A Spotlight on Stake Pools: Logical Mechanism [LOGIC]

Discover how Logical Mechanism [LOGIC] is advancing smart contracts with Cardano

Stake pool operators (SPOs) play an essential role in the growth and operational resilience of the Cardano ecosystem. As part of the Cardano Foundation’s recognition of their efforts, the regular interview series—A Spotlight on Stake Pools—speaks to those involved in operating stake pools to understand their achievements, motivations, and contributions to a robust and collaborative open-source ecosystem.

The previous series installment spotlighted Wada Pool [WADA], which launched in 2021 under the operation of Josh Fielding. While discussing Wada’s focus on expanding access to technology and bringing more Web 3.0 opportunities to the African continent, Fielding delved into Wada’s education and training initiatives, Intersect membership, and key contributions to Cardano governance.

This time, we highlight activities of the Logical Mechanism [LOGIC] pool operated by Quinn Parkinson. In addition to showcasing some of the pool’s most recent initiatives, including Project NEWM, Aiken contributions, and the development of a novel proof-of-humanity hyperstructure solution, Parkinson discusses Logical Mechanism’s bare metal approach as well as the stake pool’s growth from inception.

Why did you become a stake pool operator?

Becoming a stake pool operator (SPO) on the Cardano blockchain was driven by several motivations and personal interests. Primarily, I [Quinn Parkinson] wanted to be deeply involved in the Cardano ecosystem. Operating a bare metal stake pool gave me a hands-on way to contribute to the blockchain's security and decentralization. Another significant factor was the technical aspect of running a pool and managing servers. I have always enjoyed working with computers, and the challenge of maintaining a reliable and efficient stake pool was something I found exciting and rewarding.

Additionally, being an SPO allowed me to engage with the Cardano community in a meaningful way. As an SPO, I could connect with other operators and developers, sharing knowledge and collaborating on various projects and ideas. This sense of community and collaboration was something I found incredibly fulfilling. It goes beyond just participating in discussions or forums; it involves active contribution and building relationships with like-minded individuals from all over the world.

Furthermore, I find the entire process fun. I rather enjoy running a stake pool. It keeps me engaged and constantly learning new things.

In summary, my decision to become an SPO was fueled by my passion for knowledge, the desire to be an integral part of the Cardano community, and the enjoyment I derive from the challenges and rewards of running a stake pool.

What is the mission of your stake pool?

The mission of the Logical Mechanism stake pool is to provide our company [Logical Mechanism LLC] with an income stream so that we can continue to bring technical excellence, community contribution, and professional growth within the Cardano blockchain ecosystem. The stake pool operates on a bare metal server inside the Logical Mechanism office, reflecting our commitment to decentralization and security. By running a bare metal stake pool, we ensure that our operations are not completely reliant on cloud services or centralized data centers, thereby enhancing the robustness and resilience of the Cardano network.

Logical Mechanism is already engaged in developing open-source smart contracts and extending our efforts to include running a Cardano stake pool, which significantly aligns with our mission to support and advance the Cardano blockchain. This initiative allows us to integrate our technical skills and resources to create a more secure and efficient Cardano network.

Essentially, the mission of our stake pool is to uphold the principles of decentralization, contribute to the Cardano ecosystem through our technical expertise and open-source initiatives, and foster ongoing learning and innovation in blockchain technology. By achieving these goals, we aim to support the growth and success of the Cardano network while enriching our understanding and capabilities within this dynamic field.

Can you give us a brief history of your stake pool?

The Logical Mechanism stake pool was established on 3 December 2020, well before my company was founded. From the very beginning, I knew that I wanted to be an SPO.

The journey was not without its challenges. It took the pool approximately 1 year, 5 months, and 15 days to mint a block. This milestone was significant for me. I was an active participant in the Cardano blockchain. I knew my pool was working correctly and was set up for success. The persistence and dedication paid off, reinforcing my commitment to the project.

A notable turning point came when I identified a specific node version causing certain types of transactions to remain stuck in the mem-pool indefinitely. My contribution to this issue gained recognition from another developer, leading to our first significant delegation.

Subsequently, we received our first Cardano Foundation delegation, a pivotal milestone for the stake pool. Since then, the number of our delegators has quadrupled, and we have successfully minted nearly 2,000 blocks at the time of writing. These new delegations and the increased number of blocks minted allow the pool to increase its pledge. Our initial pledge was 10,000 ada but now our pledge stands at 100,000 ada, with plans to increase it further as we generate more ada.

How did the Cardano Foundation delegation impact your stake pool operation?

Receiving the Cardano Foundation delegation had a profound impact on the operations of our stake pool. One of the most immediate and significant effects was financial. The delegation enabled our pool to break even and, at times, even turn a profit, depending on the value of ada. This financial stability was crucial in ensuring that our operations could continue without incurring losses, allowing us to maintain and improve our infrastructure with confidence.

Moreover, the Cardano Foundation delegation acted as a powerful endorsement of our stake pool, greatly enhancing our credibility within the Cardano community. This recognition attracted new delegators who were reassured by the support from such an entity.

The psychological impact of the Cardano Foundation delegation was equally important. Running a stake pool involves significant time, effort, and resources; there are moments when the challenges can feel overwhelming. The support from the Cardano Foundation validated our hard work and dedication, making it feel genuinely worthwhile. It reinforced our belief in the value of our contribution to the Cardano network and motivated us to continue striving for excellence.

Overall, the Cardano Foundation delegation had a positive and transformative effect on our stake pool. It provided financial stability, attracted new delegators, and reinforced our commitment to operating a high-quality pool. We deeply appreciate the Cardano Foundation's support and the opportunities it has created for us. This delegation has been a pivotal moment in our journey, encouraging us to continue contributing to the growth and success of the Cardano ecosystem.

Did the Cardano Foundation delegation enable you to build or improve tools, projects, or open-source repositories?

The Cardano Foundation delegation has significantly empowered us to contribute to the development of various tools and projects, furthering our commitment to the Cardano ecosystem.

• •Aiken Contributions: Logical Mechanism strives to make positive contributions to the Aiken ecosystem. We have made contributions to the Aiken Standard Library (stdlib). We also developed and maintained a tool built with Koios and Aiken that aids in transaction simulation when using the cli build-raw, helping developers test and optimize their contracts more effectively.
• •Aiken Assist: One of our most notable contributions is Aiken Assist, an open-source library of helper functions designed to simplify the smart contract development process. This library has become one of the most popular resources for Aiken developers.
• •PlutusV3 and BLS12-381 Integration: Currently, a significant focus of our efforts is on PlutusV3. We are integrating the BLS12-381 curve as much as possible to enable privacy-preserving smart contracts, such as the 5eed0e1f Stealth Wallet.
• •AIPoPh (An Interacting Protocol to Prove Humanity): We have developed AIPoPh, a novel proof-of-humanity hyperstructure solution built entirely on Cardano. AIPoPh aims to provide a decentralized and reliable method for verifying human identity, which is crucial for various applications, including voting systems, social platforms, and anti-sybil attack measures.
• •Project NEWM: Our ongoing collaboration with Project NEWM focuses on integrating advanced blockchain solutions into their platform. Project NEWM is dedicated to revolutionizing the music industry with blockchain technology, and our contributions are helping to ensure the project's success and impact.

How would you summarize your contributions to the Cardano ecosystem?

Our contributions to the Cardano ecosystem encompass a wide range of initiatives aimed at enhancing smart contract development, improving privacy and security, and supporting innovative projects. These efforts reflect our dedication to advancing the Cardano network and providing valuable resources to the broader community.

Are you currently building something that you would like to share?

We are building and have built a number of items, including:

• •A privacy-preserving stealth smart contract wallet
• •A bls playground for testing ideas out using the bls-12-381 curve
• •Cogno, a fully on-chain social media platform. It’s similar to a social media platform but mixes message types, such as forums, image boards, tweets, etc, and is designed to be run locally using open-sourcing tools, such as MeshJS. While work still needs to be completed on the front end, it will be released soon.
• •AIPoPh, an innovative proof of humanity (PoH) system developed by NEWM, aimed at bolstering the security of smart contracts.

To learn more, follow Logical Mechanism on X (formerly Twitter) or visit the Logical Mechanism website.

The Cardano Foundation invites all operators to submit the SPO notification form. Completing this form ensures that SPOs receive updates on the newest operator tools, upcoming delegation rounds, on-chain governance developments, and other pertinent information.