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

# Architecture at a glance

> High-level overview of Autheo's technical architecture: chain stack, custom modules, EVM integration, and NFT license system.

Autheo Chain is built on **Cosmos SDK v0.53.0** with **CometBFT v0.38.17** consensus and a full **Ethermint EVM** layer. The chain introduces six custom modules on top of the standard Cosmos module set, primarily to implement NFT license–gated staking and a dual reward stream.

## Chain stack

```
┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐
│           Application Layer             │
│   (dApps, DeFi, DevHub, Compute)        │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│         EVM Layer (Ethermint)           │
│  JSON-RPC :8545 (HTTP) / :8546 (WS)     │
│  Chain ID: 2127 | eth_secp256k1 keys    │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│        Cosmos SDK v0.53.0               │
│  x/staking  x/distribution  x/gov      │
│  x/bank  x/ibc  x/mint  x/slashing     │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│        Custom Autheo Modules            │
│  x/license  x/licensedstaking          │
│  x/emissions  x/licensedistribution    │
│  x/autheo  x/e2ee                      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────┤
│       CometBFT v0.38.17                 │
│   P2P :26656 | RPC :26657              │
│   ~5 second block time                 │
└─────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

## Custom modules

| Module                  | Purpose                                                                                     |
| ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `x/license`             | Stores and manages NFT `LicenseRecord` objects (ISSUED → BOUND → ACTIVE → REVOKED)          |
| `x/licensedstaking`     | Wraps `x/staking` with license pre-checks on delegate, undelegate, and validator operations |
| `x/emissions`           | Mints per-block NFT emission rewards based on license tier; enforces 7B THEO global cap     |
| `x/licensedistribution` | Accumulates and allows manual claiming of NFT emission rewards                              |
| `x/autheo`              | Chain-specific governance parameters and Autheo-native operations                           |
| `x/e2ee`                | End-to-end encryption key registry for secure on-chain messaging                            |

## NFT license system

Licenses originate as ERC-721 tokens on **Arbitrum**. When transferred to an Autheo Chain EVM address, an automatic hook mints a `LicenseRecord` in `ISSUED` status on the Cosmos side. Three tiers exist:

| Tier      | Right granted                                   | Annual THEO emission |
| --------- | ----------------------------------------------- | -------------------- |
| Sovereign | Create and operate a validator                  | \~187,969            |
| Prime     | Delegate to external validators (higher tier)   | \~18,797             |
| Core      | Delegate to external validators (standard tier) | \~1,880              |

See [License lifecycle](/nodes/architecture/license-lifecycle) for the full state machine.

## Key addresses

Each keypair produces three equivalent address representations using `eth_secp256k1`:

| Format                    | Example             |
| ------------------------- | ------------------- |
| Cosmos Bech32             | `autheo1...`        |
| Validator operator Bech32 | `autheovaloper1...` |
| Ethereum hex (EIP-55)     | `0x...`             |

## Network endpoints

| Service                  | Default port |
| ------------------------ | ------------ |
| CometBFT RPC             | 26657        |
| CometBFT P2P             | 26656        |
| Ethereum JSON-RPC (HTTP) | 8545         |
| Ethereum JSON-RPC (WS)   | 8546         |
| Prometheus metrics       | 26660        |
| gRPC                     | 9090         |
| gRPC Gateway (REST)      | 1317         |

## Further reading

* [System architecture](/nodes/architecture/system-architecture) — detailed module dependency graph and KV store layouts
* [Module overview](/nodes/architecture/module-overview) — per-module documentation
* [EVM integration](/nodes/architecture/evm-integration) — JSON-RPC namespaces and tool compatibility