The Tohu Network Architecture

The Tohu network is built on Hyperledger Besu, a blockchain client that implements the Ethereum Virtual Machine. Validators in the network use the QBFT consensus mechanism, which provides Byzantine fault tolerance suitable for permissioned networks. Communication between validator nodes occurs over a WireGuard virtual private network, ensuring secure and encrypted connections across distributed locations. Each validator node runs as a systemd service, providing automated startup, restart capabilities, and reliable operation. Validator nodes maintain the complete blockchain state and participate in block proposal and validation according to the QBFT protocol.

Sentry nodes operate as non-validator relay nodes within the network architecture. These nodes connect to validator nodes through the same WireGuard infrastructure but do not participate in consensus. Sentry nodes serve to expand network capacity and enable broader community participation without the computational requirements of validation. They relay transactions and blocks across the network, supporting scalability as the Tohu network grows across marae communities.

How Transactions Work

Transactions on the Tohu network represent the transfer of TOHU tokens between users. A user initiates a transaction by specifying a recipient address and the amount of TOHU to send using their Tohu wallet. The transaction is digitally signed using the user’s private key, proving ownership and authorization without revealing the key itself.

Once submitted, transactions enter the network’s mempool where validator nodes collect pending transactions. Validator nodes then bundle these transactions into a new block, which is proposed according to the QBFT consensus mechanism. Other validators verify that all transactions are valid and that the proposer has the right to create a block at that moment in time. Once consensus is reached, the block is added to the blockchain, and all transactions within it become immutable.

The transaction fee structure ensures network sustainability, with a portion of fees supporting validator operations. Transaction finality on Tohu is achieved quickly due to the QBFT consensus model, allowing users to trust that their transactions are permanently recorded within seconds of block inclusion. This speed and certainty make Tohu suitable for real-time peer-to-peer commerce between marae communities.

Token Economics and Minting

The Tohu network uses a native token called TOHU with a fixed maximum supply of one billion tokens. Blocks on the Tohu network are produced at regular intervals through the QBFT consensus mechanism, with each block proposal creating new TOHU tokens through a block reward. Validators earn tokens for each block they successfully propose and validate, incentivizing consistent participation in network security and operation.

The minting rate adjusts dynamically based on the number of active validators in the network, ensuring consistent token issuance across different network states. With current validator configurations, approximately one hundred thousand TOHU tokens are minted per validator node per year. This approach creates predictable long-term tokenomics while allowing the network to scale as additional validators join across marae communities.

Block rewards are distributed equally across all active validators, creating a fair and transparent incentive structure. The network also extends reward eligibility to sentry nodes through a block relay model, allowing relay nodes to earn rewards for their participation in network operations. This design encourages broader network participation beyond core validators, supporting the growth of the network across multiple marae communities. The one billion token supply cap ensures scarcity and long-term value stability, with projections showing the network reaching full token issuance over approximately twenty years as validator count scales to around five hundred nodes.

Wallets and Token Management

Users interact with the Tohu network through decentralized wallets, with Tohu wallet being the primary wallet interface supported by the network. A wallet functions as a secure container for cryptographic keys that prove ownership of TOHU tokens and authorize transactions on the network. When a user creates a wallet, they receive a private key — a secret cryptographic credential that must be kept secure — and a corresponding public address that identifies their account on the Tohu network.

Tohu wallet allows users to manage their TOHU holdings, initiate transactions, and interact with the Tohu network through a simple interface. Users can send TOHU tokens to other participants by specifying a recipient address, with transactions being recorded permanently on the blockchain. The wallet also enables users to view their transaction history and account balance in real time.

Security of the private key is critical, as anyone with access to a user’s private key can control the associated TOHU tokens. MetaMask provides encryption features to protect private keys locally on a user’s device, but users remain responsible for safeguarding their credentials. By maintaining control of their own private keys, users retain full sovereignty over their tokens and transactions, aligning with Tohu’s core principle of community economic control.

Network Security

The Tohu network implements multiple layers of security to protect community assets and maintain network integrity. Validator nodes communicate exclusively through WireGuard, a modern virtual private network protocol that encrypts all inter-node traffic and authenticates connections using cryptographic keys. This ensures that only authorized validator nodes can participate in consensus and block production, preventing unauthorized access to the network core.

User wallets are protected through cryptographic key management, with private keys encrypted locally on user devices through MetaMask’s security features. The permissioned validator model ensures that only marae representatives with approved credentials can operate validator nodes, preventing malicious actors from joining the network and corrupting the consensus process. Validator nodes themselves run under restricted user accounts with minimal system privileges, limiting the impact of potential compromises.

Transaction validation on the blockchain provides immutability and tamper resistance — once a transaction is recorded in a block, it cannot be altered or removed without redoing all subsequent blocks, making historical attacks computationally infeasible. The QBFT consensus mechanism protects against Byzantine failures, tolerating malicious or faulty validators up to a defined threshold while maintaining network agreement. By combining permissioned access, encryption, and Byzantine fault tolerance, Tohu creates a secure foundation for community economic transactions.