> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.notareum.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Glossary

# Glossary

Canonical definitions for every Notareum term. Use this page as the shared vocabulary between protocol, contracts, SDKs, and integrations. Terms are grouped alphabetically.

## A

### `.nota` file

A signed JSON document that binds a blockchain resource (address, contract, transaction, NFT, IPFS CID) to an issuer identity. The core data structure of the protocol. Typically 1–2 KB, portable over any channel, verifiable offline once the issuer's signing key is known. See [.nota File Format](../protocol/nota-file-format.md).

### AccessManager

The OpenZeppelin v5 contract used as the single authority for role memberships, timelocks, and proxy upgrades across all Notareum contracts. Deployed as `NotareumAccessManager`. See [AccessManager](../smart-contracts/access-manager.md).

### Alias

A human-readable pointer to a `.nota` resource, stored in `NotaRegistry`. First-come-first-served; normalized to NFC and case-folded before hashing. An alias resolves to the underlying `resourceId`. Compatible with (but independent of) ENS names.

### Attestation

A validator's signed claim about a resource during a verification request. Encodes `approve` or `reject`, the validator's identity, the request ID, and a hash of off-chain evidence. Submitted to `VerificationEngine`.

## B

### Basic tier

Entry-level validator tier. Minimum stake 10,000 NOTA, 10 attestations per day cap, 1.0× reward multiplier, 10% maximum slash rate in a 24-hour window. See [ValidatorStaking](../smart-contracts/validator-staking.md).

### Bond (dispute)

NOTA posted by a disputant when opening a dispute within the dispute window. Returned plus a share of slashed funds if the dispute succeeds; forfeit otherwise.

## C

### `chainId`

The numeric chain identifier used inside a `.nota` file. EVM chains use EIP-155 integers; Solana uses 101/102/103; Bitcoin uses 0/1; Cosmos chains hash their chain-id string to `uint256`. See [Cross-Chain Identity](../use-cases/cross-chain-identity.md).

### `chainName`

The human-readable lowercase slug for the chain (`ethereum`, `polygon`, `arbitrum`, `solana`). Paired with `chainId` in every `.nota` resource block.

### Collusion slash

Terminal slash triggered by governance-finalized evidence of coordinated validator misbehavior. Slashes 100% of stake regardless of tier. See [SlashingManager](../smart-contracts/slashing-manager.md).

### Cooldown

The waiting period between `unstake` and `withdrawPending`. Tier-dependent: 14 days (Basic), 21 days (Professional), 28 days (Enterprise), 42 days (Institutional). Protects the network from rapid stake rotation during disputes.

## D

### Disputant

The address that opens a dispute against a finalized verification request within the dispute window. Posts a bond; receives a share of slashed funds on success.

### Dispute window

Fixed interval after finalization during which a verification outcome can be challenged. 24 hours (Basic), 48 hours (Enhanced), 72 hours (Institutional).

### Double-signing slash

Slash applied when a validator signs conflicting attestations for the same `requestId`. Rate scales by tier up to 100% (Enterprise+). Always terminal at the higher tiers.

### Downtime slash

Automated slash triggered when a validator misses attestations across `k` consecutive epochs (default 4 weeks). Lower rate, no disputer share.

## E

### Enhanced verification

Mid-tier verification level requiring 7 validators with 75% approval, minimum validator tier Professional. Fee: 500 NOTA. Dispute window 48 hours.

### Enterprise tier

Third validator tier. Minimum stake 250,000 NOTA, 200 attestations per day cap, 2.0× reward multiplier, 20% max slash rate. Eligible to attest Institutional-level requests.

### Evidence hash

`bytes32` hash committed on-chain in an attestation. Commits the validator to a specific off-chain evidence payload (logs, source code, audit reports) that can be disclosed in a dispute.

## F

### FeeManager

The contract that collects, splits, and routes every NOTA fee the protocol charges. Splits default to 40% treasury, 20% burn, 40% validator rewards. See [FeeManager](../smart-contracts/fee-manager.md).

### Finalization

Transition of a verification request out of `Open` into `Finalized` (approved or rejected). Triggered by anyone after quorum or on deadline. Allocates attestation rewards.

## G

### Governance proposal

A veNOTA-weighted vote through `Governor`. Proposals can schedule operations in `AccessManager` (role grants, parameter updates, upgrades). See [AccessManager](../smart-contracts/access-manager.md).

## H

### HD derivation

Hierarchical-deterministic key derivation used by exchanges to generate per-user deposit addresses. Notareum wraps the resulting address in a signed `.nota` without altering the underlying custody model.

## I

### Identifier

The chain-specific string identifying the resource inside a `.nota` file. Examples: an Ethereum address (`0xabc...`), an NFT composite (`0xNft:7`), an IPFS CID (`bafy...`), a transaction hash (`0x...`).

### Institutional tier

Top validator tier. Minimum stake 1,000,000 NOTA, unlimited daily attestations, 2.5× reward multiplier, 25% max slash rate. Required to attest Institutional-level requests.

### Institutional verification

Highest verification level: 15 validators, 75% approval, minimum validator tier Enterprise. Fee: 2,500 NOTA. Dispute window 72 hours.

### Issuer

The identity that signs a `.nota` file. Can be an individual, organization, or DID-anchored entity. Issuers can register `.nota` files of type `"issuer"` to establish their identity once, then reference it from every resource they sign.

### Issuer DID

W3C Decentralized Identifier resolving to a document that lists the keys authorized to sign on behalf of the issuer and the chains they are valid for. Supports multi-chain identity binding.

## L

### Lock (veNOTA)

An amount of NOTA committed to `veNOTA` for a duration up to 4 years. Produces a decaying veNOTA balance used for governance weight and reward boosts. Non-transferable, no early withdrawal.

## M

### Missed attestation

Slash reason applied when a validator is assigned to (or elects into) a verification request and fails to submit an attestation before the deadline. Low-rate slash, treasury/burn only.

## N

### NOTA

The ERC-20 utility and governance token of the protocol. Pays fees, collateralizes validator stakes, and when locked produces veNOTA. Max supply 1,000,000,000.

### NotaRegistry

The contract that stores every registered resource, aliases, revocation flags, and verification level pointers. The on-chain source of truth for resource state. See [NotaRegistry](../smart-contracts/nota-registry.md).

## P

### Professional tier

Second validator tier. Minimum stake 50,000 NOTA, 50 attestations per day cap, 1.5× reward multiplier, 15% max slash rate. Eligible to attest Enhanced-level requests.

## Q

### Quorum

The validator count and approval ratio required to finalize a verification request at a given level: (3, 67%), (7, 75%), (15, 75%) for Basic / Enhanced / Institutional respectively. See [VerificationEngine](../smart-contracts/verification-engine.md).

## R

### Resource

Any blockchain artifact that can be bound in a `.nota` file: address, contract, transaction, NFT collection, NFT token, IPFS CID, attestation.

### Resource ID

`bytes32` deterministic identifier computed as `keccak256(abi.encodePacked(uint8(type), uint256(chainId), bytes(identifier)))`. Identical across all SDKs and contracts.

### Resource type

Enumerated value distinguishing address, contract, transaction, NFT collection, NFT, IPFS CID, and attestation.

### Revocation

State transition marking a resource untrusted. Triggered by the resource owner via `NotaRegistry.revokeResource`. Irreversible at the record level; a new resource with a different identifier can be registered separately.

## S

### Signature

ECDSA (secp256k1) or Ed25519 signature covering the canonical serialization of a `.nota` file. EVM resources use secp256k1; Solana uses Ed25519; Bitcoin Schnorr resources use BIP-340.

### Slashing

Governance-defined reduction of a validator's bonded stake. Triggered by dispute outcomes, downtime, or collusion evidence. See [SlashingManager](../smart-contracts/slashing-manager.md).

### Staking

The act of bonding NOTA in `ValidatorStaking` to participate as a validator. Gates attestation rights, determines tier, and exposes the stake to slashing.

## T

### Tier

A validator classification derived from bonded stake (Basic, Professional, Enterprise, Institutional). Determines daily attestation cap, reward multiplier, max slash rate, and which verification levels the validator can serve.

### Travel Rule

FATF Recommendation 16 requiring originator and beneficiary data for covered VASP transfers. Notareum's payment request `.nota` carries a structured `travelRule` block to satisfy the rule natively.

### Treasury

The governance-controlled address that receives the treasury share of every fee and a share of slashed funds. Destination is governance-set via `FeeManager.setTreasury`.

## U

### UTI (Universal Transfer Interface)

The broader design concept behind Notareum: a single, chain-agnostic file format and identity layer for exchanging blockchain resources across wallets, exchanges, and dapps without centralized intermediaries.

## V

### Validator

A staked NOTA holder registered in `ValidatorStaking` who submits attestations on verification requests. Organized into four tiers.

### Verification engine

The contract that drives the attestation lifecycle: opening requests, admitting attestations, finalizing on quorum, and coordinating with `SlashingManager` on disputes. See [VerificationEngine](../smart-contracts/verification-engine.md).

### Verification level

Enumerated trust tier assigned to a resource after finalization: Unverified, Basic, Enhanced, Institutional.

### veNOTA

Vote-escrowed NOTA. Produced by locking NOTA in `NotareumVeNOTA` for up to 4 years. Balance decays linearly to zero over the lock duration. Non-transferable. Used for governance weight and validator reward boosts. See [veNOTA](../smart-contracts/venota.md).

### Vote-escrow

The economic mechanism of temporarily locking a token to receive a time-weighted governance asset. Popularized by Curve's veCRV; Notareum's variant applies it to `$NOTA`.

## W

### Wrong attestation

Slash reason applied when a validator's attestation matches the side later disproven in a dispute. Rate scales by tier (2% → 8%). 50% share goes to the disputer.

## Related pages

* [Protocol Overview](../protocol/overview.md)
* [Smart Contracts Overview](../smart-contracts/overview.md)
* [FAQs](faqs.md)
* [Error Codes](error-codes.md)