Xelite Pulse | XELIS Q&A: Behind the Vision, Technology & Team (Episode 10)

15 min read22 hours ago

At Xelis, we’re more than just a cryptocurrency project — we’re a passionate team & community united by a shared vision to redefine the future of decentralized finance. From groundbreaking technical innovations to engaging with our vibrant community, every aspect of Xelis is powered by the dedication and expertise of our core team.

In this article, we’re thrilled to introduce you to the people behind the scenes who are making Xelis possible. This is your chance to get to know the individuals driving our mission, hear their stories, and learn more about their roles and contributions to the project.

Core Team:

Slixe (Lead Developer): The mastermind behind Xelis’s cutting-edge technology, Slixe is dedicated to building a platform that combines speed, privacy, and decentralization.

G45T345RT (Fullstack Developer): A versatile developer ensuring the seamless integration of Xelis’s systems, making it robust and user-friendly.

Ez3kiel (Wallet Developer): The architect behind Xelis’s secure and intuitive wallet solutions, ensuring that users have a safe and accessible way to interact with the platform.

Yar (Graphic Designer): The creative force shaping Xelis’s visual identity, Yar brings the brand to life with designs that resonate with our vision and values.

Xelis Community Org (Marketing, BD, Partnerships and Community):

Cyber: The voice of Xelis in the community, Cyber leads our marketing, business development and partnership efforts and ensures our community remains informed, engaged, and empowered.

Why This Xelis Team Q&A?

We believe that a strong connection between the team and the community is the foundation of any successful project. By introducing the personalities of our team, we aim to foster transparency, and collaboration. This article is not just about us sharing our journey; it’s about giving you, our valued community members, an inside look at what drives Xelis forward.

Personal Background of Team

Can you share a bit about your background and what led you to the cryptocurrency space?

Slixe:
I don’t have a particularly unique background — I’m just a regular guy who loves coding, cryptocurrencies and new technologies. I’m passionate about learning new things every day. My interest in the crypto world began with mining. I started CPU mining Monero and then moved to GPU mining Ethereum. Later, I joined a project as a community member and stayed there for several years until finally deciding to create my own vision “XELIS” with our wonderful team.

G45:
Interestingly, my background isn’t closely related to the tech sector. For a significant portion of my life, I was a farmer on a family-owned traditional farm and later started my own vegetable farm. During that time, I realized the need for better logistics and infrastructure, as farming can be draining both financially and mentally.

I was always fascinated by technology, which became my escape from the mundane repetition of farming. I spent my nights exploring technology and learning how to become a developer. After several years of freelance work, I found myself diving into the cryptocurrency world. I was intrigued by the idea of decentralized currency — an open-source code that could help manage a global economy without boundaries. My journey led me to explore Monero and other cryptocurrencies, which sparked my desire to improve privacy in the digital space.

My passion eventually led me to Slixe, and together, we decided to turn our vision for XELIS into a reality.

Ezekiel:
I’m a Java backend developer at a central bank in Europe, working on an app for exchanging and transferring fiat currency between banks. By day, I’m focused on finance, but by night, I dive into crypto development, working on the wallet part of the XELIS project. I’ve always been fascinated by cypherpunk visions of privacy and decentralized consensus, which led me to various communities over the years. Eventually, I crossed paths with Slixe, and that’s when the adventure began!

Yar:
I’ve always been passionate about exploring new technologies and financial tools. My curiosity led me to cryptocurrency, especially the concept of decentralization and its potential to reshape financial systems. The transparency that blockchain technology offers, combined with the possibility of global empowerment, truly fascinated me. This interest evolved into a deeper understanding of cryptocurrencies and their potential to drive innovation across industries.

Cyber:
By education and experience, I am a business leader with a strong background in finance, marketing, business development, customer acquisition, and establishing partnerships. My career has been centered in the biotech sector, working for a Fortune 500 company, where I honed these skills.

My journey into the world of cryptocurrency began as a miner, driven by my passion for technology and hardware. What started as a technical curiosity quickly evolved into a deeper realization: the decentralized nature of crypto projects creates a unique space where business acumen and strategic thinking can thrive. In a landscape where proof of participation is the only barrier to entry, I discovered that my expertise in building connections and driving growth translated seamlessly. Crypto has since become both a professional and a personal passion, merging innovation with collaboration in exciting new ways.

What inspired you to be part of the Xelis project specifically?

Slixe:
What inspired me to join the Xelis project was the desire to create something new that aligned with our vision. I wanted to build something bigger and better while learning along the way. XELIS is a challenge for me, a personal journey to create a confidential, fully decentralized version of Ethereum that can be used in the real world.

G45:
I’m inspired by Slixe’s ability to work quickly and create complex systems. The Xelis project represents the future of a world with multiple global currencies that are not tied to any one country, and I want to contribute to that vision. I’m eager to help build Xelis and be part of this exciting innovation.

Ezekiel:
My journey with Xelis began organically. I started talking to Slixe about cryptocurrency, got interested in his work, and eventually started testing the tools he was developing. I was fascinated by the idea of creating a wallet with Flutter and Dart, and after many iterations, we managed to integrate Rust with the Xelis libraries. The challenge of building Genesix from scratch was thrilling and ultimately very rewarding.

Yar:
The originality of the Xelis concept and the professionalism of the team inspired me to join. It’s rare to see such a unique project backed by a group of individuals with deep expertise and a shared passion for innovation. The team’s dedication to pushing boundaries resonated with me, and I wanted to be a part of it.

Cyber:
I was inspired by the excellence and dedication of the Xelis development team. As Xelis began to take shape on testnet in 2023, it became clear that this team had a rare combination of technical brilliance and vision. I recognized this early on, which compelled me to contribute from a business & marketing perspective. I launched the Xelis Community Organization to advance understanding, adoption, and growth within the ecosystem. Through strategic marketing, journalism, partnership generation, and community building, this initiative has played a central role in promoting Xelis. It’s incredibly fulfilling to help position Xelis as a leader in decentralized technology.

How do your previous experiences inform your work on Xelis?

Slixe:
I’ve learned from my mistakes and others’ as well. In my previous projects, I always tried to improve codebases and designs, but I felt it was time to create something that truly reflected my vision. Xelis has allowed me to do just that.

G45:
I bring a lot of experience in building software solutions and creating frontend interfaces. Over the years, I’ve worked on numerous projects, including an NFT exchange platform that saw early success. While it didn’t last, it taught me a lot about community engagement and the importance of innovation.

Ezekiel:
The experiences I’ve had building Genesix have taught me patience, humility, and the importance of collaboration. There’s fierce competition in this industry, but by staying focused, we can continue to grow and succeed.

Yar:
My background in graphic and web design, along with my expertise in analytics, has helped me contribute to Xelis by ensuring that design elements align with the project’s goals. I’ve enjoyed applying my skills while learning from the highly talented team around me.

Cyber:
My background in business development and marketing has been invaluable. I’ve learned the importance of understanding user needs and the dedication required for a project to thrive. With my experience in building connections and driving growth, I am able to contribute to Xelis’s growth, ensuring it resonates with a broader audience. My experience with a Fortune 500 company has taught me how to navigate complex challenges and craft data-driven strategies, which I now apply to support Xelis’s success.

What do you enjoy most about working in the cryptocurrency industry?

Slixe:
The community is what excites me the most. Being backed by amazing people and sharing ideas with them motivates me to work harder. The power of a project lies in its community, and that sense of collaboration is something special.

G45:
The unpredictability of the industry makes it exciting. It’s a wild ride, like a rollercoaster, and I enjoy the extreme highs, and the lessons learned from the lows.

Ezekiel:
I enjoy the unique human aspect of cryptocurrency. Working with brilliant minds from around the world is a rewarding experience, and I hope it inspires others to join us.

Yar:
I’m motivated by the opportunity to help build a decentralized financial system. The potential to innovate and make a positive impact on the world is what excites me the most.

Cyber:
What I enjoy most is the inclusivity and meritocratic environment. In cryptocurrency, anyone willing to contribute can earn their place, and the results are tangible. The ability to measure impact through metrics like community growth and engagement is incredibly rewarding.

Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests?

Slixe:
Coding. A lot of coding!

G45:
Climbing is my main hobby at the moment. It’s an immersive sport that challenges both the body and mind, and it’s incredibly rewarding.

Ezekiel:
I enjoy reading, watching documentaries, and listening to music. I’m also interested in geopolitics, science, and technology. Traveling is a hobby I enjoy, although I don’t do it as much as I’d like.

Yar:
I love traveling, hiking, birdwatching, and photography. Exploring new places and capturing nature through my camera lens is both relaxing and inspiring.

Cyber:
Outside of work, I’m passionate about competing in triathlons. Running, biking, and swimming are my primary hobbies, and I enjoy setting ambitious goals and pushing myself to achieve them. Family time is also very important to me; I love spending time with my wife and four children.

What is one fun fact about yourself that the community might not know?

Slixe:
Despite being a big nerd who works 24/7 on XELIS, I have a girlfriend and sometimes find time to hit the gym.

G45:
I’m a sucker for Nesquick. I dip four toasts in a glass of Nesquick every morning. RIP to my health, haha!

Ezekiel:
I’m a professional lurker. I don’t talk much, but I’m always observing and absorbing knowledge from others.

Yar:
I enjoy painting and drawing as a hobby. It’s a creative outlet that helps me unwind after a long day.

Cyber:
I’m a huge fan of 2000s emo punk rock! I love playing the guitar or piano, and going to concerts is one of my favorite activities. Music has always been a big part of my life, and I love sharing that passion with my kids.

Now that you’ve had the opportunity to meet the brilliant minds behind Xelis, it’s time to shift our focus to the heart of the project itself. At Xelis, we’re not just building another cryptocurrency — we’re redefining what decentralized technology can achieve. From our mission to empower individuals with true financial privacy to our innovations in blockchain technology, Xelis is a project designed to challenge the status quo.

In this next segment, we’ll delve deeper into what makes Xelis unique.

Project Vision and Goals

What is the core mission of Xelis, and what problems does it aim to solve?

Xelis aims to redefine what cryptocurrency stands for: decentralized, powered by community, and built for independence.

Our goal is to tackle several challenges within the cryptocurrency space. First, we use an egalitarian Proof of Work (PoW) algorithm that allows for mining with both CPUs and GPUs, enhancing decentralization.

Second, in order for cryptocurrency to be used for daily payments, we need to ensure fast transactions that can compete with credit card networks. We address this by utilizing a BlockDAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) and several optimizations to achieve speed and scalability.

Finally, confidentiality & privacy is at the heart of Xelis. We believe that individuals should have control over their financial data, ensuring that no one can see your “bank account” balance or track your spending amounts.

All of this is brought together in our user-friendly application, Genesix, which will onboard anyone, regardless of their experience level.

How do you envision Xelis impacting the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem?

We aim to educate people on the importance of confidentiality for real-world cryptocurrency usage. Privacy is essential for individuals to have control over their financial information, and Xelis hopes to lead this shift in the broader crypto space.

What long-term goals do you have for Xelis in the next 5–10 years?

Our goal is to become one of the fastest and most widely used networks. If we achieve this, we will have successfully provided privacy and scalability to a large number of people, enabling widespread adoption of decentralized finance.

Development and Technology

What unique features or innovations does Xelis offer compared to other cryptocurrencies?

Xelis introduces several unique features:

BlockDAG in the Account Model: Xelis is the first BlockDAG implementation with an account model, providing scalability and performance.
Homomorphic Encryption for Privacy: Xelis is the first mainnet BlockDAG to implement privacy through Homomorphic Encryption, ensuring that user transactions amounts and wallet balances are private and secure.
Integration Tools: We provide SDKs and APIs, making it easier to integrate our chain into other projects.
Ownership and Balance Proofs: Xelis offers unique proofs, such as Ownership Proofs (to prove ownership of any asset) and Balance Proofs (to securely prove your encrypted balance without revealing your wallet).
Virtual Machine (XVM): Xelis has a highly customizable Virtual Machine that is fast, secure, and ideal for integrating decentralized applications (dApps) or plugins.

Can you explain the technology behind Xelis and what sets it apart?

Xelis uses a BlockDAG structure for fast and scalable transactions. This unique architecture allows us to achieve high throughput without compromising security or decentralization.

One of the key differentiators is the use of Homomorphic Encryption. This technology allows us to process encrypted data without decrypting it, ensuring that sensitive information remains private.

Our XVM and Smart Contract architecture is designed to be highly customizable, offering a safe sandbox for developers to create decentralized applications. The speed and flexibility of the XVM make it an ideal platform for building scalable and secure dApps.

What challenges have you faced during the development of Xelis, and how did you overcome them?

The biggest challenge was addressing all the front-running issues that can occur with the use of ZK Proofs in the account model. The account model functions as a value updated with each action, similar to how websites manage their user databases. A front-running issue could arise if Alice sent some coins to Bob, but Bob had already initiated a transaction. Bob’s transaction would then become invalid because Alice’s update to Bob’s balance would make the ZK Proofs completely outdated, resulting in an invalid transaction.

Most cryptocurrencies handle this by maintaining two balances: a locked balance and an unlocked balance. The unlocked balance is only spendable after a set period. However, we didn’t want to implement this because we aimed for instant finality, allowing coins to be spent immediately in the next block after they are received.

To achieve this, we needed to track each version of a balance. Essentially, we created a list of all balances stored by the topoheight of the action that updated the balance. Each balance version consists of two parts:

The “output” balance: This contains the balance minus the total spent by the user in the block.
The final balance: This contains the current balance plus all inputs received, minus all outputs spent.

We then introduced a “reference” type in the transaction to correctly select the balance for ZK Proof verification. This ensures that an older balance cannot be used instead of the latest output balance, preventing double spending. The reference is the key innovation that keeps ZK Proofs completely valid, even when other coins are sent or received.

For instance, if we perform three transactions (TXs) simultaneously with the same reference, but one of the three TXs is executed in the next block, it’s fine. The protocol will simply fall back to the latest “output” balance instead of selecting the referenced one. If Alice sends us coins while we’ve already initiated a TX, that’s also fine. The reference topoheight can be lower than the latest balance topoheight available, provided no coins have been spent in that interval.

The protocol uses the referenced balance for verification, while for storage and final balance, it takes the latest available balance. It applies Homomorphic Encryption operations on this balance, ensuring it includes all inputs and outputs, making it fully usable in the next block.

The second biggest challenge was rewriting the BlockDAG execution order. We needed to track all changes occurring within a block to easily “undo” the actions and rewrite them if necessary. To achieve this, we created our own layer for tracking changes by storing DAG-dependent data based on the topoheight. We also developed custom “pointers” to reference the latest value available.

To prevent significant performance loss, we implemented caching to reduce frequent read/write operations on the database. Additionally, we verified the execution order to avoid re-executing everything unnecessarily. Instead, we identified the changes and determined where to start recalculations, using the appropriate topoheight or block hash as the baseline.

Community Engagement

How do you plan to engage with the Xelis community, and what role does community feedback play in your development process?

We place a strong emphasis on community engagement. Our Discord and Telegram is a space where we actively listen to feedback and make adjustments based on suggestions. We recognize that each community member brings valuable skills, knowledge, and perspectives. By considering their feedback, we’re able to improve our project and see things from different angles.

What advice would you give to new users or investors looking to get involved with Xelis?

We encourage new users and investors to join our social media channels and actively participate in the community. If you have questions, ask them openly; either we or another community member will provide an answer. Everyone is welcome, and your participation helps us improve. The strength of our community lies in its numbers and engagement.

How can the community contribute to the growth and success of Xelis?

Community members can contribute by spreading the word about Xelis, providing feedback on our tools, and engaging with the project on social media and our community chats. Every bit of involvement helps strengthen the network and its ecosystem. We also routinely have bounties/paid opportunities to assist in the development of Xelis. In addition, all of Xelis is open source, so all may contribute freely on GitHub.

Team Dynamics

What do you value most in your team, and how do you foster a positive work environment?

The most important thing I value in my team is the open exchange of ideas. Everyone is encouraged to share their thoughts, feedback, and suggestions. We avoid pressuring anyone and allow each team member to work at their own pace. This fosters a positive, collaborative environment where creativity can thrive.

How do you handle differences in opinions within the team during the development process?

Differences in opinion are rare because each team member is responsible for their own part of the project. We trust each other to make the right decisions. However, when disagreements do arise, we discuss the issue, understand each other’s points of view, and either vote on the best solution or defer to someone’s experience with a similar problem.

Future Outlook

What upcoming features or developments are you most excited about?

The upcoming implementation of Smart Contracts on our testnet is a major milestone. We’re excited to push this forward and gather more feedback and testing from the community. Smart Contracts will unlock new possibilities for developers and users, enhancing the overall functionality of the Xelis network.

Conclusion: The Pulse of Progress

As we wrap up this Team Q&A episode of Xelite Pulse, it’s clear that the Xelis project is more than just a technology-driven endeavor — it’s a testament to the power of collaboration, vision, and community engagement. From the personal journeys of our team to the innovative solutions we’re bringing to the blockchain space, Xelis is built on the belief that decentralization, privacy, and scalability can truly reshape the future of finance.

The team’s dedication and diverse backgrounds underscore the strength of our mission, while the active participation of the Xelis community continues to be our guiding force. Together, we’re not just building a cryptocurrency; we’re forging a movement that empowers individuals to take control of their privacy.

Stay tuned as we continue to innovate, collaborate, and bring the future of Xelis to life. Join us on this journey, and let’s shape the next era of blockchain technology — together.

Thank you for reading this article on Xelis! If you enjoyed the content and found it useful, please consider supporting my work with a tip in Xelis $XEL. Your contribution helps us keep producing quality content like this, and we genuinely appreciate your support!

— Cyber (Telegram: cybernated_coinage | Discord: cybernatedcoinage )

Tipping Address: (XELIS ONLY)

xel:82zfcy3aa2pk2rzx6jpfnv7u3vkjcxhqs3hyghj45u9g2ccrrslsqk3vm3x

Important Links:

Xelis VM Playground: https://playground.xelis.io

Xelis LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/xelis

Website: https://xelis.io

Documentation: https://docs.xelis.io

Whitepaper: https://whitepaper.xelis.io/

Github: https://github.com/xelis-project/

Telegram: https://t.me/xelis_io

Discord: https://discord.gg/xelis