Cartesi is an app-specific rollup protocol with a virtual machine that runs Linux distributions. Cartesi Rollups can be deployed as a layer 2 (on top of Ethereum), as a layer 3 (on top of Optimism, Arbitrum, zkEVM chains, etc.), or as sovereign rollups.
Cartesi brings developers beyond the limitations imposed by EVM runtimes in shared computational environments, opening up the design space for decentralized applications that were not possible before.
CTSI holders can stake their tokens to participate in the ecosystem’s community-driven governance mechanisms. To learn more, visit the Cartesi Governance Page.
Cartesi is designed as an Optimistic Rollups framework embedding its own non-EVM virtual machine.
Cartesi gives each DApp its own rollup with a dedicated CPU, bringing significant gains in computational scalability without compromising decentralization, security, or censorship resistance.
Cartesi Rollups support a VM with a RISC-V architecture, making it possible to boot Linux or other mature operating systems. Developers can bring their ideas to life through rich code libraries, programming languages, and open-source tooling.
As of July 25, 2023, the total and max supply of CTSI is 1,000,000,000, and the circulating supply is currently 742,552,410 (~74.25%).
1. What is Cartesi (CTSI)?
1.1 Project overview and vision
Cartesi’s application-specific optimistic rollup framework gives DApps their own rollup with a dedicated CPU, bringing significant gains in computational scalability without compromising on decentralization, security and censorship resistance.
Supporting a Linux runtime environment, the Cartesi RISC-V virtual machine allows DApp developers to move beyond the EVM and gain access to the full suite of code libraries, programming languages, and open-source tooling they're accustomed to.
As layer one blockchains such as Ethereum continue to scale data availability, execution environments and computational layers such as Cartesi are poised to scale computational power exponentially.
1.2 Project value proposition
Cartesi enables developers to create an entirely new wave of DApps not previously possible on Ethereum or layer 2s. It also allows developers to focus on what they’re building instead of where they’re building, or what inconvenient limitations they may otherwise need to contend with.
With each Cartesi DApp running on its own rollup, innovation can flourish without popular applications cannibalizing scarce blockspace at the expense of less established network participants. Decentralized applications are afforded all the computing power they need while maintaining cost predictability.
Cartesi Rollups are also highly customizable; developers have more control and flexibility over the application stack, allowing for customizable gas metering, data availability solutions, and other DApp-specific needs.
1.3 Project key highlights
Cartesi creates a boundless design space for cutting-edge developers.
Space for exploration
Explore a rich new design space with a VM that supports decades of existing code libraries, programming languages, and open-source tooling.
Supreme processing power
Build more intricate and computationally intensive DApps without having to reinvent new abstractions every time.
Fully-fledged OS
Boot a mature operating system inside Cartesi's virtual machine.
Focus
Optimize specific DApp logic to bring your ideas to life, free from the intricacies of the blockchain itself and the design tradeoffs of the EVM.
Base layer guarantees
Inherit security and censorship resistance from Ethereum.
2. Existing products
As a blockchain infrastructure technology project, Cartesi aims to provide the technological foundation from which builders, entrepreneurs, and projects will develop decentralized applications. The Cartesi technology suite is currently comprised of:
Cartesi Rollups: Cartesi Rollups offer a modular scaling solution based on an app-specific rollups design, deployable as L2, L3, or sovereign rollups, while maintaining strong base layer security guarantees. Cartesi Rollups gives DApps their own rollup with a dedicated CPU, bringing significant gains in computational scalability without compromising on decentralization, security, and censorship resistance. DApps powered by Cartesi Rollups don’t compete for network resources with other DApps, offering predictable and stable fees. Developers also have more control and flexibility over the application stack, allowing for customizable gas metering, data availability solutions, and other DApp-specific needs.
Cartesi Machine: Cartesi Rollups support a VM with a RISC-V architecture, making it possible to boot Linux or other mature operating systems. Developers can bring their ideas to life through rich code libraries, programming languages, and open-source tooling.
Cartesi Compute: A computational oracle for other L1 or L2 DApps. It offers an extra computational resource for smart contracts on the blockchain, which will call Cartesi to execute complex functions in a fully verifiable way. Cartesi Compute decentralizes computational tasks so that any honest validator node can enforce a correct result against a majority of validators presenting false claims.
Cartesi Explorer: The Cartesi Explorer is a product that allows CTSI users to interact with the Noether PoS system and stake CTSI.
Noether: Noether is Cartesi’s proof-of-stake system for incentivized blockchain interactions. Node runners and stakers participating in Noether are financially rewarded for bootstrapping a system that currently plays a key role in the Cartesi Community Grants Program, and could be used in the future to execute additional Cartesi Ecosystem services, such as decentralized sequencers, voucher execution, liquidity providers, data availability, and validator claims.
3. Token sales and economics
3.1 Key metrics
Token Name | CTSI |
|---|---|
Token Type | ERC-20 |
Seed Sale Allocation | 2.00% of the total token supply |
Seed Sale Token Price | 0.005 USD |
Seed Sale Date | August 1st - 31st, 2017 |
Amount Raised Seed Sale | 100,000 USD |
Private Sale Allocation | 5.00% of the total token supply |
Private Sale Token Price | 0.01 USD |
Private Sale Date | April 6th - May 21st, 2019 |
Amount Raised Private Sale | 500,000 USD |
Strategic Sale Allocation | 0.67% of the total token supply |
Strategic Sale Token Price | 0.03 USD |
Strategic Sale Date | December 22nd - 31st, 2019 |
Amount Raised Strategic Sale | 200,000 USD |
Launchpad Sale Allocation | 10.00% of the total token supply |
Launchpad Sale Price | 0.015 USD |
Amount Raised on Launchpad Sale | 1,500,000 USD |
Initial Circ. Supply When Listed on Binance | 192,733,334 CTSI (19.27%) |
Total Supply | 1,000,000,000 CTSI |
3.2 Token supply distribution
Launchpad Sale tokens comprise 10.00% of the total token supply.
Seed Sale tokens comprise 2.00% of the total token supply.
Private Sale tokens comprise 5.00% of the total token supply.
Strategic Sale tokens comprise 0.67% of the total token supply.
Team tokens comprise 15.00% of the total token supply.
Advisors tokens comprise 2.11% of the total token supply.
Foundation Reserve tokens comprise 40.22% of the total token supply.
Mining Reserve tokens comprise 25.00% of the total token supply.
CTSI token distribution (%)
3.3 Token governance and use of funds
The ecosystem releases regular transparency reports that aggregate details on how the community treasury is spent or allocated. These reports can be viewed via the transparency section on the project’s Medium or blog.
CTSI holders can stake their tokens to participate in the ecosystem’s community-driven governance mechanisms.
First time staking? Check out everything you need to know to get you up and running, from prerequisites to a comprehensive staking delegation guide here.
To learn more about participating in governance and voting on proposals, visit the Cartesi Governance Page.
CTSI token release schedule
4. Overview of teams working on Cartesi
Cartesi currently has a team of over 50 contributors, including over 10 external teams.
Please refer to the official site for the full list of contributors.
5. Roadmap & Updates
Grantee units publish bi-weekly development updates within the Discord community. Cartesi also amplifies updates from all of its contributors on its other community channels. In addition, you can view the Cartesi Foundation’s monthly ecosystem updates here.
Other related links:
Link to the original whitepaper: https://cartesi.io/cartesi_whitepaper.pdf
Link to current tech articles: Medium or Cartesi’s Blog.
Cartesi is an open-source project built by a vibrant and growing ecosystem of independent teams, companies, and individuals – transparently and in public.
Join the community on Discord.
Proof of concepts, hackathon projects, and experimental DApps developed with Cartesi Rollups can be explored on Rollup Lab.