Aloha Integrates Chainlink VRF To Help Fairly Distribute In-Game Prizes in Surf Invaders
We’re excited to announce that Aloha — a comprehensive DeFi platform — has integrated Chainlink Verifiable Random Function (VRF) on Polygon mainnet. By integrating the industry-leading decentralized oracle network, we now have access to a tamper-proof and auditable source of randomness needed to fairly select winners for in-game rewards in our Surf Invaders game. Ultimately, this creates a more exciting and transparent user experience, as users can be assured that winners will be selected impartially. This transparency is important as rewards are automatically paid into wallets.
Surf Invaders is a blockchain-based game that runs on the Polygon Network. It’s an endless runner game where players surf through the sea, avoiding a giant octopus and collecting power-ups to gain a high score. Needing only direction keys, the game is simple to play, and players can use their NFTs to increase the number of lives they have. The newest feature, which is supported by Chainlink VRF, is a bottle collection mechanism. When players pick up bottles, they can win random prizes that will automatically be paid into their wallets. Aloha will host a Twitter party on March 10 to promote the game, and this will also feature prizes.
In order to pick winners impartially, we needed access to a secure random number generator (RNG) that any user could independently audit. However, RNG solutions for smart contracts require several security considerations to prevent manipulation and ensure system integrity. For instance, RNG solutions derived from blockchain data like block hashes can be exploited by miners/validators, while off-chain RNG solutions derived from off-chain APIs are opaque and don’t provide users with definitive proof about the integrity of the process.
After reviewing various solutions, we selected Chainlink VRF because it’s based on cutting-edge academic research, supported by a time-tested oracle network, and secured through the generation and on-chain verification of cryptographic proofs that prove the integrity of each random number supplied to smart contracts.
Chainlink VRF works by combining block data that is still unknown when the request is made with the oracle node’s pre-committed private key to generate both a random number and a cryptographic proof. The Aloha smart contract will only accept the random number input if it has a valid cryptographic proof, and the cryptographic proof can only be generated if the VRF process is tamper-proof. This provides our users with automated and verifiable assurances directly on-chain that Surf Invaders is provably fair and was not tampered with by the oracle, outside entities, or the Aloha team.
Aloha will look into more ways it can integrate Chainlink VRF in the future. The results of previous integrations have proven highly successful, and the team is examining other potential opportunities. We’re also looking to save development time and cut costs by integrating Chainlink Keepers to automate the distribution of rewards.
“One of the key aspects driving our development has been ensuring that winners are selected fairly, as well as offering high performance with minimal environmental impact. Chainlink VRF has proved indispensable for helping ensure a fair selection, and Polygon offers unparalleled performance.” — Martin Regan, Aloha CEO
About Chainlink
Chainlink is the industry standard for building, accessing, and selling oracle services needed to power hybrid smart contracts on any blockchain. Chainlink oracle networks provide smart contracts with a way to reliably connect to any external API and leverage secure off-chain computations for enabling feature-rich applications. Chainlink currently secures tens of billions of dollars across DeFi, insurance, gaming, and other major industries, and offers global enterprises and leading data providers a universal gateway to all blockchains.
Learn more about Chainlink by visiting chain.link or reading the developer documentation at docs.chain.link. To discuss an integration, reach out to an expert.
About Aloha
Aloha is a DeFi platform that offers a suite of interconnected features to its users. These features include limited edition NFTs, a staking platform, and a soon-to-be-launched DEX. At the heart of the whole ecosystem are Aloha NFTs, which can be used for governance, staking, and as playable tokens in an upcoming game.
