Welcome to our course on the Tendermint consensus algorithm!

Before we get started, let’s give a bit of context…

Cosmos is an ecosystem of interconnected, independent blockchain networks known as the “Internet of Blockchains”. It’s designed to solve the interoperability issue in the blockchain space. 

The Cosmos Network uses the Tendermint consensus algorithm, a type of Proof of Stake consensus that provides fast and secure consensus without sacrificing decentralization, something that is very hard to juggle!

Let’s get into our second tool of our toolbox: the Tendermint consensus algorithm! →

Tendermint’s Main Components

Tendermint is an open-source software that provides a consensus mechanism for blockchain networks. It is built on top of the Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT) consensus algorithm and is known for its high performance and flexibility, making it a popular choice for building high-performance blockchain..

Tendermint is made up of two main components: the Tendermint Core and the Application Blockchain Interface (ABCI). 

→ The Tendermint Core is responsible for maintaining the consensus and the overall security of the network. It uses a consensus mechanism called “BFT-like” which is a variant of the Byzantine Fault Tolerance algorithm. This allows for fast and secure transaction processing, even with a high degree of decentralization.

→ On the other hand, the ABCI allows for the integration of different types of applications, such as smart contracts, on top of the Tendermint Core. This allows for a wide range of blockchain-based applications to be built on top of Tendermint, from decentralized exchanges to gaming platforms to decentralized finance (DeFi) applications or infrastructure product like KYVE. This makes it a versatile choice for developers looking to build their own blockchain-based projects.

Key Features

One of the key features of Tendermint is its ability to achieve high performance (850/s). It can process thousands of transactions per second, which is significantly faster than other popular blockchain platforms like Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

This makes Tendermint a great choice for building blockchain platforms that require fast and secure transaction processing.

Overall, its ability to process thousands of transactions per second, and the flexibility to integrate different types of applications, make it a popular choice for building high-performance blockchain platforms.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You made it through our course on Tendermint!

Want to learn more? Feel free to check these resources:

  • Want to learn more about KYVE launching its own Layer 1 blockchain built with the Cosmos SDK? Read into this article.
  • Run into any terms marked with * that you’re not aware of? Visit the KYVE Glossary to learn what they mean!