Signalling Proposal to Whitelist the Deployment of InterChain NFT Contracts

Hub Proposals
21

Your commitment to providing clarifications in such a productive and constructive manner is truly commendable. We hope all contributors to Hub governance demonstrate this level of engagement when addressing feedback and defending their proposals. As stated before, we are not entirely against the proposal but are seeking more context and a clear purpose before reaching on-chain consensus. It’s encouraging to see you adopting this positive approach, as it benefits everyone involved: we gain a deeper understanding of your project and vision, the community gains greater clarity, and you benefit from refining your proposal, enhancing its chances of successful on-chain approval.

Returning to the topic, we appreciate the additional precision you provided regarding your vision and the utility this functionality could bring to the Hub in the context of its core principles: security and governance. In particular, we valued the following points from your latest response:

This directly addresses our primary concern, illustrating a practical use case where the Hub’s security could play a pivotal role in your design. Such a clear example helps everyone understand how this proposal could provide tangible benefits.

Again, this highlights a strong use case leveraging the Hub’s security. We encourage your team to elaborate on the selective criteria (if any) that will govern which projects can utilize this platform. This is critical to addressing concerns about opening the Hub to indiscriminate NFT minting, which could introduce risks. Specifically, bloating the chain with complex WASM transactions may inadvertently degrade the performance of the Hub’s core functionalities, such as interchain security, but also the regular slashing, governance, staking, bank and accounts module operations.

To clarify, we have never questioned your team’s reputation or the demand for your project. Our primary focus remains on understanding the rationale for deploying on the Hub versus alternative strategies. While you have provided strong arguments justifying the use of the Hub’s security enclave, we would like to see further details regarding the risk mitigation strategies your project plans to implement. This ensures the system has safeguards to prevent potential attack vectors that could disrupt the Hub’s core activities.

We look forward to your response as we continue this constructive discussion :slightly_smiling_face:.

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22

I have no issue with this platform being launched on the hub, as long as it does not impact security or unnecessarily congest the hub.
However, I believe that the best approach would be to make StarGaze a PSS and use it as a proxy if this chain ever wants to become one.
Overall, I think this could be good for the hub and promote its usage. However, I believe it is necessary and essential to highlight consumer chains and build their loyalty. I also generally agree with Quentin’s perspective on this matter.

Your faithfully

Guinch

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23

Disclaimer: I’m the founder of Ark Protocol.

Let’s talk about governance, DAODAO allows creating 3 kinds of DAOs: multisig-, token- and NFT-based DAOs.

The latter allows users voting based on their NFTs they hold.

They also see that by NFTs going InterChain is the missing link for DAODAO going fully interchain.

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In fact we have discussed this closely with Noah and Jake on this matter, doing lots of tests, providing feedback and suggesting more interchain utilities:

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What do we envision here? Simple:

DAODAO + InterChain NFT contracts on the hub => safe harbor and governance on the Hub for users and their assets like NFTs and $ATOM!

Example: users demands ONE tool for handling all activities for their assets. DAODAO to the rescue! So ucer can do this:

  • setup DAO e.g. on Neutron or on any other chain user prefers
  • setup ICA e.g. on Cosmos Hub
  • ICA account/wallet is linked to its owned DAO
  • owned DAO is linked to its wallet e.g. Neutron
  • optionally: define additional backup wallets for controlling DAO
  • transfer all assets e.g. to ICA account on the hub

User can now e.g. vote and stake using DAO from any chain using DAODAO (and ICA). User can also vote on other DAOs like where NFTs and $ATOM are eligible to vote - either by its wallet or through its own DAO.

In fact there are even more we have planned in the near future: like we want to showcase latest version of nft contract/cw721 - aka genetic NFTs. Basically NFTs are not static anymore and onchain metadata can be updated at any time.

Like passports IRL we plan having pages inside of it. Like a “Hub Governance” page with links e.g. to proposals, security alerts, rewards and grants. We aim to provide a passport for each wallet (so there will be a free, community passport)

So passport holders has all relevant infos in one place. Imagine a “personalized web3-browser” based on users assets and activities.

Simply said: NFTs like passport will utilize security and governances coming e.g. with ICA and DAODAO.

This may be offtopic, but it shows the vision we have in mind on the long-term! But for that(!) we first need to provide the foundational infrastructure for this:

InterChain NFTs on the Hub - for boosting Security, Governance, but also(!) consumer-based utilities (e.g. swaps, defi, airdrops, staking, etc.).

Pls lemme know whether this satifies your answer or what else needs to be clarified. We’d like to have everyone on board and seeing this as a huge opportunity in cementing the Hub’s role across Cosmos!

We def have other options for going on other chains. But we truly believe it fits BEST on the Hub - and nowhere else!

Im Germany we say: Es passt wie die Faust ins Auge ;).

Bon courage, monsieur in defending and trying to beat my arguments :stuck_out_tongue:

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24

There is quite a lot more to unpack there! We had questions and you actually delivered convincing arguments.

We want to emphasize that our intention wasn’t to oppose the idea but to see a more detailed rationale to weigh against the potential risks. From what you’ve outlined, we can see the broader vision and the potential benefits the proposal brings, especially in terms of governance and use of Hub’s security. You even showcase very interesting use cases involving a combination of both, which we absolutely love.

Your examples provide much-needed clarity, and they effectively address several of our earlier concerns. At this stage, we’ve shifted from skepticism to a more optimistic view of the proposal. However, we still believe there’s value in further elaborating on the risk mitigation strategies you foresee (if any), particularly regarding any unwanted impact on core Hub operations or possible vulnerabilities.

With these final clarifications, we’d feel confident moving forward with a positive vote. Thank you again for engaging constructively and helping to advance the discussion.

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25

Thx again for your constructive feedback - really enjoying this convo!

… we still believe there’s value in further elaborating on the risk mitigation strategies you foresee (if any), particularly regarding any unwanted impact on core Hub operations or possible vulnerabilities. …

Gated Bridge with Outgoing and Incoming Proxy

The incoming proxy whitelists IBC channels. This guarantees only known and secure chains are eligible for bridging to the Hub. Compromised chains are WLed by IBC channels.

Same goes for outgoing proxy: NFTs can only bridge from the chain to WLed channels (=chains). In addition outgoing proxy has more gated/WL features:

  • collection (addresses): only WLed collections can transfer/be bridged from the hub to other chains (and vice versa)
  • cw721 checksums: only collections using supported, official cw721 (based on checksums) can transfer
  • rate limiter: only a given number (X) of NFTs per block can be bridged

As a last resort we have a build-in pauser msg, allowing ICS721/bridge contract to halt and not excepting any transfer.

All of these has been battle tested by our interchain contracts deployed on Osmosis, Stargaze, Terra and Juno. We have deployed them on Injected, Neutron and Migaloo as well and will release those soon as well.

During Game of NFTs a participant was able to show show case a vector attack with a malicious cw721 contract and congest all involved chains!

The module-based ics721 bridge isnt able to cope with it. This cant happen with the cw-ics721 based, due to the incoming and outgoing proxy. That’s why Ark made 1st place during GoN event and won 3 additional awards for Public Goods, Best Promoter and Bug Hunters: ScoreCard | Game of NFTs

Together with DAODAO, IBC, ICA and other cool interchain features and protocols moving to the hub - the future looks bright!

We believe our vision is 100% aligned with the Hub’s mission and especially to strengthen security and governance - together with all involved parties here!

Long Live Cosmos Hub and $ATOM.

LFGrow!

HTH, Mr T - Ark Protocol

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26

Ty, ser. Just want to emphasize and being fully aware of your VERY constructive feedback and being open to this. From the convo it is clear your are not opposing against this prop - actually you helped us a lot with your concerns. In my initial draft I had that in mind - but was concerned that it would blow the whole prop and no ONE will be interested into this elaborated vision we have in mind.

Again, thx a ton! Validators like you bring a lot of value to the Hub. Invaluable and priceless!

We’ll defintely recommend peeps staking for PRO Delegators!

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27

Some more notes on security. Remember the IBC Hooks exploit hurting Astroport? This wont happen with our callbacks provided by ICS721. This was implemented e.g. for Terra:

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IBC Protocol also interviewed us and asking for feedback about IBC Hooks and how we’ve implemented callbacks. They’ve tweeted a technical paper we wrote and we did a presentation to their audience, showcasing cw-ics721:

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Paper can be found here. We’re officially listed in their IBC Resource Catalog.

These are some of our proven records demonstrating where we at and who recognizes our interchain efforts in Cosmos.

HTH, Mr T

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28

The hub can very well remain minimalist and focus on its infrastructures and PSS without completely closing the door to all features and opportunities.

The goal is not to compete with Stargaze, however it is important to not underestimate network effects and community engagement. I see chains with 1/10 of ATOM’s market cap receiving way more support and general hype from outside. They all have discords, roles, activity and engaged users gathering behind NFT acting like a badge. This have the effect to galvanize users behind a chain. ATOM has none of that, because of the minimalist aspect, all the political dramas, bad price action and low ICS rewards, no NFT, no apps, there is like Syed said no real users, people come, stake, claim, sell rewards, leave. The culture around ATOM isn’t strong on the positive side. It’s becoming a meme.

I see Ark and the general Idea of NFT brigde, community ownDao, NFT as a badge, web3 citizen-ship a good way for ATOM to bring something new and big. I’m not talking about flooding atom with low quality random inscriptions but rather creating the first ATOM NFT badge, funded and owned by the community, could have its node or owned Dao and gatekeeping/whitelisting other NFTs from other chains that also acte as a badge (i’m already thinking of a few) to be trade or stored on the Hub. This way ATOM stay a center piece of the interchain web3 citizenship narrative without really competing with existing services.

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29

Pls check our recent convo with Govmos above, regarding Security and Governance. From this perspective, we see the need for NFTs on the hub because:

  • NFT data are best secured on the hub and
  • NFT governance will be utiliized via DAODAO
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30

Here as well: we’ve outline the need of NFTs from the Hub’s perspective of Security and Governance in above convo.

Would this reasoning help you and Quentin to vote YES on this?

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31

I will vote Yes. Hub need to evolve and minimalism would be appreciated on Atone.

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32

As I said in my post I like to see the hub in a conservative way, by conservative I mean a chain of governance as safe as possible, you managed to sell it to me in the right way, I will vote yes

6 Likes
33

The details provided in this response sufficiently address the key concerns we had regarding the potential risks to the Hub. With the guarantees outlined here and in your previous explanations, we feel confident in shifting to a positive stance on this proposal.

Thank you for your thorough and active engagement in addressing our questions—it has been instrumental in reaching this conclusion.

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34

Just wanted to quickly chime in and say thanks to everyone engaging in this discussion.

And also massive props to @ark_team and @mr-t for addressing all the comments and queries!

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35

Update/Summary: Emphasizing Both Security and Governance – Protecting Valuable NFT Assets and Enhancing Governance on the Cosmos Hub

Following further discussions on the Cosmos Hub forum, we have received insightful feedback highlighting the critical importance of focusing on both Security and Governance in our proposal. We appreciate the community’s engagement and would like to address these points directly, reinforcing how our initiative aligns with the Hub’s mission and enhances both the security of valuable NFT assets and governance mechanisms.

We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to @Govmos, @Quentin, and @Guinch_Roze for their constructive feedback. Through our discussions, we were able to address their concerns, and they have expressed their support for this proposal.

The Cosmos Hub as the Secure Foundation for NFTs

Each chain in the Cosmos ecosystem offers unique potentials and faces different risks. The Cosmos Hub is recognized as probably the most secure chain, making it an ideal place to store and protect valuable data assets like NFTs.

NFTs as Valuable Data Stores

  • NFTs represent valuable data that requires robust security and protection.
  • By storing NFTs on the Cosmos Hub, we leverage its strong security measures to safeguard these assets against potential risks inherent in other chains.
  • Ark’s goal is to make the Hub the NFT hub as well, ensuring that these valuable data stores are secured and protected at the highest level.

Learning from the UST Depeg on Terra

  • The UST depeg event on Terra is a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities that can impact blockchain assets.
  • During this crisis, users were unable to bridge and secure their NFTs, leading to significant losses for the community.
  • Had these NFTs been stored on the Cosmos Hub, the community could have protected their assets, demonstrating the vital need for a secure base for valuable digital assets.
  • This event underscores the importance of having NFTs on the Hub to provide a safe harbor in times of network instability elsewhere.

References

Check out these comments above:

Enhancing Governance Through Secure NFTs

Integrating NFTs on the Hub not only secures valuable assets but also significantly enhances governance mechanisms:

  • Empowering NFT-Based Governance Models:

    • Platforms like DAODAO enable users to participate in governance using their NFTs and $ATOM holdings.
    • NFT-based DAOs allow for more inclusive, flexible, and decentralized governance structures.
    • This integration strengthens the democratic processes within the Cosmos Hub, giving users more ways to engage and influence decisions.

  • Unified Governance Across Chains:

    • By utilizing Interchain Accounts (ICA) and Interchain NFTs, users can manage assets and participate in governance across multiple chains, all while leveraging the Hub’s security.
    • This creates a seamless governance experience, enhancing user engagement and the effectiveness of governance processes.

References

Check out these comments above:

Ark Protocol’s Commitment to Security and Governance

Our mission is to enhance the Cosmos Hub’s role in Security and Governance by:

  • Providing robust security measures for NFTs through our Interchain NFT contracts.
  • Implementing features like gated bridges with incoming and outgoing proxies, which whitelist IBC channels and collections to ensure only legitimate and secure interactions.
  • Utilizing emergency controls and pauser messages to halt operations if anomalies are detected, protecting the Hub from potential threats.
  • Facilitating advanced governance capabilities by enabling NFT-based governance models and supporting platforms like DAODAO.
  • Ensuring our contracts are thoroughly audited by reputable firms like Oak Security and SCV Security, reflecting our dedication to maintaining the highest security and governance standards.

Aligning with the Hub’s Mission

Our proposal aligns with the Cosmos Hub’s focus on Security and Governance by:

  • Strengthening Security:

    • Storing NFTs on the Hub ensures that these valuable data assets are protected by the chain’s robust security infrastructure.
    • Our security measures mitigate risks associated with introducing CosmWasm contracts, ensuring the Hub’s core functionalities remain uncompromised.

  • Enhancing Governance:

    • By enabling NFT-based governance models, we contribute to the evolution of the Hub’s governance capabilities, making them more versatile and user-centric.
    • Users gain more avenues to participate in decision-making processes, strengthening the democratic foundation of the Cosmos Hub.

Conclusion

By focusing on both Security and Governance, our proposal seeks to:

  • Make the Cosmos Hub the safest place for valuable NFT assets, protecting the community against potential risks and vulnerabilities present in other chains.
  • Enhance the Hub’s governance mechanisms, empowering users to engage more actively and meaningfully in governance processes through NFT-based models.
  • Provide a secure foundation for NFTs, learning from past events like the UST depeg on Terra, where the inability to secure NFTs led to significant losses.
  • Strengthen the Cosmos Hub’s role in the broader ecosystem, not only as a provider of interchain security and governance but also as a protector of valuable digital assets and facilitator of advanced governance models.

We believe that integrating Interchain NFT functionalities on the Cosmos Hub is a strategic move that aligns with the Hub’s mission and offers significant benefits to the entire Cosmos ecosystem.

We invite the community and validators to support this initiative, recognizing the critical importance of both security and governance in protecting valuable NFT assets and enhancing the Hub’s governance structures.

Call to Action

  • Validators and Community Members:

    • We encourage you to consider the updated focus on Security and Governance in our proposal.
    • Your support is crucial in making the Cosmos Hub the secure foundation for NFTs and enhancing governance mechanisms for all users.

  • Ongoing Engagement:

    • We remain committed to open dialogue and welcome any further questions or feedback.
    • Together, we can enhance the security and governance of the Cosmos Hub, benefiting all stakeholders.

We are grateful for your continued engagement and look forward to collaborating to strengthen the Cosmos Hub’s ecosystem.

Thank you for your support and consideration.

Sincerely,

The Ark Protocol Team

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36

The difference between the initial proposition and this updated version is staggering :slightly_smiling_face:

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37

Good follow-up proposal. I’d vote yes.

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38

you have my YES vote .

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39

Yet another update. Check out this summary of Mad Scientists Spaces we had with Zerk.

tl;dr:

  • NFTs + Inscriptions = Stronger together
  • Ark Protocol and Asteroid Protocol will merge together

Long live $ATOM!

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40

Would like to also chime in here and say the Ark team has been very professional and enthusiastic in our engagements, from the productive discussions below I feel more confident than ever to support them.

Also appreciate @Govmos inputs and willingness to support this team. Beautiful things are coming and couldn’t be more excited.

This may have also been one of the healthiest discussions I have seen in a while so kudos to all of you.

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