Edited By
David Lee

A new proposal is dividing opinions as a project team seeks to transform Mastercard's Banknet into a fully decentralized payment network using Hedera-Open. Some believe this move could offer unprecedented transaction speeds, while critics question the viability and necessity of forking an existing system.
The Decentralized Banknet (DBN) proposal aims to create an autonomous payment network on Hedera-Open that promises transaction speeds of 10,000 to 50,000 TPS with latency of 100-200ms. The project budget is estimated between $150 million to $200 million over a 36-month period, initiating a pilot within 18 months. Supporters emphasize its potential performance and network scale, targeting millions of users and merchants.
Performance: Targeting high transactions per second (TPS) and low latency.
Decentralization: Transitioning to 5,000-10,000 permissionless nodes governed by DAO.
Security: Utilizing aBFT and zk-SNARKs for enhanced privacy and resilience.
Interestingly, while some argue for a more decentralized approach, a counter-argument highlights the challenges of maintaining a forked network. One commenter noted, "You fork it, you have to maintain it."
The reception of the DBN proposal on forums reveals a mix of positive and negative sentiments:
Positive Sentiment (60%): Enthusiasts praise DBNโs potential for better transaction processing and low fees.
Negative Sentiment (30%): Critics point out concerns about increased centralization if the fork falters.
Neutral Observations (10%): Some seek clarity on the implications of the proposed fork.
Critics bring the idea of maintaining existing networks into focus. Some argue that without unique benefits, forking could lead to fragmentation and wasted resources. While advocates highlight the need for speed and decentralization, the proposal must convince all stakeholders of its advantages.
โก DBN aims for 10,000 to 50,000 TPS with 100-200ms latency.
๐๏ธ Proposal emphasizes decentralization via DAO governance.
โ Doubts linger about the need to fork an existing network.
As excitement builds around decentralized finance, this proposal could reshape payments as we know themโif it can address skeptics' concerns and establish a loyal user community.