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Introduction to Republic

Republic is a decentralized blockchain platform designed to securely coordinate a network of compute providers—called validators—who supply verifiable computational resources to power next-generation decentralized applications.

Unlike traditional blockchains that rely solely on transaction validation, Republic elevates compute to a first-class network asset, enabling the permissionless exchange and validation of high-performance compute power. This integration facilitates a novel cryptoeconomic marketplace where computational work is measured, validated, and rewarded transparently.

Protocol Overview​

At its core, Republic combines a Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) consensus mechanism with a rigorous compute validation protocol. Validators are selected based on a hybrid metric of delegated stake and verified compute quality, ensuring the network’s security and scalability depend both on economic commitment and demonstrated computational reliability.

Validators execute assigned compute jobs and submit proofs of correct execution based on standardized benchmarks. These benchmarks measure throughput, inference capability, and achieved FLOPS, providing objective metrics that feed into validator reputation and reward calculations.

Cryptoeconomic Model​

The Republic economic design aligns incentives to foster network integrity and performance. Validators stake the native token, REP, to participate in consensus and compute provisioning. In return, they earn rewards proportional to their validated compute contributions and stake.

The system enforces slashing penalties for validator misbehavior, such as producing incorrect results or exhibiting downtime, reducing their staked tokens and reputation scores. Reputation acts as a persistent measure of validator trustworthiness, influencing future committee selection and rewards.

Key Concepts​

  • Validators: Network participants who provide compute resources, stake tokens, and secure the network.
  • Native Token (REP): Utility token used for staking, paying for compute, and distributing rewards.
  • Compute Validation: A set of verifiable benchmarks and proofs ensuring that submitted compute results are correct and performant.
  • Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS): Consensus protocol where token holders elect validators weighted by stake and compute quality.
  • Slashing and Reputation: Mechanisms to penalize misbehavior and track validator reliability over time.

Document Structure​

This documentation provides a comprehensive understanding of Republic’s architecture and operation, divided into:

  • General Documentation: Protocol design, compute validation, consensus, incentives, and security.
  • Validator Documentation: Tools, best practices, and workflows for validator operation. (Coming soon)
  • Client Documentation: APIs and user guides for submitting compute jobs and interacting with the network. (Coming soon)

This documentation aims to serve as a reference for developers, validators, researchers, and stakeholders engaged in the Republic ecosystem.