• Beacon chains enhance scalability, security, and efficient shard coordination in proof-of-stake blockchain networks, such as Ethereum (ETH) or Polkadot (DOT).
• They manage validators, generate randomness, and finalize data across shard chains. Sometimes used for advanced multi-chain capabilities.
• If you are a developer, Tatum provides APIs and SDKs to simplify interaction with beacon chains.

Blockchain networks face persistent challenges like scalability, security, and interoperability. To address these, some networks have adopted a beacon chain, a core component that manages validators, coordinates shard chains, and ensures the network’s overall stability and performance. As a central layer in Proof of Stake (PoS) systems, beacon chains provide scalability and decentralization without compromising security.

We are going to focus on the technical architecture of beacon chains, while also heavily discussing how you can work with beacon chains utilizing Tatum’s SDKs and APIs. There will be a lot of code!

What is a Beacon Chain?

You could call a beacon chain the backbone of specific blockchain architectures, such as those with Proof of Stake consensus mechanisms (however, not all PoS chains have it). Its primary purpose is coordinating network activities in sharded blockchains or multi-layer ecosystems. In theory, beacon chains could run on other than PoS chains, but in practice, they have been specifically designed to work with them.

Key Functions of a Beacon Chain

• Validator Management:
  • It rotates and tracks validators periodically. This is a component of what makes PoS chains decentralized.
  • Malicious behavior, such as double-signing or validator downtime, is minimized by slashing mechanisms controlled by a beacon chain.
  • Rewards validators for consensus participation.
• Randomness Generation:
  • Produces secure randomness using techniques like RANDAO (Random Number as a DAO) or Verifiable Delay Functions (VDFs).
  • Provides unbiased validator selection for block proposals and shard assignments.
• Data Finalization:
  • Processes and finalizes transactions across shards.
  • Uses checkpointing mechanisms to reinforce immutability.
• Security and Resilience:
  • Synchronizes shards and maintains robust security against chain-reorganization attacks.

[.c-wr-center][.button-black]Start Now for Free[.button-black][.c-wr-center]

How Beacon Chains Differ from Traditional Blockchains

Traditional blockchains process all transactions sequentially on a single chain. This monolithic design leads to scalability bottlenecks. Beacon chains overcome this by introducing sharding, where the network is divided into smaller units (shards) that process transactions in parallel. The beacon chain coordinates these shards to maintain a unified state.

Why Would Projects Implement a Beacon Chain?

By enabling advanced network capabilities, beacon chains solve fundamental design challenges of the blockchain industry.

Scalability

As we already discussed, the support of shard chains is one of the most widely accepted scalability solutions. This parallel processing drastically increases transaction throughput compared to monolithic blockchains.

Enhanced Security

Beacon chains use cryptographic randomness to assign validators and prevent collusion. Some claim this increases security, while others argue it compromises it. The position depends on whether you believe PoS is more secure than PoW or not.

Energy Efficiency

PoS-based beacon chains are significantly more energy-efficient than PoW systems. They eliminate the need for resource-intensive mining.

Interoperability

Beacon chains enable smooth communication between shards or subnets, which facilitates data and asset transfer across the network. This makes them ideal for multi-chain ecosystems.

Let us consider an example: Ethereum’s beacon chain reduces energy usage by 99.9% compared to PoW. It also lays the groundwork for shard chains that can scale to thousands of transactions per second.

[.c-box-wrapper][.c-box][.c-text-center]You might be interested in: What Are Blockchain Validiums, and How They Work[.c-text-center][.c-box][.c-box-wrapper]

Which Networks Use Beacon Chains or Similar Architectures?

Before we list the examples, there is an important note: Each listed chain has different uses for its beacon chain, even if some aspects might be similar.

Ethereum

Ethereum’s beacon chain manages its PoS consensus and coordinates validator assignments. It introduced significant architectural changes:

• Checkpoint Finality: Uses Casper FFG (Friendly Finality Gadget) to finalize blocks efficiently.
• Transition from PoW to PoS: Reduced energy consumption by transitioning away from mining.
• Sharding Foundation: Prepares Ethereum for shard chains, which will increase throughput while maintaining decentralization. Sharding is currently key to Ethereum's innovation.

Polkadot

Polkadot’s Relay Chain serves a role similar to a beacon chain, connecting its parachains. It enables:

• Shared Security: Parachains inherit the Relay Chain’s robust security model.
• Cross-Chain Communication: Allows data and asset transfers between parachains using the XCMP (Cross-Chain Message Passing) protocol.
• Custom Blockchains: Developers can build specialized parachains optimized for unique use cases.

DFINITY (Internet Computer)

DFINITY’s beacon chain provides:

• Randomness Generation: Ensures unbiased validator selection using Threshold Relay protocols.
• Subnet Coordination: Manages independently operating subnets to create a decentralized internet.
• Web-Scale Applications: Allows developers to deploy applications directly on-chain without external infrastructure.

Harmony

Harmony’s beacon chain work mainly revolves around the secure management of shards:

• Rotating validators across shards to ensure decentralization.
• Synchronizing shard states with low latency enables Harmony to achieve two-second finality. This means transactions are confirmed and finalized on the blockchain within two seconds.
• Supporting high-throughput applications like DeFi and NFT platforms.

[.c-box-wrapper][.c-box][.c-text-center]You might be interested in: Understanding Mempool in Blockchain[.c-text-center][.c-box][.c-box-wrapper]

Near Protocol

Near Protocol’s beacon chain-like architecture maintains shard synchronization through a specific mechanism called Nightshade:

• Dynamic Sharding: Automatically adjusts shard resources based on network demand.
• Efficient Validator Rotations: Uses secure randomness to assign validators dynamically.
• Developer Accessibility: Provides user-friendly SDKs for Web3 applications.

Zilliqa

Zilliqa was the first blockchain to implement sharding. Its Directory Service Committee acts as a beacon chain by:

• Managing shard states and finalizing transactions.
• Ensuring linear scalability, where performance increases as new shards are added.

Note: The Directory Service Committee is a technical and protocol-based system, not a group of individuals.

Elrond

Elrond’s Metachain operates as a beacon chain by validating shard blocks and synchronizing the network:

• Adaptive State Sharding: Combines state, transaction, and network sharding for maximum efficiency.
• Enterprise-Grade Scalability: Supports high-throughput applications with low latency.

QuarkChain

Root Chain, QuarkChain’s beacon chain, coordinates its shards by:

• Safeguarding data consistency and synchronization across all shards.
• Supporting cross-shard transactions with minimal delays.

Cosmos

Cosmos Hub acts as a beacon chain within its ecosystem:

• Uses IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication) to connect independent blockchains (zones).
• Prioritizes interoperability. Data and asset exchange across zones are available.

Avalanche

Avalanche’s Primary Network oversees the coordination of subnets:

• Subnets operate independently but adhere to the primary network’s consensus.
• Offers unparalleled flexibility for building custom blockchain solutions.

[.c-box-wrapper][.c-box][.c-text-center]You might be interested in: 15 Books for Blockchain Developers[.c-text-center][.c-box][.c-box-wrapper]

Working with Beacon Chains Using Tatum

Tatum simplifies developer interaction with beacon chains by providing APIs and SDKs for querying network data, monitoring validators, and submitting transactions. Let’s dive deeper into it.

API Integration with Beacon Chains Using Tatum

Integrating with a beacon chain can seem daunting, but Tatum simplifies the process. This is achieved through intuitive APIs and SDKs for a variety of use cases. This chapter will guide you through setting up your environment and using Tatum’s APIs to work with beacon chains.

First of all, you need to check if your environment is properly configured:

Step 1: Sign Up for Tatum

Visit Tatum’s website and create an account for free. Obtain your API key from the dashboard. Then, use it to set up the Tatum SDK. Alternatively, you can use REST API endpoints with tools like Postman or do it directly via HTTP requests.

To install the SDK using npm or yarn:

npm install @tatumio/tatum

Step 2: Configure Your Environment

Once you have your API key, the next step is to set up your environment to securely store and use it. The proper configuration safeguards smooth communication with the Tatum APIs.

a) Securely Store Your API Key:

Use environment variables to prevent exposing your API key directly in your code.

For example, create a .env file in your project directory and add your API key:

TATUM_API_KEY=your-api-key

Then, load the environment variable in your code using a library like dotenv (for Node.js):

require('dotenv').config();
const apiKey = process.env.TATUM_API_KEY;

b) Verify Dependencies:

Make sure you have the necessary dependencies installed for your project. For example:

npm install axios dotenv

c) Test Your Setup:

Before proceeding, test that your API key is correctly configured by making a simple API call, such as fetching server status:

const axios = require('axios');

const testSetup = async () => {
  const apiKey = process.env.TATUM_API_KEY;
  try {
    const response = await axios.get('https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/status', {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': apiKey },
    });
    console.log('Setup Successful:', response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Setup Failed:', error.message);
  }
};

testSetup();

With this, your environment is secure and functional. Choose and make direct API calls in the next step using this guide.

Step 3: Make a Direct API Call

Once configured in your environment, you can make direct API calls to interact with a beacon chain. This approach lets you quickly test functionality using REST API endpoints without additional libraries or SDKs.

Example: Retrieve Active Validators

Below is an example of a basic API call to fetch active validators on a beacon chain. You can test this in Postman, curl, or directly in your code.

API Endpoint:

GET https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/validators

Headers:

{
  "x-api-key": "your-api-key"
}

Using curl:

curl -X GET "https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/validators" \
-H "x-api-key: your-api-key"

Example: Query Shard Data

You can query specific shard data directly using the API. This helps analyze state synchronization or transactions within a shard.

API Endpoint:

GET https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/shard/{shardId}

Using curl:

curl -X GET "https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/shard/1" \
-H "x-api-key: your-api-key"

Replace {shardId} with the ID of the shard you want to query.

Simplifying Workflow

To further simplify your workflow, you can switch between using direct API calls or Tatum's SDK based on your project needs:

• For testing: Direct calls via REST API (e.g., curl or Postman).
• For production: Leverage the SDK for scalable and maintainable integrations.

Use environment variables to store your API key:

export TATUM_API_KEY=your-api-key

Additional Code Examples for Calling Beacon Chains with Tatum

Fetching Validator Information

Retrieve details about active validators on a beacon chain.

const axios = require('axios');

const fetchValidators = async () => {
  const apiKey = 'your-tatum-api-key';
  const url = 'https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/validators';

  try {
    const response = await axios.get(url, {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': apiKey },
    });
    console.log('Validators:', response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching validators:', error);
  }
};

fetchValidators();

Monitoring Beacon Chain Metrics

Tatum's APIs allow you to track the health and performance of the beacon chain.

const getBeaconMetrics = async () => {
  const apiKey = 'your-tatum-api-key';
  const url = 'https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/metrics';

  try {
    const response = await axios.get(url, {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': apiKey },
    });
    console.log('Beacon Chain Metrics:', response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching metrics:', error);
  }
};

getBeaconMetrics();

[.c-box-wrapper][.c-box][.c-text-center]You might be interested in: What Are Genesis Blocks in Blockchain Networks[.c-text-center][.c-box][.c-box-wrapper]

Retrieving Shard Data

Developers can query specific shard chain data for insights into transactions or state synchronization.

const fetchShardData = async (shardId) => {
  const apiKey = 'your-tatum-api-key';
  const url = `https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/shard/${shardId}`;

  try {
    const response = await axios.get(url, {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': apiKey },
    });
    console.log(`Data for Shard ${shardId}:`, response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching shard data:', error);
  }
};

fetchShardData(1); // Replace with the desired shard ID

Submitting Transactions to a Beacon Chain

You can send transactions using Tatum’s Ethereum API.

const Tatum = require('@tatumio/tatum');

const submitTransaction = async () => {
  const payload = {
    to: '0xRecipientAddress',
    value: '0.1', // Amount in ETH
    privateKey: 'your-private-key',
  };

  try {
    const result = await Tatum.sendEthereumTransaction(payload);
    console.log('Transaction Submitted:', result);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error submitting transaction:', error);
  }
};

submitTransaction();

Generating a Wallet for a Beacon Chain

Easily generate a wallet that can interact with Ethereum or beacon-chain-enabled networks.

const Tatum = require('@tatumio/tatum');

const generateWallet = async () => {
  try {
    const wallet = await Tatum.generateWallet('ETH'); // Replace 'ETH' with the desired blockchain
    console.log('Generated Wallet:', wallet);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error generating wallet:', error);
  }
};

generateWallet();

Retrieving Block Data from a Beacon Chain

Developers can fetch detailed information about blocks on the beacon chain.

const fetchBlockData = async (blockNumber) => {
  const apiKey = 'your-tatum-api-key';
  const url = `https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/block/${blockNumber}`;

  try {
    const response = await axios.get(url, {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': apiKey },
    });
    console.log(`Block ${blockNumber} Data:`, response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching block data:', error);
  }
};

fetchBlockData(123456); // Replace with the desired block number

[.c-box-wrapper][.c-box][.c-text-center]You might be interested in: How Does Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) Work and Which Projects Use It[.c-text-center][.c-box][.c-box-wrapper]

Estimating Gas Fees for Transactions

You can estimate gas fees for transactions to ensure your operations are cost-efficient.

const estimateGas = async () => {
  const apiKey = 'your-tatum-api-key';
  const url = 'https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/gas';

  try {
    const response = await axios.get(url, {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': apiKey },
    });
    console.log('Gas Fee Estimate:', response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error estimating gas fees:', error);
  }
};

estimateGas();

Cross-Chain Transfers via Beacon Chains

If your application involves shard or subnet transfers, Tatum supports cross-chain operations.

const executeCrossChainTransfer = async () => {
  const payload = {
    from: '0xSenderAddress',
    to: '0xRecipientAddress',
    value: '0.5', // Amount in ETH or other currency
    privateKey: 'your-private-key',
    chain: 'shard1', // Specify the source chain or shard
  };

  try {
    const result = await Tatum.sendTransaction(payload);
    console.log('Cross-Chain Transfer Successful:', result);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error executing cross-chain transfer:', error);
  }
};

executeCrossChainTransfer();

Fetching Account Balances

Retrieve the balance of an address on the beacon chain or shard chains.

const fetchBalance = async (address) => {
  const apiKey = 'your-tatum-api-key';
  const url = `https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/account/balance/${address}`;

  try {
    const response = await axios.get(url, {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': apiKey },
    });
    console.log(`Balance for ${address}:`, response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching balance:', error);
  }
};

fetchBalance('0xYourWalletAddress');

Fetching Transaction Details

Get detailed information about a specific transaction on the beacon chain.

const fetchTransactionDetails = async (transactionHash) => {
  const apiKey = 'your-tatum-api-key';
  const url = `https://api.tatum.io/v3/ethereum/transaction/${transactionHash}`;

  try {
    const response = await axios.get(url, {
      headers: { 'x-api-key': apiKey },
    });
    console.log('Transaction Details:', response.data);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching transaction details:', error);
  }
};

fetchTransactionDetails('0xTransactionHash'); // Replace with your transaction hash

Would you like to discuss this with other developers? Join our Discord!

[.c-wr-center][.button-black]Get Started for Free[.button-black][.c-wr-center]

‍