Welcome to the latest CR Monthly Update, where we highlight the progress and developments within the Cyber Republic. In this edition, we delve into Proposals that focus on Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Runtime, alongside updates on the CR Whitepaper, other proposals, and the CR Treasury. These initiatives showcase the community’s commitment to advancing blockchain technology and adapting to the new BPoS consensus mechanism.

On June 14th, the new Council officially came on board and immediately held their first Council meeting. The meeting involved the Council members with the Secretariat. The agenda covered various topics, including tracking the status of CR Council nodes, CR Treasury update, changing the multisig holders for CR assets, and reviewing the Elabox Proposal and Elavation update. These discussions demonstrate the Council’s dedication to ensuring the smooth operation of the Cyber Republic and addressing key matters related to infrastructure, funding, and project proposals.

Proposal #91 Elacity Digital Rights Management (DRM), unlocking a DRM powered NFT Video Sharing Platform and beyond

In September of 2022, Elacity passed a Proposal to incorporate DRM into its platform. This Proposal outlines Elacity’s objective to link an NFT system with DRM in order to protect digital content and provide new opportunities for content creators and distributors. They have established relationships in the DRM field and are developing an open-sourced system to integrate DRM with Web3. The goal is to create a video sharing platform where users can purchase and enjoy DRM-enabled video NFTs, empowering content creators with higher revenue share, asset control, and immediate wallet payment streaming. By receiving support from CRC and EF, Elacity aims to further develop Web3 DRM for video and expand it to other use cases, ultimately positioning themselves as a unique Web3 platform with a vision to go public in 2023.

Elacity is making significant progress in the field of DRM and is preparing to present its work to the Digital Asset Management group at the Metaverse standards forum. This presentation will be followed by an important meeting at the MPEG’s 143rd meeting in Switzerland, where Elacity will be represented by member Xin. The goal is to launch the DRM system V1 this year and explore collaborations in music and video for Web3. This update highlights Elacity’s commitment to advancing DRM technology and expanding its presence in the digital content industry.

Proposal #112 ElastOS Runtime – reinstating the missing pillar with Elacity

The Proposal suggests developing a WebAssembly (WASM) based Runtime for Elacity that can work with standard web browsers. This Runtime is essential for achieving Elastos’ vision of the SmartWeb, which aims to create a World Computer ecosystem by integrating blockchain, Carrier, Runtime, and SDKs. The goal is to leverage the secure and sandboxed execution of WASM to convert static cloud IPFS data into executable runtime code. This enables the execution of protected applications and facilitates the trading of digital assets within the SmartWeb. Developing this Runtime is a crucial step in fully realizing Elastos’ World Computer vision.

The Elastos Runtime team has conducted extensive research on various WASM and operating system technologies. They have tested the compatibility of Elastos DID, Hive, Carrier, and ESC. The team has also started building a WASM-powered media player, which forms the basis for the world’s first digital capsule for video. By enhancing the GPAC open-source media player and integrating a new WASM module, they aim to create a powerful and secure video player.

Additionally, the team has developed a custom cryptographic protocol called “CapsuleConnect.” This protocol allows DRM Access Token holders to fetch licenses from the blockchain using WASM isolation in less than a second, eliminating the need for centralized DRM systems. With the runtime-enabled video player, the license key remains completely isolated and protected throughout the process. Furthermore, Elacity is working on a proof of concept to demonstrate the broader potential of the Elastos WASM runtime environment. This includes showcasing secure decryption, digital capsule transfer, and executable integrity.

Proposal #116 Terminate – Business Continuity Plan for DPoS nodes (Stand-By CR Nodes)

This Proposal recommended terminating the original Business Continuity Plan for DPoS nodes and returning any remaining ELA from withdrawn milestones to the CR treasury. The adoption of BPoS makes the original plan obsolete in terms of ensuring the suitability of active nodes for the new consensus mechanism. The Proposal highlights the need to develop a new plan specifically tailored for BPoS nodes. Considering the one-year only EF incentive program, it is suggested to explore approaches such as:

  • Enable voting with CR treasury funding;
  • Establish “Stand-By” nodes without high ELA requirements
  • Gradually reduce the ELA requirement until the desired number of active nodes is reached.

By considering these approaches, the Proposal aims to adapt the node selection process to the new BPoS consensus mechanism and ensure a smooth operation of the blockchain.

Proposal #117 Revise the CRC Whitepaper

This Proposal aims to update the CR whitepaper to reflect the current state of CRC (Cyber Republic Consensus) and the transition from DPoS (Delegated Proof of Stake) to BPoS (Bonded Proof of Stake) as the consensus mechanism. The revisions include transferring maintenance responsibilities from the Elastos Foundation workgroup to the CR Council and Secretariat Team. Additionally, specific sections of the whitepaper will be modified to accurately describe the switch to BPoS and ensure the information remains up-to-date. The goal is to align the whitepaper with the live status of CRC and provide accurate details about the consensus mechanism.

CR Treasury Update

The CR Treasury plays a crucial role in managing the funds of the Elastos ecosystem. In June, as part of the standard procedure, 10 percent of the assets held in the Asset Wallet were transferred to the CR Expense Wallet. This transfer amounted to 328,738 ELA, which increased the starting balance in the CR Treasury Expense Wallet to 779,356 ELA.

Please note that a specific portion of the ELA in the Expense Wallet, totaling 253,548 ELA, has been locked in the Proposals approved by the previous Council. These locked funds have already been allocated for specific projects and initiatives within the Elastos community.

As of July 1st, 2023, the actual funding available for the 4th term, after accounting for locked funds and previous transfers, amounts to 525,808 ELA.

The total assets in the CR Treasury consist of the sum of ELA in both the Expense Wallet and the Asset Wallet. Currently, the CR Treasury’s Asset Wallet holds a remaining balance of 2,959,480 ELA, which represents a significant portion of the available funds for future projects and development efforts within the Elastos ecosystem after the 4th term Council.

Conclusion

CR witnessed significant progress in the fields of Digital Rights Management Runtime. Elacity’s DRM-NFT integration promises enhanced revenue sharing and asset control for content creators, while Runtime opens doors for secure video playback and broader applications. The Proposals addressing the Business Continuity Plan and the CRC Whitepaper reflect the community’s adaptability and commitment to staying up-to-date with evolving consensus mechanisms. 

The latest CR Council has the funds and resources to make a positive impact on the CR ecosystem based on the latest CR Treasury update. These advancements solidify Cyber Republic’s leadership in the blockchain and digital content industry, paving the way for a promising future.