WCT Series (Ten): Delay Optimization and Innovative Methods of the WCT Network
Delay is the nemesis of Web3 infrastructure, and the WalletConnect network pays special attention to this aspect. Traditional gossip algorithms and DHT methods have limitations: gossip broadcasts across the entire network and is physically slow; DHT is average but has poor worst-case scenarios. The innovation of WCT is a permissionless rendezvous hash database, verified globally like Cassandra, but with a decentralized design that has no central point of failure. Starting in 2024, all production traffic will go through this network, with latency requirements reduced to the millisecond level.
How to optimize? First, node layering: active nodes handle requests, retain replicated data, and standby nodes can be activated at any time. The total number is controlled at 21 to ensure efficiency. The performance coefficient U(i,t) directly penalizes low-latency nodes, incentivizing everyone to upgrade. Another key aspect is end-to-end encrypted relays, which do not broadcast across the entire network but rather operate point-to-point, reducing the number of hops.
In the future, during the transition to permissionless, gateway nodes will also be decentralized, and the community will consult to determine the path. In terms of incentives, the reward pool is tilted 17.5% towards high-performance nodes, using a base + bonus formula Bn = α + (weight * performance score), with weights adjusted relative to performance. What about user experience? Connecting wallets to dapps results in lower latency, less friction, and seamless cross-chain interactions. Think about Bitcoin to Solana; assets are decentralized but interactions are smooth. This innovation is not only technological but also economically driven, ensuring that the network does not lag with hundreds of millions of users. The WCT token serves as a lubricant here, with governance voting allowing for parameter adjustments. In summary, low latency is WCT's killer feature in moving towards the mainstream.
