Firo Blockchain Architecture
A hybrid Proof-of-Work and masternode system that delivers fast confirmations, strong security, and decentralized governance.
Hybrid PoW + Masternode Consensus
Firo uses a two-layer consensus model that combines the strengths of Proof-of-Work mining with a masternode network:
Layer 1: FiroPoW Mining
GPU miners run the FiroPoW algorithm (a modified ProgPoW) to produce blocks. This ensures decentralized block production resistant to ASICs. The DAG size exceeds 7 GB, requiring modern GPUs with 8+ GB VRAM.
Layer 2: LLMQ Masternodes
Eligible masternodes form Long Living Masternode Quorums (LLMQs) that participate in ChainLocks. Check current collateral, node count and protocol requirements with network sources.
ChainLocks (Instant Finality)
ChainLocks is one of Firo's most important security features. Here's how it works:
- A miner produces a new block and broadcasts it to the network
- A quorum of masternodes evaluates and signs the block using BLS threshold signatures
- Once a supermajority of the quorum signs, the block is "locked" — it becomes the definitive chain tip
- Any competing chain (even with more cumulative work) is rejected, preventing 51% attacks
Why This Matters
Traditional PoW chains like Bitcoin can theoretically be attacked if someone controls 51% of file details power, leading to double-spends. ChainLocks makes this attack significantly harder on Firo because an attacker would need to control both the majority of mining power and the majority of masternodes simultaneously.
Network Specifications
Network-Level Privacy
Beyond protocol-level privacy (Lelantus Spark), Firo also implements Dandelion++ for network-level protection. This protocol obscures the IP origin of transactions by first routing them through a random series of nodes before broadcasting to the wider network.
This prevents network observers from determining which node originated a transaction, providing an additional layer of privacy that complements Spark's on-chain protections.
Participate in the Network
Help secure the Firo blockchain by mining or running a masternode.