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Glossary

This glossary defines key terms used throughout the IC42N documentation.

Epoch​

A Solana epoch boundary used to define a game round. Each epoch produces exactly one winning number.

Slot​

A unit of time in Solana. The final canonical slot used at epoch end is one of the inputs for calculating the winning number.

Finalized Blockhash​

The confirmed blockhash associated with a finalized slot. It is publicly retrievable and used as a deterministic input to the winning number calculation.

Winning Number​

A value between 0–9 derived from:

  • The canonical slot (u64 little-endian bytes)
  • The finalized blockhash (base58 decoded)
  • SHA‑256 hashing
  • Byte summation
  • Modulo 10

Conviction​

The amount of lamports a player contributes to a prediction. Conviction determines proportional payout share if the prediction wins.

Gross Pot​

The total lamports contributed by all players during a round.

Protocol Fee (Taker Fee)​

A percentage deducted from the gross pot before payouts are calculated.

Net Pot​

The gross pot minus the protocol fee. This amount is distributed proportionally among winners.

Tier​

A gameplay level with its own conviction range and economic parameters. Each tier operates independently.

Rollover​

Occurs when the winning number is:

  • 0
  • The previous epoch’s winning number

During a rollover:

  • No winners are declared
  • The entire pot carries forward
  • Predictions remain active
  • The taker fee decreases by 1%

Payout Event​

An epoch that does not result in a rollover. In these epochs, winners are determined and the net pot is distributed.

Change Ticket​

A consolation mechanism awarded to a percentage of players who miss the winning number. It allows a player to change their prediction before the cutoff time.

Change tickets:

  • Do not increase probability of winning
  • Can increase payout share if used strategically

Merkle Root​

A cryptographic commitment to the full winner list and payout distribution for an epoch. Used to securely validate claims.

Merkle Proof​

A cryptographic proof that a specific claim entry exists within the published Merkle root.

Resolution Artifact​

A permanent record (published to Arweave) containing:

  • Slot
  • Blockhash
  • Winning number
  • Winners list
  • Ticket data
  • Merkle root

Verifier​

The open-source reference implementation that reproduces the winning number calculation from public Solana data.