Binary Encoding

The XE network uses a deterministic binary encoding format for blocks and votes. This encoding is critical for hashing, signing, and network serialization -- all implementations must produce byte-identical output for the same logical data.

#Block canonical encoding

The canonical encoding is used for computing block hashes and signatures. It excludes the PoW nonce -- only the content that the account holder signs is included.

#Field layout

diagram

Offset  Size  Field──────  ────  ─────0       1     Version byte (0x02)1       1     Type byte2       8     Asset (left-aligned UTF-8, zero-padded to 8 bytes)10      32    Account (hex-decoded to raw 32 bytes)42      32    Previous (hex-decoded; genesis blocks use 32 zero bytes)74      8     Balance (big-endian uint64)82      8     Timestamp (big-endian int64)90+     var   Type-specific tail (see below)last    32    Representative (appended after type tail; 32 zero bytes if empty)

#Type bytes

Type	Byte	Description
Send	`0x01`	Transfer funds to another account
Receive	`0x02`	Accept a pending send
Claim	`0x03`	Faucet claim (100 XUSD)
Lease	`0x04`	Request a compute lease
LeaseAccept	`0x05`	Provider accepts a lease
LeaseSettle	`0x06`	Settle a completed lease
MultisigOpen	`0x08`	Open a multisig account
MultisigUpdate	`0x09`	Rotate a multisig keyset

#Type-specific tails

Each block type appends additional fields after the common header:

#Send

Offset	Size	Field
90	32	Destination (hex-decoded)
122	8	Amount (big-endian uint64)

Total canonical size: 162 bytes (130 + 32 representative)

#Receive

Offset	Size	Field
90	32	Source hash (hex-decoded)

Total canonical size: 154 bytes (122 + 32 representative)

#Claim

No additional fields.

Total canonical size: 122 bytes (90 + 32 representative)

#Lease

Offset	Size	Field
90	32	Destination / provider (hex-decoded)
122	8	Amount (big-endian uint64)
130	8	vCPUs (big-endian uint64)
138	8	Memory MB (big-endian uint64)
146	8	Disk GB (big-endian uint64)
154	8	Duration seconds (big-endian uint64)
162	32	AccessPubKey (hex-decoded ed25519 public key; empty → 32 zero bytes)

Total canonical size: 226 bytes (90 base + 104 tail + 32 representative)

#LeaseAccept

Offset	Size	Field
90	32	Source / lease hash (hex-decoded)
122	8	Amount (big-endian uint64)

Total canonical size: 162 bytes (130 + 32 representative)

#LeaseSettle

Offset	Size	Field
90	32	Source / lease hash (hex-decoded)
122	8	Amount (big-endian uint64)

Total canonical size: 162 bytes (130 + 32 representative)

#MultisigOpen / MultisigUpdate

Offset	Size	Field
90	4	Threshold (big-endian uint32)
94	4	Number of keys (big-endian uint32)
98	32×N	Keys (sorted, hex-decoded, 32 bytes each)

Total canonical size: 130 + 32N bytes (90 header + 8 + 32N keyset + 32 representative)

Keys are sorted lexicographically before encoding. This ensures the same keyset always produces the same canonical encoding and thus the same derived address.

#Full block encoding

The full block encoding appends the PoW nonce after the canonical bytes:

text

[ canonical bytes ] [ 8 bytes PoW nonce (little-endian uint64) ]

This is the format used for storage and network transmission. The MarshalBlock function produces this format, and UnmarshalBlock parses it.

#Field encoding rules

Field	Encoding
Hex strings (account, previous, hashes)	Decoded to raw bytes (32 bytes each)
Asset	Left-aligned UTF-8, zero-padded to exactly 8 bytes
Previous = `"0"` (genesis)	32 zero bytes
Balance, Amount	Big-endian `uint64`
Timestamp	Big-endian `int64`
PoW Nonce	Little-endian `uint64`
Representative (empty)	32 zero bytes

#Vote encoding

Votes are serialized for signing and network transmission:

diagram

Offset  Size  Field──────  ────  ─────0       1     Version byte (0x01)1       32    Representative public key (hex-decoded)33      32    Block hash (hex-decoded)65      32    Conflict account (hex-decoded)97      32    Conflict previous (hex-decoded; "0" → 32 zero bytes)129     8     Timestamp (big-endian int64)137     2     Signature length (big-endian uint16)139     N     Signature bytes

Fixed portion: 139 bytes + variable signature length.

#Functions

The encoding package exposes the following functions:

Function	Description
`MarshalBlockCanonical(block)`	Encode a block for hashing/signing (no PoW nonce)
`MarshalBlock(block)`	Full encoding including PoW nonce trailer
`UnmarshalBlock(data)`	Decode a full block from bytes
`EncodeVote(vote)`	Serialize a vote for signing/transmission
`DecodeVote(data)`	Deserialize a vote from bytes

#See also

Cryptography -- hashing and signing over canonical bytes
Proof of Work -- PoW computed over the block hash
Block Types -- logical structure of each block type