Opening Line, Inc. is one of the unique companies in Japan with a focus on developing solutions on the NEM blockchain. Examples of these are apps/services, PoCs. Opening Line also holds information and educational seminars for Japanese companies.
This article covers an introduction to blockchain, NEM, and its next-generation core engine codenamed Catapult and introduces what Opening Line is striving towards.
What Is Blockchain?
Blockchain is a distributed ledger technology, which is a mechanism to hold historical data such as transactions in a decentralized manner.
Blockchain has the following features, especially on a public chain:
- No downtime.
- Tamper-proof.
- Everyone can verify it.
This is because a blockchain is running a lot of distributed nodes and has no administrators.
What Is NEM?
NEM is a blockchain protocol that was created in March 2015.
NEM the blockchain platform has a lot of built-in features that you or your business can use l such as mosaics and multisig accounts.
You can use these functions via API access and SDKs safely and easily.
What Is a MOSAIC Token?
Mosaic is a function that allows tokens to be created, issued, and distributed on NEM.
You can set the number of mosaics (tokens) and whether it (they) can be transferred to a third party. It is possible to issue tokens according to specific project needs such as tickets and voting rights.
Use Cases Of MOSAICs?
Opening Line, Inc.’s mobile app FiFiC, which was released in Jan 2019 for iOS/Android, uses mosaics. When you walk or go to a specific spot with FiFiC, you will earn the project’s mosaic token.
With the mosaic function, points can be issued easily according to the region and events. This project can not only promote health but also revitalize less-trafficked communities and local events.
FiFiC ブロックチェーントークンを使った健康促進アプリFiFiC（フィフィック）は歩くことでコインを獲得しお店のサービスと交換できる健康促進アプリです。 www.fific.jp
What Is a Multisig Account?
With multisig accounts, you cannot perform operations such as remittances without the signatures of multiple co-signer accounts.
This protects the account from internal fraud by employees at the company, enhances the security of the account, and enables the organization’s efficient workflow.
The co-signer of a multisig account can be changed later and can be applied to express rights sharing or transfers.
Use Case Of Multisig Accounts
An example of the multisig account is used in the shopping support app: “3 Step Wallet” for intellectually challenged children who require a financial guardian, This wallet works for those who require approval before initiating/completing any transactions.
When shopping for people who require a financial guardian, the guardian’s approval is required, and an attendant is also required when actually shopping. In a traditional system, the approval by a guardian can take months, the ‘3 Step Wallet’ vastly decreases wait times.
The “3 Step Wallet” uses a multi-sig account to process the approval and settlement of guardians at the same time, and we are now conducting demonstration experiments at select welfare facilities.
3ステップウォレット 第2回仮想通貨「じゃない」ブロックチェーンコンテスト受賞のお知らせ株式会社Opening Line(以下、当社)では、3月26日にブロックチェーン推進協会(BCCC)主催で開催された「第2回 仮想通貨「じゃない」ブロックチェーンアプリコンテスト」において、当社で支援している松本… medium.com
What Is Catapult?
Catapult is NEM’s next-generation core engine that has been rebuilt from scratch, inheriting the NEM concept. Catapult has improved performance and functionality and has evolved into a safer and easier to use blockchain.
Enhanced Features Of Catapult
Catapult adds features that enhance convenience and safety for more enterprise use. Here are some features.
Aggregate Transactions
Complex transactions such as those described above will not be executed until the signatures of the three parties are complete, and will be executed at the same instant, so all related transactions will either succeed or fail. (no need for escrow)
This makes it possible to carry out transactions securely by reducing the risk of mistakes and carry-aways.
Multi-Level Multisig Accounts(MLMA)
In the initial version of NEM, multisig accounts can only be organized in one level, but in Catapult, multisig accounts can be hierarchical.
This makes it possible to build exceedingly more flexible workflows than before.
Account Restrictions
Account restrictions can be added to your account to make it safer. Account restrictions can add the following restrictions:
- Restrict source accounts that accept currency and mosaic transmissions.
- Restrict the types of currencies and mosaics accepted.
- Restrict currency and mosaic destination accounts.
Other Features And Details Of Catapult
See NEM Developer Center for features and technical details added in Catapult.
NEM Developer Center - NEM Developer CenterThis documentation introduces NEM's next core engine (NEM2), code-named Catapult. NEM is a developer-friendly… nemtech.github.io
Public Chain vs Private Chain
NEM is a public chain, and mijin (*) is a private chain product that uses the same core engine.
These are the following major differences between public and private chains.
- mijin is a product of Tech Bureau Holdings.
Public Chain
- Anyone can participate.
- There is no specific administrator.
- Tampering is difficult.
- Permanent recording possible.
- Low Performance.
Private Chain
- Only a limited number of people can participate.
- There is a specific administrator(s).
- The permanent recording is possible as long as there is a specific administrator(s).
- High Performance.
- It can be customized according to the network.
Public, Private, Or Hybrid Chain?
Public chains can be joined by anyone, and this record can be tracked, so it is not advisable for those enterprises with privacy concerns and as such, private chains tend to be preferred.
However, we believe that it is possible to use the public chain for corporate use by storing only hashed data and storing personal information outside the blockchain.
Also, in an environment where high-speed performance is not required, the public chain is less expensive and easier to start, so we recommend it is better to select a chain according to your specific requirements rather than making a general decision.
Public Chain vs Private Chain On Catapult
As mentioned at the beginning of this section, on Catapult, public chain NEM and private chain mijin share the same core engine.
This makes it relatively easy to switch between public and private chains at the application level.
Catapult also has a function to exchange tokens between public and private chains, and it is possible to use it by taking advantage of both public and private chains.
It is also possible to improve the reliability of the private chain by anchoring the existence of the private chain to the public chain.
The public chain and the private chain are not contradictory, and we can complement each other by the way of ingenuity. (This is called a Hybrid Chain solution).
Why Do We Use NEM/Catapult?
So far, we have explained NEM and its next-generation core engine Catapult.
NEM/Catapult has been created with consideration to what functions are convenient for companies and individuals in order to use blockchain, and how it can be used safely and easily.
We do believe NEM/Catapult will provide people with the many benefits of blockchain.
Of course, what you can do with NEM/Catapult can be done with other blockchain platforms.
However, it may be necessary for each individual to implement those features themselves. And this can result in a lot of costs and diminished safety.
NEM/Catapult cannot create or extend functions on its own, but that is why there are natively useful functions on the blockchain that can be used safely and easily.
Often the question arises: “ do you need to use a blockchain?” This is a very important question, but we think “what can we do by using a blockchain” is also very important.
Using NEM / Catapult, you can quickly make a prototype and verify it, and as such speedily create services that solve social issues and discover/create new value.
Goal Of Opening Line, Inc. Using NEM/Catapult
Opening Line has been developing its own services such as FiFiC and “3 Step Wallet”. In addition, we have conducted demonstration experiments, service construction and support using NEM/mijin for companies and organizations such as Kindai University.
Some of our projects are using Catapult from an early stage, accumulating that essential know-how prior to the public chain release approaching February-March 2020.
Many of our projects we have been tackling are aimed at solving corporate, organizational, and social issues.
We will continue to work on a daily basis to achieve a better society through the power of blockchain with NEM/Catapult.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about building a service/app using blockchain with NEM/mijin, please contact: