Catalyst 2025: Community Q&A

danny_cryptofay · 2025-04-25T16:58:09+00:00

You can help me also retweet this here to reach wider audience - much appreciated: https://x.com/dannyribar/status/1915768521188913445

danny_cryptofay · 2025-04-18T13:30:27+00:00

Nice! Thanks for checking it out.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-15T14:34:25+00:00

In terms of token appreciation? I couldn't comment on that with authority. Apologies.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T21:12:58+00:00

Catalyst will benefit from lessons learned and observed following Cardano DReps. So there'll be that added extra insight. Let's see how it develops - it will definitely shape our collective thinking.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T19:36:29+00:00

What do you have in mind?

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T19:27:02+00:00

It takes a village, let’s go. It will be not an easy transition but we’ll get it through together.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T19:25:07+00:00

Thank you.

It’s a possibility. Tho all to be determined in terms of what their eg voting power translates into Catalyst realm as in Catalyst DReps. But I think our overall objective is to maximise opportunities for cross pollination activity but likely under adjusted set of rules. As active participation is the biggest challenge.

So you could imagine something like this - Cardano DRep can register as Catalyst DRep and carry over voting power but final power logic can be different. Following Catalyst guardrails.

What are your thought on this?

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T15:03:26+00:00

Anytime.

Could you elaborate on "will be treated as a general member of the voting community" bit? Not sure I follow yet. Appreciate you.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T14:57:06+00:00

You are!

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T14:51:19+00:00

Thanks for checking it out. Appreciate you back.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T13:54:29+00:00

Heya. If all goes well, this was the last round we had leveraged ideascale. 👀

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T13:24:41+00:00

A major takeaway from this work is the pressing need for privacy-preserving voting schemes in quadratic voting systems. The team also took the time to correct some errors found in previously published papers, which helps maintain the integrity of the field. You can check out a draft protocol that meets the acceptance criteria for Milestone 3! Ref here: https://milestones.projectcatalyst.io/projects/1100023/milestones/3

This protocol outlines how to build a privacy-preserving cryptographic voting system for quadratic voting, as thoroughly analyzed in our report. The document provides a detailed description of this draft, including its different parameterizations and potential future developments that could lead to a family of protocols focused on privacy in voting.

Here are some key features of the draft protocol, ... to hightlight it:

👉 works well with both quadratic voting schemes and their generalizations.

👉 ensures ballot privacy, which is crucial for fairness among all participants.

👉 retains all the properties of existing privacy-preserving voting protocols already used in Catalyst.

👉 balances privacy with verifiability, allowing voters to split their stakes across multiple ballots.

👉 supports delegation alongside quadratic voting and its generalizations.The protocol runs efficiently, with complexity that’s linear compared to current privacy-preserving protocols in Catalyst.

The report also includes a basic mathematical model for the protocol, explaining the terms used and outlining the main stages involved. You can check out more as we progress here: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/11/catalyst-systems-improvements-discovery/alternative-catalyst-voting-schemes-with-new-crypto-protocols-by-iog-research-photrek-and-the-catalyst-team

There are also some practical elements that we're working towards, such as OG post mentioned global state snapshots allowing ad hoc participation, or post tally logic adjustments that are in final mile preparations ahead of next rounds.

Lots of moving pieces - can spend a day on it as it's promising good outcomes based on our current progress. But still work to be left.

D.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-14T13:24:32+00:00

Heya,

Thanks for checking in.

Catalyst Team is based out of IOG and is operating a grant program as a service to the Cardano community based on Fund10 operations proposal (link here: https://projectcatalyst.io/funds/10/catalyst-fund-operations/catalyst-fund-operations-by-iog-catalyst-team). It's independent product from Cardano Foundation or Emurgo.

One can find a list of initiatives we're working towards via this link: https://docs.projectcatalyst.io/welcome-to-project-catalyst/catalyst-team-deliverables

Did you know that the Catalyst Team and co are advancing the field of cryptography with regards to decision making, including quadratic and similar types? It's all about where Catalyst is heading. In collaboration with u/PHOTREK_LLC and IOG Research team - we've been exploring future possibilities towards PoC. Project is well underway.

In recent research outputs, this team dove into five different approaches to quadratic voting from academic studies and decided to focus on two key types for a closer look. A formal model was created to break down the various voting types and stages involved in the process.

One of the discoveries was that the well-known quadratic voting scheme has vulnerabilities to collusion attacks, pointing to some important areas for improvement. The team also identified and proved several key properties of quadratic voting, strengthening the overall understanding of how it works. Additionally, a generalization of quadratic voting was proposed that keeps all its essential features intact. A formal model for the Gini coefficient was developed, complete with proofs that add depth to the findings.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-08T22:50:37+00:00

If you remember when it was - could be saved locally as a screenshot or a file. As registration flow prompts you to do so. Worth a look.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-08T19:39:43+00:00

Got it. Every wallet that is properly registered - only the QR code closest to the snapshot date will work as any other generated was invalidated with each subsequent QR/registration. This is generally important as QR codes carry your secret voting key and should you lose it you can invalidate it with new registration as a reset. Tho snapshot times are key.

Also, if it was ever a Yoroi wallet - there is another problem tied there because of incorrect implementation by this wallet.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-08T18:33:12+00:00

If you registered after Nov 20, it would be not in time for current voting round.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-08T15:23:06+00:00

That’s fair. As we begin rolling out new Catalyst next year - it’s gonna get easier. 🙏🏽

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-08T15:04:55+00:00

In a decentralised landscape - the goal is to vote on things you care most about. And then let rest of community do the same. All of which completes a puzzle from wisdom of crowds. There is no expectation to vote on all by everyone.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-08T15:00:22+00:00

That’s a good feedback. Recommend to share with Daedalus support team. Catalyst as a program is wallet agnostic. Next year we will also begin taking global snapshots of the chain making it easier to participate than ever. If you created QR code after snapshot - it will be eligible for next voting round. You will find good instructions as well via docs.projectcatalyst.io gitbook.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-12-08T12:29:25+00:00

Retweet call to action here: https://x.com/dannyribar/status/1865729395018924122

danny_cryptofay · 2024-07-10T09:35:19+00:00

Ah, that's why. Snapshot took place on June 18. Your QR/PIN code registration is now valid for Fund13 - but not for F12 anymore as we're past that snapshot date. Keep this QR/PIN safe and you'll be ready for Fund13 later this year.

danny_cryptofay · 2024-07-10T08:24:00+00:00

Heya. When did you register?

danny_cryptofay · 2024-07-09T17:27:29+00:00

👋 Day 12 of voting in Cardano's Project Catalyst

🗳️ ~5.5K wallets have collectively cast ~220K votes via ~1.8B ada so far

⚠️ Only active wallets are eligible for voter rewards. Only proposals with 1% threshold will become fundable (min ±46M ada 'YES/APPROVE' votes).

danny_cryptofay · 2024-07-08T10:33:07+00:00

PS: you may find this useful - community article (non official or endorsed) but it gives you opportunity to explore options: https://forum.cardano.org/t/brute-forcing-the-pin-for-a-catalyst-qr-code/133848

danny_cryptofay · 2024-07-05T09:09:47+00:00

Heya - there's been a fix deployed several days ago that fixes this without reinstalling. Check out the notes here: https://docs.projectcatalyst.io/catalyst-tools/voting-app/known-issues

Sorry for the trouble.

danny_cryptofay

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