About

Casper is a public blockchain platform that utilizes a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm. Its core features include Turing-complete smart contracts, predictable network fees, on-chain governance, privacy options, and developer tools. Casper aims to optimize security, decentralization, and high throughput, catering to open-source projects and enterprises.

History

Casper is a Turing-complete smart-contracting platform, backed by a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm and WebAssembly (Wasm). Casper is a permissionless, decentralized and public blockchain. Since its March 2021 mainnet launch, Casper has emerged as one of the most popular layer one blockchains on the market, especially for businesses and government organizations seeking a secure, scalable and decentralized solution that enables upgradeable smart contracts.

The network's consensus protocol is called Highway, and it has some benefits over classic Byzantine Fault Tolerant (BFT) consensus protocols. First, Highway allows networks to reach higher thresholds of finality, meaning that more blocks are finalized, and validators agree to add them to the blockchain. Second, the protocol achieves flexibility by expressing block finality in ways not possible in BFT models. This protocol is built on the Correct-By-Construction (CBC) Casper research. Additionally, the Casper Network is optimized for enterprise and developer adoption. While leveraging blockchain technology, the network seeks to accelerate business operations via unique features like predictable network fees, upgradeable contracts, on-chain governance, privacy flexibility, and developer-friendly languages. Casper's core features and strengths enable developers and enterprises to reap the benefits of blockchain technology. Casper believes to have solved the scalability trilemma. Notably, the network is optimized for security, decentralization, and high throughput. All this is achieved while evolving to provide leading solutions for open-source projects and enterprises. The Casper Network is designed for enterprise organizations with a feature set that allows for flexible permissions, upgradability, energy efficiency, low latency, and high security. Casper is built to withstand and grow along with changing business requirements and developer needs. Upgradeable contracts ensure developers and enterprises can develop their systems incrementally. The development experience ensures non-crypto devs can onboard quickly. This has already attracted multiple enterprises and Web3 teams to develop partnerships with Casper.

Specifically, other/older layer one blockchains have the following issues:

• Fundamental Compromises - Platforms that boast high TPS have made significant sacrifices to decentralization and/or security to achieve speed, which comes with an erosion in the ability for enterprises to trust those networks.
• Complex Code - Casper contracts function like ordinary software, developers have access to all of the features of the Wasm runtime.
• High and Unstable Transaction Fees - Volatile gas prices and blockchain fees make it impossible for businesses to budget for their future, while uniform pricing limits flexibility.
• Archaic/Static Tooling - Proprietary languages, tools, and methods can have a steep learning curve, slowing adoption, complicating updates, and accumulating tech debt down the line.

Casper aims to overcome these problems by ensuring:

• Scale Without Sacrifice - Casper is a fully permissionless/decentralized, truly scalable blockchain designed for real-world speed and security with very low and sustainable energy usage.
• Minimal Risk Easy to Use - Familiar tools, open architectures, and expert support makes it simple to develop with Casper.
• Flexibility - Casper has been built so that enterprises may choose between the public network, a private instance, or a hybrid solution.
• Low Cost - A public software platform developed with transparency and sustainable pricing.
• Future Proof - Upgradeable infrastructure powers enduring and equitable innovation.