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Glossary

Abstract syntax tree​

An abstract syntax tree (AST) is a formal representation of an Approval Rule definition. This is how it's created:

  1. A user defines a new Approval Rule in the Intent-Specific Language.
  2. A tokenizer breaks the Approval Rule into tokens representing the smallest elements of the Intent-Specific Language.
  3. A parser validates the syntactic structure of the definition and represents it as an AST, which is stored onchain.

Action​

An Action is an onchain transaction on Warden Protocol or an offchain operation, such as creating a post on the X network. An Action is executed after an Approval is granted based on a user-defined Approval Rule, as specified in an Intent.

Here are some examples of onchain Actions:

AI Agent​

A Warden AI Agent is an AI-driven program that supports both offchain and onchain operations.

Thanks to their native integration with Warden Protocol, Warden Agents can perform onchain Actions, such as creating Spaces, generating keys, executing transactions, and managing Orders. You can easily build Warden Agents with the Warden Agent Kit. AI integration is ensured by Warden's AI Blockchain Interface.

Learn more: Warden AI Agents, Build an Agent

AI Blockchain Interface (AIBI)​

Artificial Intelligence Blockchain Interface (AIBI) brings AI onchain with an intuitive interface for developers to integrate AI into their applications and create AI Agents. AIBI allows inference endpoints to create cryptographic proofs that verify that an AI model produced a specific prediction. These proofs are then verified on Wardens’ blockchain through a new consensus mechanism.

The core components of AIBI include the following:

Learn more: Warden AI Agents, Build an onchain AI Agent, x/async

Approval​

An Approval is a permission for an Action to be performed. Approvals are granted according to user-defined Approval Rules.

Approval Rule​

An Approval Rule is a set of user-defined conditions under which an Action is performed. For example, a Rule can allow executing a transaction only if 2 of 3 approvers sign it.

You can define Approval Rules as part of Intents, using the Intent-Specific Language. Warden's Intent Engine ensures the validity of transactions by checking Rules, represented as abstract syntax trees.

Bonded validator​

A bonded validator is an active validator participating in consensus (staking). Bonded validators validate transactions, propose blocks, and earn rewards for their contributions to the network.

See also: Unbonding validator, Unbonded validator.

Bridging​

Bridging is a method allowing users to transfer assets across different blockchain networks. This technology utilizes cross-chain bridges—smart contracts that receive and lock tokens on the source chain and then mint a corresponding number of wrapped tokens on the destination chain. Warden currently supports bridging through Axelar.

Learn more: Bridging

Builder incentive​

Warden Protocol is open to third-party contributions: core protocol development or building Omnichain Applications in the Warden ecosystem. We'll reward both types of contributions with builder incentives in WARD. More details will be announced soon.

Delegator​

A delegator is an individual or entity that participates in the staking process by delegating their WARD tokens to a validator. Delegation allows securing the network and sharing rewards with validators without the responsibility of running a node.

All delegators inherit the state from their validator: bonded, unbonding, or unbonded. To avoid risks, delegators should perform due diligence on validators and spread their stake over multiple validators. Delegators can also participate in governance.

Full node​

A full node is a server running a software (binary) that maintains a complete up-to-date version of a protocol with full transaction history. You can run a full Warden Protocol node yourself.

Future​

A Future is an offchain user-defined computational task that is executed asynchronously. The result is stored onchain.

A user requests a Future, specifying an input and a handler for interpreting the input. After that, a validator running a Prophet executes the Future and provides the result. Other validators vote on correctness of the result. It doesn't slow the blockchain down thanks to asynchronous execution.

Governance​

Warden Protocol supports onchain governance. It's a mechanism allowing the decentralized community to update the protocol through direct voting that is recorded onchain. Voting is available for the participants of staking: validators and delegators.

The voting power depends on the validator's weight or the amount of WARD a delegator staked. By default, delegators inherit votes of their validator. Alternatively, a delegator can cast their own vote, which will reduce the validator's voting power.

Intent​

An Intent is a user-defined script specifying the following:

  • An Action—any onchain action on Warden Protocol
  • An Approval Rule—a set of conditions under which the Action is performed

After an Action is initiated, the Intent Engine checks the Approval Rule. If the conditions are met, an Approval is granted, and the Action is carried out.

Intent Engine​

The Intent Engine is an immutable onchain interpreter of the Intent-Specific Language, acting as a gatekeeper. When a user initiates a transaction (Action), the Intent Engine checks the user's Approval Rule, represented as an abstract syntax tree, and returns true or false—granting or not granting an Approval.

Intent-Specific Language​

The Intent-Specific Language (ISL) is a language that allows users to configure Approval Rules (as part of Intents). It's composable, extensive, declarative, human-readable, and English-like. The ISL is interpreted by the Intent Engine.

Key​

Keys in blockchain are paired to identify users and secure the ownership of wallets:

  • Public key: A public wallet address
  • Private key: A private code for signing transactions on the wallet

Warden offers Modular Key Management: you can use Keychains to generate key pairs and sign transactions. This is how it works: Key request, Signature request.

Key request​

A key request is a request asking a Keychain to generate a pair of private and public keys. Keychain operators can charge key request fees for doing it. This is how such requests are processed:

  1. A user sends a key request with a Keychain ID identifying the preferred Keychain.
  2. The Intent Engine checks the user's Approval Rule, specified in an Intent.
  3. If the Approval Rule is met, the Keychain generates a key pair and stores the private key. A Keychain Writer publishes the public key to Warden Protocol.

Learn more: Key request flow

Key request fee​

Keychain operators can set fees in WARD for key requests. The Keychain collects fees to its ID, and then the Keychain operator can manage these funds. Key request fees are indicated in aWARD (0.000000000000000001 WARD).

Keychain​

Every Omnichain Application has at least one Keychain—a custodian that generates and stores keys and signs transactions. Keychains contribute to Warden's Modular Key Management and Modular security.

Warden Protocol allows users or external organizations to become Keychain operators. They can onboard their own Keychains and charge fees for key requests and signature requests. Note that Keychain operators typically use MPC networks to generate keys and signatures.

Learn more: Build a Keychain

Keychain ID​

Keychain ID identifies a Keychain in key requests and signature requests and collects fees from users.

Keychain Writer​

A Keychain Writer is an account that publishes signatures and public keys on behalf of a Keychain. It happens when the Keychain responds to a key request or a signature request. The Keychain operator can create multiple Writers, each with its own address.

Keychain SDK​

The Keychain SDK is a Go SDK that abstracts the communication with Warden Protocol nodes, facilitating the development of Keychains.

Learn more: Keychain SDK

Modular Key Management​

Modular Key Management is a flexible approach to managing keys in Warden. Instead of relying on a single provider for key management, users can manage different keys with different Keychains. It reduces the risk of single points of failure and gives users greater control over their keys.

Modular Security​

Thanks to modularity, the same Omnichain Application can combine different security models:

  • OApp users can set and manage their own application security settings with the help of Approval Rules and Keychains.
  • Each OApp is collectively secured by all the tokens staked on the protocol.

By decoupling application-layer and protocol-layer security, Warden takes the best from monolithic and isolated security systems and reducing the risks of both.

Module​

Warden protocol modules are Cosmos SDK modules containing most of Warden Protocol's logic. Users can interact with modules by sending transactions or querying nodes. We also provide precompiles that allow Omnichain Application builders to call certain modules in EVM smart contracts.

Learn more: Warden Protocol modules

Node​

A Warden Protocol node is a server running the software (binary) of Warden Protocol. To run a blockchain node in Warden, build and run the chain binary called wardend. To interact with a node, use the Node API.

Reasons for running a node include the following:

  • Accessing archive data
  • Providing services: RPC, GRPC, API, etc.
  • Becoming a validator

Omnichain Application​

An Omnichain Application (OApp) in an application that builds upon an Omnichain Contract. OApps allow signing transactions at any chain, while traditional smart contract applications only target users of a single chain. An example of an OApp is SpaceWard—our application functioning as the front-end interface for Warden.

Learn more: Build an app

Omnichain Contract​

An Omnichain Contract is the main part of any Omnichain Application: a smart contract that allows signing transactions and messages at any destination chain.

In EVM smart contracts, application builders can call Warden precompiles to interact with Warden protocol modules, accessing all core features of Warden Protocol. For advanced usage of EVM contracts with AI Agents, refer to AI Blockchain Interface and Order.

Learn more: Build an app

Oracle service​

An oracle is a third-party service that enables smart contracts to access real-life data feeds: prices, stock market data, weather conditions, etc. Warden is integrated with Skip:Connect—an oracle service provided by Skip Protocol and offering mostly price data. Connect's data is validated by Warden's network and written onchain.

Learn more: Oracle services

Order​

An Order is a Solidity smart contract performing onchain actions at any destination chain. It's part of Warden's AI Blockchain Interface.

When creating an Order, you can implement custom logic by using Warden modules, Keychains, and other features. In particular, the x/async module allows you to create smart contracts utilizing outputs of AI models. Orders can send any transactions to any Ethereum-based and EVM L2 application.

Learn more: Build an onchain AI Agent, x/async

Precompile​

Warden precompiles are precompiled smart contracts that you can call in your EVM smart contract to interact with Warden Protocol modules. This allows Omnichain Application builders to manage Spaces, Keychains, Actions, Rules, Futures, and other components.

Learn more: Interact with Warden modules

Prophet​

A Prophet is a sidecar process running on validator nodes, which has two responsibilities:

  • Fetching Future requests and executing handlers associated with Futures
  • Fetching requests satisfied by other validators to vote on the results

Prophets run on validator nodes separately from the wardend process, without blocking the consensus. Running a Prophet is optional for a validator.

Signature request​

A signature request is a request asking a Keychain to sign a transaction with a private key. Keychain operators can charge signature request fees for doing it. This is how such requests are processed:

  1. A user sends a signature request with a Keychain ID identifying the preferred Keychain.
  2. The Intent Engine checks the user's Approval Rule, specified in an Intent.
  3. If the Approval Rule is met, a Keychain Writer publishes a signature to Warden Protocol.

Learn more: Signature request flow

Signature request fee​

Keychain operators can set fees in WARD for signature requests. The Keychain collects fees to its ID, and then the Keychain operator can manage these funds. Signature request fees are indicated in aWARD (0.000000000000000001 WARD).

Space​

A Space is a hub allowing its owner (or multiple owners) to manage keys. Spaces aggregate accounts for different blockchains and provide access to Omnichain Applications.

SpaceWard​

SpaceWard is an Omnichain Application functioning as the front-end interface for Warden. It provides a user-friendly platform where you can create Spaces, manage wallets and Intents, and interact with decentralized applications (dApps) and other components of the Web3 ecosystem.

Learn more: SpaceWard documentation

Staking​

Staking is the process of participating in the proof-of-stake (POS) consensus mechanism. Validators and delegators stake their WARD tokens for a chance to validate blocks and transactions and earn staking rewards.

The consensus mechanism chooses validators based on their weight. If a validator is successful, its delegators will earn rewards too. If a validator is slashed, the delegator’s stake will be slashed. Staking also allows validators and delegators to participate in governance.

Validator​

A validator is an individual or entity that participates in the staking process by running a full or pruned Warden Protocol node and validating blocks and transactions.

Validators act on behalf of their delegators and earn commissions. Each validator has a certain weight and state: bonded, unbonding, or unbonded. Validators can also participate in governance and hadling Futures.

Validator's commission​

A validator’s commission is the percentage of staking rewards earned by a validator's pool that the validator retains. The rest is distributed to delegators. Validators can configure their own commissions, but only once, when initially declaring candidacy. The following parameters are available:

  • An initial commission
  • A maximum daily commission change rate
  • A maximum commission

Validator's weight​

Each validator has its own WARD tokens and tokens bonded by its delegators. The total amount of tokens determines the validator's weight.

The consensus mechanism selects validators to propose blocks based on validators' weight, so a validator with more tokens bonded can propose blocks more frequently and generate more rewards. Weight also determines the validator's voting power in governance.

Unbonded validator​

An unbonded validator is an inactive validator that isn't signing blocks. Unbonded validators can't be slashed and can’t earn rewards.

See also: Bonded validator, Unbonding validator.

Unbonding validator​

An unbonding validator is a validator that is transitioning from bonded to unbonded.

Validators enter this state either when they decide to stop participating in staking or when they're slashed for misbehavior. During the unbonding period, validators aren't participating in the consensus process and aren't earning rewards.

WARD token​

WARD is the native utility token integral to the Warden Protocol ecosystem. It facilitates various operations such as governance, staking, protocol fees and acts as a medium of payment for operators, such as Keychain operators.

Learn more: WARD token

Warden Agent Kit​

The Warden Agent Kit allows creating AI Agents that are able to access both offchain and onchain functionalities. The kit offers native integration with Warden Protocol for onchain Actions and supports compatibility with Typescript, any AI Agent framework, and LangChain tools.

Learn more: Warden Agent Kit

WARP token​

WARP is a dynamic counterpart to WARD, adding liquidity and gamification to the Warden Protocol ecosystem. It fuels engagement and participation through innovative tokenomics.

Learn more: WARP token

YieldWard​

YieldWard is an Omnichain Application functioning as a smart yield generator that automates and optimizes your earnings across multiple protocols. YieldWard simplifies your yield and staking experience, letting you enjoy effortless management, decentralized security, and optimal yields.

Learn more: YieldWard documentation