Cartesi (CTSI)

Blockchain Development

Cartesi enables developers to build decentralized applications (dApps) using Linux and mainstream software stacks. This means they can use familiar programming languages, libraries, and tools to create complex and scalable blockchain apps, including AI and machine learning models.

Gaming

Cartesi allows game developers to create advanced web3 games by offloading heavy computations off-chain while keeping asset settlement and dispute resolution on-chain. This makes blockchain games faster, cheaper, and able to use powerful game engines and tools from traditional gaming.

Decentralized Finance (DeFi)

Cartesi supports complex financial tools and protocols on-chain with familiar programming environments. It helps DeFi apps overcome limitations in expressivity and computational resources, improving scalability and lowering transaction costs.

Layer 2 Solutions and Rollups

Cartesi provides app-specific optimistic rollups that give each dApp its own scalable and secure chain. This improves computational scalability without sacrificing decentralization or security, allowing faster and cheaper transactions.

Data Integration and IoT

Cartesi helps dApps securely process and combine off-chain data from multiple sources. For example, it enables smart contracts to analyze real-time and historical data for use cases like insurance claims triggered by climate conditions, integrating blockchain with IoT devices.

Decentralized Games Example

Cartesi has been used to build decentralized versions of complex games like Texas Hold’em Poker, demonstrating its ability to handle game logic, state challenges, and secure communication on blockchain with low fees and high speed.

Pros

• Cartesi uses optimistic rollups, which help improve scalability by running complex computations off-chain while keeping security on-chain.
• It supports Linux virtual machines, allowing developers to use familiar mainstream software stacks and programming languages like Python, making dApp development easier and more accessible.
• Cartesi-powered dApps benefit from predictable and stable fees due to dedicated network resources.
• The platform offers modular architecture, giving developers flexibility to customize their dApps for specific needs such as gas metering and data availability.
• It enables high throughput and low latency while maintaining security and decentralization.
• Cartesi supports multiple blockchains, including Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain, increasing deployment options.
• The system allows heavy off-chain computations to be verified on-chain at low cost, enhancing efficiency.
• Cartesi fosters innovation by allowing developers to build more sophisticated and scalable decentralized applications.

Cons

• Cartesi’s technology is complex, which may require a learning curve for developers and users.
• It faces competition from other layer-2 scaling solutions like Polygon, which use different techniques.
• The project needs to overcome challenges related to adoption and market competition to fully realize its vision.
• Recent market activity shows some decline in trading volume and price performance compared to other smart contract platforms.

Founders of Cartesi

Cartesi was founded in 2018 by Erick de Moura, Augusto Teixeira, Diego Nehab, Colin Steil, and Marco Mirabella. These founders bring together expertise in software engineering, mathematics, and business to create a platform that enables decentralized applications to run complex computations using a Linux-based virtual machine.

Key Founder Roles

• Erick de Moura: Co-Founder and CEO
• Augusto Teixeira: Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), with a PhD in Mathematics and a background in physics
• Diego Nehab: Co-Founder and CTO, also an Associate Professor at the Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics (IMPA)
• Colin Steil: Co-Founder and COO, with experience in venture capital and startup operations
• Marco Mirabella: Co-Founder and experienced entrepreneur

These founders envisioned Cartesi as a modular execution layer that bridges traditional software development with blockchain technology.

Investors in Cartesi

Cartesi has attracted investments from a variety of venture capital firms and institutional investors. Some of the known investors include Blocktech Ventures, Innovion (Serbia), Mindfulness Capital (Hong Kong), Iconium Blockchain Ventures, Lotus Capital (Middle East), Noir Ventures, Chinaccelerator, SOSV, Enterprise Ethereum Alliance, and coinIX. Overall, Cartesi has raised funding through multiple rounds with around 8 to 19 investors involved, including both regional and international backers.

Halal Status of Cartesi

Cartesi is considered halal because it uses a delegated proof-of-stake (PoS) model that avoids traditional interest-based returns. Instead, rewards come from participating in network security, which aligns with Islamic finance principles.

Reasoning

The staking mechanism in Cartesi does not involve riba (interest) but provides rewards for securing the network. This makes it compliant with Shariah guidelines that prohibit earning money from interest or gambling-like activities.