A freelancer developer focuses on Bitcoin and Lightning Network today. Super Testnet, unveiled Hedgehog is his latest creation, which is a protocol to enable asynchronous bitcoin layer 2 payments.
“This is a protocol similar to the Lightning Network,” Super Testnet is a statement. “And that it is a layer 2 for Bitcoin payments, only in this one, unlike the Lightning Network, the two parties don’t have to both be online, it’s asynchronous. One party can send the other money then they’re offline.”
According to project developers, Hedgehog Channels are simpler than Lightning channels. Github. Updates to state information in Hedgehog Channels are only required by the sender, who can propose the update. Due to its asynchronous structure, payment processing is more flexible and efficient.
This protocol is based on a primitive script in Bitcoin known as “revocable connectors.” Connectors are based on even simpler components: connector outputs and revocable Scripts. The revocable scripts add an additional layer of control and security by allowing either party to cancel a transaction at any time after the specified period. Connector outputs let you create a transaction that is pre-signed and spends a separate UTXO along with the connector output. The transaction can be invalidated simply by spending just the connector output.
Imagine a scenario in which Alice sends a specific amount of Bitcoin to a multisignature account. This opens up a Hedgehog Channel with Bob. Alice, using the revocable connecters, can send Bob off-chain payments while Bob is offline. The payments can be embedded into a text document, much like a check, and sent by email.
Bob can accept or decline the payment. Accepting the payment, Bob can broadcast it and cosign the transaction. This will update the balance of the channel. If he rejects the transaction, he could propose a new one for Alice.
Hedgehog must solve a potential problem. For example, when a counterpart sends money, they can’t force the closure of the channel, because they don’t have their signature. This protocol includes a mechanism for conditional cancellation. The protocol provides a conditional revocation mechanism.
Hedgehog can also prevent funds from being trapped in an address with multiple signatures if one of the parties is no longer available. The protocol ensures that the funds are still accessible after a specified period even if a party cannot sign. This is done by incorporating ‘time-lock’ conditions in the script.
Super Testnet announced that he had an idea on how to use Hedgehog to build a CoinPool called Burrow. Anyone interested can find out more. here.
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Source: bitcoinmagazine.com
