The network coordinator
The network coordinator is responsible for:
- Setup
- Collecting pre-genesis public keys
- Allocating pre-genesis NAM balances
- Collecting pre-genesis transactions
- Generating the genesis block
Setup
The genesis ceremony preparation includes creating a coordinated location for the pre-genesis network participants to submit their public keys. The network coordinator is responsible for setting up this location. Conventionally, the network coordinator will host a git repository that allows the pre-genesis network participants to submit their public keys. The network coordinator must ensure that the git repository is publicly accessible and that the pre-genesis network participants are able to submit their public keys in a secure manner.
Further, the network coordinator is responsible for making clear timelines for the various steps in the genesis ceremony. The network coordinator must ensure that the pre-genesis network participants are aware of the timelines and that they are able to submit their public keys, transactions, and be online in due time.
Collecting pre-genesis public keys
The ceremony begins by the network coordinator collecting the public keys of the pre-genesis network participants. The network coordinator must ensure that the total number of pre-genesis public keys collected is equal to the total number of pre-genesis network participants.
Conventionally, the network coordinator hosts a git repository that allows the pre-genesis network participants to submit their public keys. The network coordinator must ensure that the git repository is publicly accessible and that the pre-genesis network participants are able to submit their public keys in a secure manner.
Allocating pre-genesis NAM balances
Once the participants have submitted their keys and addresses the network coordinator must allocate balances to these addresses/public keys. The coordinator will often have prior identity information associated with desired balances, which they will then associate with the public keys and addresses in order to set the correct balances in balances.toml. The coordinator must also ensure that the total pre-genesis NAM balances allocated to the pre-genesis network participants is equal to the total NAM supply.
After this is completed, the network coordinator will publish the balances.toml file that contains the pre-genesis NAM balances allocated to the pre-genesis network participants. The balances.toml file should be published in the same location as the pre-genesis public keys were submitted.
Collecting pre-genesis transactions
Once the participants have submitted their keys and addresses the network coordinator must collect the signed pre-genesis transactions from the pre-genesis network participants. The network coordinator must ensure that the total number of pre-genesis transaction files collected is equal to the total number of pre-genesis network participants.
The network coordinator then aggregates these transaction files into one file and saves it as the transactions.toml file to be used in the generation of the genesis block.
The transactions.toml file is validated by the network coordinator to ensure that each transaction has been correctly signed by each pre-genesis network participant. The network coordinator must ensure that the transactions.toml file is valid before proceeding to the next step.
Generating the genesis block
Once the network coordinator has collected the pre-genesis public keys, allocated pre-genesis NAM balances, and collected pre-genesis transactions, the network coordinator is ready to generate the genesis block.