Beam BEAM
About
What Is Beam (BEAM)?
BEAM is a confidential decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that runs on a combination of two blockchain protocols (LelantusMW and Mimblewimble).
In the early years of the industry, transactions with public-blockchain cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) were thought to be untraceable. With developments in blockchain analysis, it became clear that transactions can actually be traced back to the senders, posing a great threat to users' privacy.
To solve this issue, BEAM came up with innovative ways of increasing the anonymity of transactions, address balances and user identities.
Beam runs on the Mimblewimble protocol and was launched in March 2018.
Who Are the Founders of BEAM?
Some of the leading team members of Beam include Alexander Zaidelson, Alex Romanov and Amir Aaronson.
Alexander Zaidelson is the project’s CEO. He started his career as a software developer and is an advisor to several startup projects. He has also founded a P2P file-sharing company Nareos.
Alex Romanov, the CTO, has worked with large teams on several complex projects.
Besides working on Beam, Amir Aaronson, the COO, has co-founded several technological companies.
What Makes Beam Unique?
Beam allows financial counterparties to make safe, stable and reliable transactions. This helps eliminate the problem of user data mismanagement, keeping the system cleaner and more secure. Beam’s blockchain was built on the C++ programming language from scratch.
User addresses are kept confidential at all times and are never disclosed to any third parties. Users have total access and control over their privacy, deciding who can access their information and what they are allowed to see.
Beam supports custom transactions of different types, such as escrow, atomic swaps and time-locked ones.
How Many Beam (BEAM) Coins Are There in Circulation?
Beam has a maximum supply of 262,800,000 tokens, of which 81,970,000 are in circulation as of February 2021.
How Is the Beam Network Secured?
Beam uses the Equihash proof-of-work algorithm which was chosen for its capacity to handle large amounts of data.
AI Analysis
What is the Beam (BEAM) cryptocurrency good for? What are its main use cases?
Beam (BEAM) is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that utilizes the Mimblewimble protocol. It is designed to provide enhanced confidentiality and scalability compared to many other cryptocurrencies. Here are some of the main use cases and features of Beam:
Privacy Transactions: Beam employs advanced cryptographic techniques to ensure that transaction details (such as amounts and participants) are confidential. This is particularly useful for users who want to maintain privacy in their financial activities.
Scalability: The Mimblewimble protocol allows for a streamlined blockchain that does not store all transaction data, which can enhance scalability and reduce the size of the blockchain compared to traditional blockchains.
Confidential Smart Contracts: Beam supports confidential smart contracts that can operate without revealing the details of the transactions involved. This can facilitate various applications while still maintaining user privacy.
Atomic Swaps: Beam can facilitate atomic swaps, allowing users to exchange Beam for other cryptocurrencies directly without the need for a centralized exchange, enhancing decentralization and privacy in trading.
User-Friendly Wallets: Beam offers user-friendly wallets that support various features like Beam addressing and the ability to easily manage private transactions.
Financial Sovereignty: By providing a private means of conducting transactions, Beam offers users greater control over their financial activities and identity, which can be particularly appealing in regions with strict financial regulations.
Decentralized Finance (DeFi): As the ecosystem grows, Beam aims to participate in the DeFi space while keeping transactions private, allowing users to access decentralized financial services without compromising their privacy.
Overall, Beam is aimed at users who prioritize privacy in their financial transactions, offering a suite of features designed to protect individual confidentiality while maintaining the benefits of blockchain technology.
What blockchain does Beam use? Is it its own blockchain or built on top of another?
Beam operates on its own blockchain. It is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that implements the Mimblewimble protocol, which is designed to enhance transaction confidentiality and improve scalability. Beam was created as a standalone blockchain, not built on top of another blockchain like Ethereum or Bitcoin.
Is Beam programmable? Does it support smart contracts or decentralized applications?
Beam is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that implements the Mimblewimble protocol. It is designed to facilitate secure, private transactions. While Beam emphasizes privacy and confidentiality, it does not natively support smart contracts or decentralized applications (dApps) in the same way that platforms like Ethereum do.
That said, Beam has introduced a feature known as "Beam smart contracts," which allows for basic scripting capabilities. This capability is not as extensive or flexible as the smart contract functionality found in more developed platforms, but it does enable some programmability for specific use cases.
In summary, while Beam is primarily focused on providing privacy in transactions, it does include some basic programmability features, but it is not a full-fledged platform for smart contracts or decentralized applications like Ethereum or similar blockchains. If you are looking for extensive smart contract capabilities, you may want to consider other blockchain platforms designed specifically for that purpose.
How fast are Beam transactions? What is the typical confirmation time and throughput (transactions per second)?
Beam is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency that utilizes the Mimblewimble protocol. As of my last knowledge update in October 2023, Beam transactions are designed to be fast and efficient, with a typical confirmation time of about 1 to 2 minutes.
In terms of throughput, Beam can handle around 100 transactions per second (TPS) under optimal conditions, though actual performance can vary based on network conditions and the size of the transactions being processed.
Keep in mind that these values can change as the protocol evolves and as more users interact with the network, so it’s a good idea to check the latest updates from official Beam sources or community resources for the most current information.
How much data can I store on the Beam blockchain? Does it support on-chain data storage?
The Beam blockchain, which is a privacy-focused cryptocurrency, primarily aims for confidential transactions and does not natively support extensive on-chain data storage like some other blockchains designed for that purpose (e.g., Ethereum with its smart contracts). While you can store some data on the Beam blockchain, its primary function revolves around financial transactions and maintaining user privacy through technologies like Mimblewimble.
The Beam blockchain does allow the inclusion of small amounts of metadata in transactions, but it does not offer a robust means for storing large datasets or complex data types on-chain. If you're looking for a platform specifically designed for extensive on-chain data storage, you might consider alternatives that support decentralized applications and smart contracts, where more data can be stored and utilized.
For precise details on data limits or any developments beyond October 2023, it's advisable to consult Beam's official documentation or community resources.
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