Input Output Global (IOG), the development team behind Cardano, has introduced a new update to Mithril, a solution that aims to enhance Cardano’s efficiency and security.

According to IOG on July 20, Mithril is in the testnet stage. It will gradually be rolled out to the mainnet in the coming months. While the full benefits will be realized over time, the lead developer Cardano said that he is confident that Mithril can significantly enhance the overall performance and capabilities of the mainnet.

Mithril Aims to Enhance Security and Simplify Cardano

Mithril is a stake-based signature scheme and protocol that aims to enhance security and simplify the network, paving the way for a wide range of applications and decentralized decision-making. With the release, the Cardano network is expected to experience a surge in efficiency and capacity, to meet the growing demands of its burgeoning ecosystem.

IOG said that Mithril can run a full Cardano node quickly and efficiently. Traditionally, synchronizing nodes was time consuming with specific software and basic storage requirements. However, the solution changes the game by offering a hybrid approach, combining the benefits of running a full node with the ease of a lightweight client that uses reliable third-party APIs.

To make this possible, the Mithril architecture has three main components: the compiler, the signer, and the client. The Mithril signer runs transparently on top of existing Cardano nodes and plays an important role in generating key pairs and signing blockchain state snapshots.

These snapshots are then seamlessly curated and combined into multiple Mithril signatures by the unreliable Mithril Complex. Bulk signatures generate associated certificates and store the full Cardano database snapshot, ensuring data integrity and availability.

Development of the Mithril protocol began with a paper published by IOG researchers in 2021. Subsequently, a proof of concept was released in August 2022, followed by extensive testing with the support of volunteer stakeholder pool operators (SPOs).

Cardano’s Focus on Performance and Scalability

Cardano is in the basho stage, where the primary goal is to improve performance and scalability.

Although Cardano remains decentralized, with thousands of SPOs providing the necessary security and backed by Mithril, the platform aims to scale high-demand enterprise-grade dapps to run smoothly. Currently, Cardano can process 250 transactions every second.

To enhance scalability, Cardano is working on improving Hydra, a layer-two scaling solution that uses similar channels, and has promoted the idea of side chains. IOG has also implemented Vasil, in which diffusion tubes are integrated.