MIDL Validator Network (DPoS Consensus Layer)

MIDL’s DPoS Layer: The MIDL network provides the consensus and execution layer that Helios relies on. MIDL uses a Delegated Proof-of-Stake (DPoS) mechanism in which a set of independent validators process transactions and maintain the network. Validators on MIDL are selected based on their staked assets (e.g. BTC and MIDL tokens) rather than being chosen by Helios. The top N validators by stake form the active validator set, and this set is periodically rotated to ensure decentralization and security. In other words, Helios does not select or appoint validators – they are elected by the MIDL staking process and community.

Validator Duties and Independence: Once elected, MIDL validators are responsible for executing Helios smart contracts off-chain, reaching consensus on their outcomes, and committing state updates to the Bitcoin blockchain. They validate user intents and carry out contract logic, such as updating loan states or interest calculations, according to Helios’s code. Importantly, these validators operate independently of the Helios team and are governed by MIDL’s rules and incentives. Helios’s protocol logic constrains what validators can do, but Helios as a project does not control validator operations. Validators must run the MIDL node software, monitor both Bitcoin and MIDL networks, and manage the multisignature custody wallets as part of their infrastructure responsibilities. If validators fail to follow the rules – for example, by censoring transactions or going offline – the MIDL protocol will punish them (e.g. through slashing of their staked BTC/MIDL) and can remove them from the active validator set. These safeguards are enforced by the MIDL network itself, ensuring that no single entity (including Helios) can override the consensus or misappropriate funds.

By relying on MIDL’s DPoS network, Helios achieves fast finality and security without running its own consensus. Every Helios transaction is finalized with Bitcoin-level security (anchored in a Bitcoin block) but benefits from MIDL’s optimized validator layer that confirms and batches smart contract operations within one block. Helios’s design thus outsources consensus to MIDL – if readers seek more technical details on MIDL’s validator selection, staking, or consensus mechanism, please refer to the MIDL project documentation for in-depth coverage.