Quant (QNT) Cryptocurrency: Comprehensive Overview
Core Technology and Blockchain Architecture
Quant (QNT) is an enterprise-focused blockchain interoperability protocol enabling secure communication between public/private networks via its Overledger operating system, with QNT as its utility token for network access and fees. Overledger operates as a Layer 2.5 protocol, enabling multi-chain applications (mDApps) that interact with any blockchain (e.g., Ethereum, Bitcoin) or database.
Quant Network utilizes a distinct layered architecture to manage cross-chain communication efficiently, including a Transaction Layer for recording operations, a Message Layer for handling information retrieval from ledgers, a Filtering and Ordering Layer for validating and sorting messages, and an Application Layer for routing verified data to the correct dApp. This modular design ensures that interactions between disparate blockchains are structured, secure, and scalable, allowing for complex multi-chain workflows without creating new consensus mechanisms.
Quant's Overledger DLT Gateway, also referred to as the Enterprise 5, supports multiple blockchains, including Bitcoin, Hyperledger Fabric, Ethereum, R3 Corda and BNB Chain. Overledger allows network-to-network interoperability, allowing any blockchain to communicate seamlessly with any other blockchain or system.
Primary Use Cases and Real-World Applications
Quant targets enterprises and institutions needing to integrate blockchain without overhauling existing infrastructure—key for CBDCs, tokenized assets, and cross-chain compliance. Due to Quant's feature to facilitate communication between private and public blockchains, it can act as an architecture for designing central bank digital currencies (CBDCs). For instance, the Quant team supports the Digital Pound Foundation's vision to develop a well-designed CBDC (digital pound or Britcoin) in the United Kingdom.
Quant Network has various applications across different industries, including: Finance (Cross-border payments, CBDC integration, and improved transaction settlement), Supply Chain (Real-time tracking, automated payments, and enhanced transparency), Healthcare (Secure data sharing, patient record management, and improved care coordination), and Decentralized Finance (DeFi) (Smart contract execution, protocol integration, and increased automation).
In the healthcare sector, Quant's technology facilitates secure and efficient data sharing across different systems. By enabling interoperability, Overledger can improve patient care, streamline operations, and enhance data privacy.
Founding Team, Key Developers, and Project History
Quant Network was initially founded by Gilbert Verdian in 2015. The protocol raised over $11 million during a successful initial coin offering (ICO) in April 2018. Colin Paterson and Paolo Tasca later joined Quant as co-founders in 2017, performing the roles of Chief Technology Officer and Chief Strategist, respectively.
Quant CEO Gilbert Verdian is the Chair of the UK Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology committee. Verdian is also a member of the EU's Blockchain Observatory and the Federal Reserve. Prior to the Quant Network, Verdian served as the chief information security officer (CISO) of Vocalink, a Mastercard card company, the chief information officer of NSW Ambulance, the CISO of eHealth NSW, and the security lead of the Ministry of Justice, UK.
Dr Paolo Tasca is an entrepreneur, digital economist who specializes in distributed systems. Dr. Tasca has served as the special advisor on blockchain technologies for the EU Parliament, the United Nations and numerous central banks worldwide. He is also co-author of several books on fintech and is the co-founder and governing board chair of Retail Blockchain Consortium.
In 2016, while working on the ISO Standard TC307 for enterprise blockchains to improve cross-ledger communication, Gilbert Verdian conceived the idea of Overledger. With Overledger, Verdian sought to build a protocol-agnostic API gateway that could connect permissioned enterprise blockchains and public blockchains. This eventually became the foundation for Quant Network.
Tokenomics: Supply, Distribution, and Mechanics
The max supply of QNT tokens is set at 14,612,493 tokens. The QNT tokens were split in the following way: 9.9 million QNT tokens were sold to the public during the ICO; 2.6 million QNT tokens were assigned to the company reserve, to keep the project running; 1.3 million QNT tokens were reserved for the company founders; 651,000 QNT tokens were issued to the company advisors.
Currently, the circulating supply of the token is 12,072,738 QNT. The extra 2 million tokens are held by the company. QNT is an ERC-20 token. However, it is blockchain independent and can easily switch to any other blockchain.
Quant's ecosystem typically handles user access fees by locking up the token in a smart contract or moving them into the Treasury. When a user buys access to any of the services on Quant Network, QNT is taken out of circulation, locked in a unique smart contract, and released on the subscription's expiration. Or the cryptocurrencies may just be moved to the Treasury when a user buys a license to create anything on the network.
This requires tokens to be locked up for 12 months. Developers, enterprises, partners, or financial institutions can leverage Overledger to build decentralized multi-chain applications (MApps). In return, they must stake a predetermined amount in QNT tokens for MApp solutions to run.
Consensus Mechanism and Network Security Model
Similar to Ethereum's proof-of-stake blockchains, the Quant Network community is involved in handling treasury smart contracts. The community handles QNT payments flowing from users to the gateways. They do this in a manner where people are held accountable to any observer.
Although Overledger is not a blockchain, the system runs nodes in various blockchains. This is how the Overledger interoperability mechanism actually carries out its job. Quant Network doesn't only let you use their own nodes, they let you use any node that is listed on the Overledger Network. For example, if Organization A installs Overledger on their BTC and ETH nodes. Then Organization B can decide to use the nodes of Organization A, Quant Network's managed nodes and their own on-site nodes. And not only blockchain nodes, you can list distributed ledgers and non-blockchain databases.
Key Partnerships and Ecosystem Integrations
Quant has established partnerships with SIA, Oracle, and major financial institutions, enhancing its technological capabilities and market influence. These partnerships provide a solid foundation for Quant's ecosystem expansion.
Quant states that a multitude of European banks and financial institutions are already using Overledger. Leveraging the shared API technology of Overledger, these institutions are able to connect their blockchain networks in minutes without any additional infrastructure.
Quant partnered with the LCX exchange in April 2021 to improve the settlement technology of CBDCs using Overledger. Constellation Network, Inc, a San Francisco based software, big data and blockchain company integrated their secure communications protocol with Quant Network's Overledger. The partnership represents a major milestone in the commercialization of blockchain technology by providing an end-to-end path from testing in closed environments to production-ready real-time digital systems.
The collaboration with Make enables users of Make's automation software to integrate with Quant's Overledger, unlocking code-free automation capabilities for any blockchain. On Monday 5 May, the European Central Bank announced that Quant has been selected to work on the ECB's #DigitalEuro project as a pioneer partner.
Competitive Advantages and Unique Value Proposition
Overledger enables interoperability at greater complexity than most other solutions in the market. It is capable of more than just technical interoperability (e.g. trading BTC for ETH on Binance). It is capable of syntactic, structural, cross-domain and semantic interoperability.
Overledger gives smart contract capability to blockchains which do not have smart contracts. For example, you can give Bitcoin smart contracts. Quant Network also allows developers to launch their own blockchain-agnostic tokens using its QRC-20 token standard. The recent release of QRC-20 smart contracts introduced a drag and drop style system for creating QRC-20 tokens on the Quant Network — making it easy for businesses to deploy them without any prior experience.
Quant Network's unique combination of features, tailored for enterprises, sets it apart from competitors. Its focus on enterprise-level solutions, coupled with its advanced interoperability technology, places it at the forefront of blockchain innovation, driving adoption and growth in the digital age.
Current Development Activity and Roadmap Highlights
In May 2021, the Quant team released Overledger 2.0, which offered improvements to the developer experience, increased stability for cross-platform applications, and migration from its SDK to open API standards. Subsequently, in September 2021, the Overledger Network (OVN) version 2.0 was launched on the mainnet, granting application developers and enterprise users mainnet access to gateways across the Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP ledgers.
Overledger Version 2.2.9 (June 2022) - Released Quant's OVN API for creating and deploying QRC-20 tokens across Ethereum, Polygon, and XDC mainnets. With this new release, OVN developers were enabled to mint QRC-20 tokens on the mainnet of supported networks.
Overledger Platform Launch (June 2023) - A low-code platform that enables institutions to issue digital assets such as CBDCs across multiple networks. In September 2024, Quant Network took part in the United Kingdom's Regulated Liability Network (RLN) Experimentation Phase, an initiative coordinated by UK Finance. The RLN initiative sought to examine the technical and operational considerations of a shared infrastructure that could support the issuance, transfer, and settlement of regulated liabilities.
2026: Launch enhanced Overledger features, improving interoperability and security. Ecosystem Goals: Support integration with major blockchain networks and expand enterprise adoption. Long-term Vision: Become the standard for blockchain interoperability and enterprise blockchain solutions.
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