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cards/Alchemy.md

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+#show-card
+
+## Overview
+
+Alchemy is a comprehensive Web3 developer platform that provides infrastructure, APIs, and tools for building and scaling decentralized applications (dApps). It offers reliable access to multiple blockchain networks, including Ethereum, Polygon, Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, and others, aiming to simplify the complexities of blockchain interaction for developers.
+
+- **Problem Solved:** Addresses the challenges developers face in building, testing, deploying, and scaling dApps, particularly concerning node management, data indexing, and real-time monitoring.
+- **Value Proposition:** Provides a robust and scalable infrastructure platform with a suite of developer tools designed to accelerate dApp development and improve application performance and reliability.
+- **Official Website:** [https://www.alchemy.com/](https://www.alchemy.com/)
+- **Status:** Live and widely used by numerous Web3 projects, from startups to large enterprises.
+
+## Key Features
+
+- **Multi-Chain Node Access:** Offers Supernode API access to various blockchains, providing reliable and scalable connections for reading data and sending transactions.
+- **Alchemy Notify:** A webhook service that allows developers to receive real-time notifications for on-chain events (e.g., mined transactions, address activity, smart contract events).
+- **Alchemy Monitor:** A suite of tools for monitoring dApp performance, user activity, and infrastructure health.
+- **Enhanced APIs:** Provides specialized APIs beyond standard JSON-RPC, such as Alchemy Transact (for transaction propagation) and Alchemy Transfers API (for token transfer history).
+- **Alchemy SDK:** A software development kit to simplify interaction with Alchemy's APIs and common blockchain tasks.
+- **Data Indexing & Querying:** Offers solutions for accessing and querying indexed blockchain data, making it easier to retrieve historical information.
+- **Support for Account Abstraction:** Provides tools and infrastructure to support dApps leveraging ERC-4337 and account abstraction.
+
+## Technology
+
+- **Service Type:** Web3 Developer Platform, Blockchain-as-a-Service (BaaS).
+- **Core Offering:** Scalable node infrastructure, enhanced APIs, developer tools, and monitoring services.
+
+## Ecosystem & Use Cases
+
+- **Target Audience:** Web3 developers, dApp companies, DeFi projects, NFT platforms, and anyone building on supported blockchains.
+- **How It's Used:**
+  - Building and scaling dApp backends.
+  - Real-time monitoring of on-chain activity.
+  - Sending and managing transactions reliably.
+  - Retrieving complex blockchain data and analytics.
+  - Developing and testing smart contracts.
+
+## Getting Started & Resources
+
+- **Access:** Sign up on the Alchemy website for an API key and access to the platform.
+- **Documentation:** [https://docs.alchemy.com/](https://docs.alchemy.com/)
+- **University:** [https://university.alchemy.com/](https://university.alchemy.com/) (Learning resources)
+- **Community/Support:** Developer Discord, support channels.
+
+## Related Concepts
+
+- [[Ethereum]]
+- [[Nodes]]
+- [[API]]
+- [[dApps]]
+- [[Web3 Developer Platform]]

cards/Arbitrum.md

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 #show-card
 
->[!todo]
-> update this card
+## Overview
+
+Arbitrum is a leading Layer 2 (L2) scaling solution for Ethereum, developed by Offchain Labs. It aims to provide faster transaction speeds and lower fees compared to the Ethereum mainnet while inheriting its security. Arbitrum utilizes Optimistic Rollup technology and supports a vibrant ecosystem of decentralized applications (dApps).
+
+- **Problem Solved:** Addresses Ethereum's scalability limitations by processing transactions off-chain, reducing congestion and cost on the mainnet.
+- **Value Proposition:** Offers high throughput, low transaction fees, EVM compatibility, and a robust developer and user ecosystem.
+- **Official Website:** [https://arbitrum.io/](https://arbitrum.io/)
+- **Status:** Live (Arbitrum One mainnet, Arbitrum Nova for ultra-low cost transactions).
+
+## Key Features
+
+- **Optimistic Rollups:** Assumes transactions are valid by default and uses a fraud-proving mechanism for challenges.
+- **Arbitrum Virtual Machine (AVM):** While EVM compatible, it has its own execution environment designed for efficiency.
+- **Arbitrum Orbit:** A framework allowing projects to launch their own customizable Layer 3 chains that settle to Arbitrum Layer 2s.
+- **Stylus:** Enables smart contract development in multiple programming languages like Rust, C, and C++, in addition to Solidity, by compiling to WASM.
+- **Separate Chains (e.g., Arbitrum One, Arbitrum Nova):** Offers different chains tailored for various use cases (e.g., Arbitrum One for DeFi and NFTs, Arbitrum Nova for gaming and social applications with an AnyTrust chain).
+
+## Technology
+
+- **Blockchain/Platform:** Layer 2 solution built on [[Ethereum]].
+- **Architecture:** Sequencer batches transactions, posts data to Ethereum L1. Verifiers can challenge state via fraud proofs.
+- **Core Mechanism:** Optimistic Rollup with advanced fraud-proving capabilities.
+
+## Ecosystem & Use Cases
+
+- **Target Audience:** Developers, DeFi users, NFT traders, gamers, and applications requiring high throughput.
+- **How It's Used:** DeFi, NFTs, gaming, social applications, DAO governance.
+- **Tokenomics (ARB Token):** The ARB token is used for governance of the Arbitrum DAO.
+
+## Getting Started & Resources
+
+- **Access:** Add Arbitrum One or Nova to EVM-compatible wallets; use bridges to transfer assets.
+- **Documentation:** [https://developer.arbitrum.io/](https://developer.arbitrum.io/)
+- **Community:** Active Discord, Twitter, and governance forum.
+- **Bridge:** [https://bridge.arbitrum.io/](https://bridge.arbitrum.io/)
+
+## Related Concepts
+
+- [[Ethereum]]
+- [[Layer 2 Rollups]] (or [[Rollup]])
+- [[Optimistic Rollups]]
+- [[EVM]]

cards/Beacon Chain.md

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+#explain-card
+
+## Overview
+
+The **Beacon Chain** is a foundational component of Ethereum's Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. Launched on December 1, 2020, it initially ran separately from the Ethereum mainnet (which was then using Proof of Work). The Beacon Chain introduced the consensus logic for PoS, managed the registry of validators, and applied the consensus rules. Its primary role was to coordinate and attest to the state of shard chains (though full sharding was later deprioritized in favor of rollup-centric scaling) and, most importantly, to serve as the new consensus layer for Ethereum after [[The Merge]].
+
+- **Problem Solved:** Provided the PoS consensus mechanism for Ethereum, enabling a shift away from the energy-intensive Proof of Work model. It laid the groundwork for a more scalable and sustainable Ethereum.
+- **Value Proposition:** Manages validators, processes attestations and block proposals, and ensures the security and liveness of the Ethereum network under PoS.
+- **Status:** Live and fully integrated as Ethereum's consensus layer since [[The Merge]] in September 2022.
+
+## Key Features & Functionality
+
+- **Validator Management:** Maintains the set of active validators, processes their deposits and exits, and assigns them duties (proposing blocks, attesting to blocks).
+- **Attestations and Aggregation:** Validators submit attestations (votes) for blocks they deem valid. The Beacon Chain aggregates these attestations to achieve consensus.
+- **Block Proposal:** Selects validators to propose new blocks for the Ethereum network.
+- **Fork Choice Rule (LMD GHOST):** Implements the logic by which the canonical chain is identified, based on the accumulated weight of attestations.
+- **Randomness Generation (RANDAO):** Provides a source of pseudo-randomness used for selecting block proposers and committees.
+- **Crosslinks (Initially for Sharding):** Designed to validate and include the state of shard chains (this aspect evolved as the sharding roadmap changed).
+- **Synchronization with Execution Layer:** After [[The Merge]], the Beacon Chain provides the consensus (who proposes the next block, what is the canonical chain) while the execution layer (formerly mainnet) processes transactions and smart contracts.
+
+## Role in The Merge
+
+[[The Merge]] was the event where the original Ethereum mainnet (execution layer) officially adopted the Beacon Chain as its engine for consensus. Instead of miners validating blocks through PoW, the Beacon Chain's PoS validators took over this role. The execution layer listens to the Beacon Chain for instructions on which blocks are canonical and executes the transactions within them.
+
+## Related Concepts
+
+- [[Proof of stake]]
+- [[The Merge]]
+- [[Validator]]
+- [[Staking]]
+- [[Ethereum]]

cards/Dencun Upgrade (EIP-4844).md

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+#explain-card
+
+## Overview
+
+The **Dencun Upgrade** (also known as Cancun-Deneb) is a significant Ethereum network upgrade that went live on March 13, 2024. Its most notable feature is the introduction of **Proto-Danksharding** through **Ethereum Improvement Proposal 4844 (EIP-4844)**. This EIP aims to drastically reduce transaction fees for Layer 2 rollups and improve Ethereum's overall scalability by introducing a new way for rollups to post data to the Ethereum mainnet.
+
+- **Problem Solved:** High data posting costs for Layer 2 rollups on Ethereum Layer 1. Rollups previously used `CALLDATA` to submit transaction data, which is expensive as it's processed by all Ethereum nodes and stored on-chain indefinitely. EIP-4844 provides a cheaper, more efficient alternative.
+- **Value Proposition:** Significantly lowers Layer 2 transaction costs, making dApps on rollups more affordable and enhancing Ethereum's competitiveness as a scalable blockchain.
+- **Status:** Live on Ethereum since March 13, 2024.
+
+## Key Mechanisms of EIP-4844 (Proto-Danksharding)
+
+EIP-4844 introduces several key components:
+
+1.  \*\*Blob-Carrying Transactions (Blobs):
+
+    - A new transaction type that allows Layer 2 rollups to post large amounts of data (up to ~128 KB per blob, with a target of 3 blobs and a max of 6 blobs per block initially) to Ethereum in a dedicated, temporary storage space called "blobspace."
+    - Blobs are separate from `CALLDATA` and are not accessed by the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine).
+    - Data in blobs is only guaranteed to be available for a limited period (e.g., ~18 days, pruned by consensus layer clients), which is sufficient for rollups to retrieve and verify it, but avoids long-term storage costs on Layer 1.
+
+2.  **New Fee Market for Blobs:**
+
+    - Blobspace has its own fee market, separate from the regular gas market for `CALLDATA` and EVM execution. This means the cost of posting blobs is independent of Ethereum's mainnet gas prices.
+    - Fees for blobs are expected to be significantly lower than using `CALLDATA`.
+
+3.  \*\*KZG Commitments (Kate-Zaverucha-Goldberg Commitments):
+    - Cryptographic commitments used to verify the availability of blob data without requiring nodes to download entire blobs. This is a step towards full Danksharding, where data availability sampling (DAS) will allow nodes to verify large amounts of data with minimal overhead.
+
+## Impact and Benefits
+
+- **Reduced Layer 2 Fees:** The primary benefit is a substantial reduction in the cost for users transacting on Layer 2 rollups, as the data fees paid by rollups to Ethereum L1 decrease significantly.
+- **Improved Ethereum Scalability:** By making rollups cheaper and more efficient, Dencun helps Ethereum scale its transaction throughput capacity.
+- **Path to Full Danksharding:** Proto-Danksharding implements many of the transaction formats, cryptographic schemes (KZG commitments), and logic that will be used in full Danksharding, which promises even greater scalability.
+- **Enhanced Data Availability:** While temporary, blobs provide a dedicated and cost-effective channel for data availability for rollups.
+
+## Other EIPs in Dencun
+
+Besides EIP-4844, the Dencun upgrade included other EIPs focused on various improvements, such as EVM enhancements and minor adjustments to gas costs for specific operations. Key ones include:
+
+- EIP-1153: Transient storage opcodes
+- EIP-4788: Beacon block root in the EVM
+- EIP-5656: MCOPY - Memory copying instruction
+- EIP-6780: SELFDESTRUCT only in same transaction
+
+## Related Concepts
+
+- [[Ethereum]]
+- [[Layer 2 Rollups]] (or [[Rollup]])
+- [[Transaction Fees]]
+- [[Gas]]
+- [[Scalability]]
+- [[Data Availability]]
+- [[The Merge]] (as a precursor to further scaling upgrades)

cards/EIP-1559.md

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+#explain-card
+
+## Overview
+
+**Ethereum Improvement Proposal 1559 (EIP-1559)** is a major upgrade to Ethereum's transaction fee mechanism, implemented as part of the [[London Hard Fork]] in August 2021. It fundamentally changed how gas fees are calculated and handled, aiming to improve user experience by making fees more predictable and introducing a deflationary aspect to ETH through fee burning.
+
+- **Problem Solved:** Addressed issues with the previous first-price auction fee model, which led to volatile and unpredictable gas prices, overpayment, and a poor user experience. It also aimed to better align ETH's monetary policy with network usage.
+- **Value Proposition:** Introduced a base fee that adjusts algorithmically based on network congestion, a priority fee (tip) for miners/validators, and the burning of the base fee, making ETH potentially deflationary.
+- **Status:** Live on Ethereum since the London Hard Fork (August 5, 2021).
+
+## Key Mechanisms
+
+EIP-1559 introduced a new fee structure consisting of two main components:
+
+1.  **Base Fee (`baseFeePerGas`):**
+
+    - This is a mandatory fee for including a transaction in a block.
+    - It is determined algorithmically by the protocol based on network congestion. If blocks are more than 50% full (the target gas limit per block is 15 million, but blocks can expand up to 30 million gas), the base fee increases. If blocks are less than 50% full, the base fee decreases.
+    - The base fee is **burned** (destroyed), meaning it is removed from circulation. This acts as a deflationary pressure on ETH supply, as more ETH is burned when network activity is high.
+
+2.  \*\*Priority Fee (`maxPriorityFeePerGas` or Tip):
+    - This is an optional fee paid directly to miners (pre-Merge) or validators (post-Merge) to incentivize them to include a transaction in a block.
+    - Users can set a tip to prioritize their transactions, especially during times of high congestion.
+
+Additionally, users specify a **Max Fee (`maxFeePerGas`):**
+_ This is the absolute maximum amount a user is willing to pay per unit of gas for their transaction, including both the base fee and the priority fee.
+_ If the `baseFeePerGas` plus the `maxPriorityFeePerGas` exceeds the `maxFeePerGas`, the transaction will wait until the base fee drops or the user increases their max fee. \* Users are refunded the difference between `maxFeePerGas` and (`baseFeePerGas` + `maxPriorityFeePerGas`).
+
+## Impact and Benefits
+
+- **Fee Predictability:** While not fixing gas prices, EIP-1559 makes them more predictable by having the base fee adjust smoothly based on demand, rather than relying purely on a blind auction.
+- **Reduced Overpayment:** Users can set a `maxFeePerGas` they are comfortable with, knowing they won't pay more than the prevailing base fee plus their chosen tip.
+- **ETH Burning (Deflationary Pressure):** The burning of the base fee directly links network usage to a reduction in ETH supply. During periods of high network demand, more ETH can be burned than is issued through block rewards (especially post-Merge), potentially making ETH a deflationary asset.
+- **Improved User Experience:** Wallets can more easily estimate appropriate fees.
+
+## Considerations
+
+- **Doesn't Lower Gas Fees Directly:** EIP-1559 is not primarily designed to lower gas fees, but rather to make them more predictable and efficient. High demand will still lead to high base fees.
+- **Elastic Block Sizes:** Blocks can temporarily expand up to twice the target gas limit to absorb demand spikes, helping to smooth out fee volatility.
+
+## Related Concepts
+
+- [[Ethereum]]
+- [[Gas]]
+- [[London Hard Fork]]
+- [[Transaction Fees]]
+- [[ETH (Ether)]]