ARPA To Launch Its Randomness Generator ‘Randcast’

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ARPA, the privacy-preserving computation protocol for blockchain networks, has recently announced a significant update to its already eventful roadmap regarding the rapidly growing Metaverse space. 

The Metaverse is an online universe that blurs the lines between real and virtual worlds. Providing immersive digital experiences where people can play, work, meet, and interact with each other. It is looking like the next iteration of the internet. As the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 and everything moved to the digital landscape, Metaverse gained massive traction.

Mark Zuckerberg Recently stated his ambitious vision of turning Facebook into a Metaverse. Major tech companies like Google, Sony, HTC, and Tencent have started pouring in millions of dollars to make the Metaverse a reality. To add to this, NFTs — considered as the building blocks for the Metaverse — have seen exponential growth in 2021, with sales topping over $2B in the first quarter. 

In this essence, ARPA recently announced the development of Randcast, a Random Number Generator (RNG) that could act as a catalyst for the Metaverse development. While still in its infancy, the vision of the Metaverse largely relies on blockchain technology, NFTs, gaming, and cryptography, which in turn depend on random sequences of numbers for various purposes. 

Randomness in blockchain networks helps provide digital signatures, public and private keys, and block hashes, and NFTs depend on blockchain technology, making it a well-knit system. On the other hand, games rely on randomness to ensure that all players have a fair chance at winning.

ARPA believes that this randomness will become even more significant in the Metaverse. The project is in the works to build a randomness generator for the Metaverse. With Randcast, ARPA aims to create an architecture designed with the equipment of advanced encryption algorithms like BLS (Boneh-Lynn-Shacham), to bring true randomness into the marketplace. 

To achieve this, ARPA first considered building a BLS computing network and turned its attention to bridge Dfinity. The developers believe that this move can speed up the random number generation process and reduce the overall cost while still integrating BLS signatures as generators. The ARPA tech team is still researching and comparing the two approaches.

ARPA aims to complete the architectural design by the last quarter of 2021, with Randcast V1 expected to launch in the first quarter of 2022. The network claims that V1 would be a high-performing, cost-efficient version that makes it easy for developers to integrate with their work. The revenue generated from V1 would enhance the protocol and make it ready for the Metaverse. 

Up until last year, the Metaverse was only a hypothetical sci-fi concept. But now, thanks to blockchain technology and all its by-products, the Metaverse is slowly but surely becoming a reality. In a crucial time like this, ARPA’s Randcast could aid the developmental efforts of the Metaverse, catapulting its growth.  

Source: https://www.blockleaders.io/arpa-to-launch-its-randomness-generator-randcast/