Quai Network

Quai Network is a proof-of-work (PoW) layer 1 scaling solution that supports an interwoven network of chains. Quai Network interweaves multiple blockchains, which increases the throughput of transactions. The name of the network is derived from a colloquial word in Mandarin, kuai, which is a reference to coins and money. The organization behind the network, Dominant Strategies, was founded in 2019 and published the whitepaper detailing Quai Network in 2021.

Quai is a modular blockchain network consisting of three types of chains: Prime, Region, and Zone. The mainnet launch is intended to have a network with thirteen chains initially: a single Prime chain, three Region chains, and nine Zone chains. They will be organized in a 3x3 hierarchical structure. It is possible to scale horizontally to add more chains on demand.

The structure of Quai Network

The Prime chain addresses the whole network by aggregating and settling state transitions. The chain uses a memory-intensive hashing algorithm that is shared across all chains lower in the hierarchy. The PoW provided by the Prime blocks is used to secure the rest of the network. Out of the three types of chains, the Prime chain has the greatest difficulty and the lowest throughput. Each block is approximated at every fifteen minutes. It is the only chain that every Quai Network miner mines. The Prime chain should not be used for simple transactions and is optimally used for situations where the whole network is being addressed.

The Region Chains, known as Cyprus, Paxos, and Hydra, are in the next tier beneath the Prime chain. The three chains are able to interact natively on the network but are still separate chains requiring unique mining power. It is possible to add more Region Chains based on user demand in the future.

These chains have throughput approximated at about one block every five minutes due to the lower difficulty compared to that of the Prime chain. To mine Quai, the operator must choose one of the Region Chains to mine in addition to the Prime Chain. Region Chains are best utilized for network interactions that do not require the entire network to be addressed.

Each Region Chain has three subordinate Zone chains. The naming of the Zone chains goes by adding a number to the Region chain to which it belongs. The Cyprus Region Chain, for example, has three subordinate Zone chains: Cyprus 1, 2, and 3. Miners choose only one of the chains to mine. Thus, the total miner requirement is the Prime chain, one of the three Region chains, and one of the three subordinate Zone chains.

The Zone chains have the highest throughput and TPS capacity, and each Zone chain is expected to output a block every ten seconds. Due to the high throughput of these chains, it is expected that most network activity will happen on Zone chains.

In order to ensure that the network is secure, Quai Network has Coincident blocks. These blocks occur when either a Prime, Region, and Zone block are confirmed at the same time, or just a Region and Zone block. Due to this structure of security, the lower tiers have the same level of security as the top Prime tier.

In October 2022, Quai Network released the beta version of its dashboard. The dashboard is a place where users can check their social media rewards and interact with testnets. Users can earn Quai tokens ($QUAI) by completing simple tasks on participating social media platforms, such as YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The dashboard can be viewed by the user to see how many rewards they have accumulated, which are intended to be distributed as tokens once Quai Network releases its mainnet.

Quai Network's Dashboard

The team behind Quai Network states it is designing a token that ensures that the network is secure, spam-resistant, and decentralized. The Quai tokenomics are under ongoing development, and the following information may be changed once Quai's mainnet is launched. There is no official date for a mainnet launch.