About Cartesi (CTSI)

Billed as blockchain’s first OS, Cartesi is a layer-2 network geared toward developers seeking to build scalable dApps. It has a native staking token, CTSI,  for securing the network. CTSI can also be used to pay for various transactions across the protocol.

According to Messari, Cartesi employs a hybrid architecturewith both on-chain and off-chain components to create a network that is both scalable and secure. Together these infrastructure elements come together to form Cartesi’s powerful layer-2 solution: The Blockchain OS.

As a layer-2 solution, transactions on the Cartesi network are processed at scale by the Cartesi Machine, a virtual machine (akin to Ethereum’s EVM) that works to execute computations in an off-chain environment.

The Cartesi machine boasts a Linux OS capable of executing smart contract logic written in common programming languages like C++ and Python. As such, developers building on the network are not constrained by the complexities of Solidity (Ethereum’s native coding language) and thus can choose a language that better suits both their personal and technical needs.

The platform leverages optimistic rollups to process transactions at scale. Within this framework, Cartesi’s decentralized network of validator nodes work to retrieve and bundle batches of messages sent from users residing on a layer-1 chain like Ethereum.

Once bundled by validator nodes, these messages are sent to the Cartesi Machine for processing/execution. This computational process produces an output hash which is broadcast to the corresponding layer-1 network by a node operator known as the “claimer.” 

Subsequently, the broadcasted output is subject to a challenge period in which other nodes can dispute the hash’s validity. If no disputes are brought up, the layer-1 chain accepts the output as finalized.

Another core piece of functionality is the fact that Cartesi is “blockchain agnostic.” In other words, the platform can be integrated with just about any independent network like Ethereum or the BSC Chain.

Currently, Cartesi’s Blockchain OS plays host to a number of decentralized applications spanning different utilizes like DeFi and blockchain-based gaming. Perhaps the most notable is Creepts, a “tower defense” game with more than 30,000 unique users.

In terms of new developments, Cartesi marked 2021 with the launch of Noether, a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) sidechain that works to store and record information needed for short term use. Within this PoS system, CTSI holders can stake their tokens to the protocol to validate new blocks and earn a tokenized reward.

Who created CTSI and how much was it worth?

Cartesi is the brainchild of four blockchain engineers, Augusto Teixeira, Erick de Moura, Diego Nehad and Colin Stiel, who created the protocol in 2018. Per Linkedin, de Moura currently heads the Cartesi Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the network’s proprietary technology and growth. Teixeira, Steil, and Nehad all remain headily involved in the foundation as well serving as COO, CTO, and CSO, respectively.

To date, the Cartesi Foundation has managed to raise roughly $750,000 from a series of industry backers, including Binance Labs. Likewise, the platform received early backing and expertise from IOTA founder Serguei Popov.

Cartesi’s native token, CTSI, was first distributed at a price of $0.005 through an August 2017 seed funding round that commenced several months prior to the protocol’s official 2018 release. This was followed by a 2019 private sale which saw a token priced slightly higher at $0.01.

CTSI was first disseminated to the public in April 2020 via an IEO on Binance’s Launchpad platform at a per-token price of $0.015.

Pricing data from CoinGecko indicates that CTSI largely consolidated within a tight price range over its few months of existence before gaining steam in February of 2021. Following roughly 2.5 months of reasonable growth, CTSI went parabolic in May of 2021 rising nearly 300% to an all-time high of $1.74 within a matter of days.

CTSI subsequently lost most of its value within a matter of weeks before rallying once again, this time to a local high of $1.44, over Q4 2021. CTSI’s price has since been impacted by heavy downside volatility. As of August 2022, the token was changing hands for less than $0.20.

How is the price of CTSI determined?

CTSI is a deflationary asset with a hard cap of 1 billion tokens. According to Messari, some 40.22% of supply was allocated to the Cartesi Foundation’s reserves and another 15% distributed to the protocol’s core development team. Likewise, 10% of supply was disseminated via an initial exchange offering (IEO) on Binance’s Launchpad platform, while a further 25% was set aside as “mining reserves.”

As of August 2021, there were 604 million CTSI tokens in circulation.

Why does Cartesi have value?

It connects disparate systems. Cartesi allows developers to code scalable smart contracts, offering software tools, libraries and services to bridge the gap between mainstream software and blockchain. “Cartesi is enabling millions of new startups and their developers to use blockchain OS and also bring Linux applications on board,” Messari explained.

Is CTSI secure?

CTSI helps secure CartesiNoether, a PoS sidechain used to store data needed for short term use. Within this framework, token holders stake CTSI to the protocol to validate new transactions and earn tokenized rewards.

The protocol’s core smart contract infrastructure has been audited by leading blockchain security firm SlowMist.

What are the main benefits of CTSI? 

• Cartesi’s proprietary Linux-based Blockchain OS enables developers to build their applications using common programming languages like Python and C++.
• Cartesi makes use of optimistic rollups to effectively scale applications.
• Cartesi is “blockchain agnostic,” meaning it can be integrated with just about any independent network.

What do critics say about CTSI?

It has a limited user base. While Cartesi is a relatively new project within the world of blockchain, project documentation shows that of August 2022, the protocol had a cumulative base of just 1,119 users. For context, Bitcoin and Ethereum generally recognize about 500,000 unique users each day.