. Feel free to familiarize how Altius achieves speed without sacrificing security.
Do I need to learn a new language to use Altius?
No. Developers can continue using Solidity, Rust, or other familiar languages. Altius handles the transpilation and optimization internally.
Can I use Altius to deploy an appchain?
Absolutely. Altius enables mature application developers to launch customized appchains with enterprise-grade performance, without needing deep infrastructure expertise.
Last updated