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
Over 3,900 masternodes (each requiring 1,000 FIRO collateral) form Long Living Masternode Quorums (LLMQs). They provide ChainLocks for instant finality and mitigate 51% attack scenarios and chain reorganizations.
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 hash 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.