Step 1: Connecting to Seed Anchors

Seed anchors are the entry points for new nodes to find active participants and the network’s current state. Unlike networks that rely on privileged nodes, Gee’s seed anchors are decentralized and can be freely operated by any user, enhancing the network’s openness and security.

· What Are Seed Anchors?

Seed anchors in Gee are similar to DNS seed nodes found in traditional cryptocurrency networks. They consist of a well-defined set of IP addresses that allow new nodes to connect and gather initial information about the network’s active members.

· How Seed Anchors Work:

Similar to Bitcoin Core, where a list of seed nodes is hardcoded for bootstrapping, Gee uses a list of seed anchors. The key difference is that Gee does not require this list to be fixed or hardcoded permanently. Instead, new nodes need only a majority of correct anchors to establish a valid network connection. This flexibility allows users to bootstrap through trusted actors, such as exchanges or other reputable sources, while ensuring a trustworthy network view without relying on any single entity.

· Open Access:

Since anyone can set up a seed anchor, access to the Gee network is open to all. A node simply connects to any available seed anchors to retrieve information on the latest network structure. This open approach to peer discovery means that no one can control or restrict who joins the network.