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SYSTEM_ARCHITECTURE.md

CeloHT edited this page Aug 10, 2026 · 1 revision

CeloHT System Architecture

CeloHT is a modular Web3 ecosystem built on the Celo blockchain. Its system architecture separates the user-facing applications, blockchain infrastructure, wallet interactions, backend services, data systems, and community-oriented services into distinct layers.


1. System Overview

                         ┌──────────────────────┐
                         │        USERS         │
                         │ Individuals • Agents │
                         │ Communities • Partners│
                         └──────────┬───────────┘
                                    │
                                    ▼
                     ┌──────────────────────────┐
                     │      CELOHT FRONTEND     │
                     │ Website • dApp • Portals │
                     └────────────┬─────────────┘
                                  │
                    ┌─────────────┼─────────────┐
                    │             │             │
                    ▼             ▼             ▼
              Wallet Layer    API Layer    Content Layer
                    │             │             │
                    ▼             ▼             ▼
                Valora       Backend/API    Education
                    │             │         Resources
                    │             │
                    └──────┬──────┘
                           ▼
                 ┌─────────────────────┐
                 │    CELO NETWORK     │
                 │                     │
                 │ CELO • cUSD •       │
                 │ Smart Contracts     │
                 └──────────┬──────────┘
                            │
              ┌─────────────┼──────────────┐
              ▼             ▼              ▼
          Payments       Contracts       Events
              │             │              │
              └─────────────┼──────────────┘
                            ▼
                    ┌───────────────┐
                    │ Impact / Data │
                    │ & Reporting   │
                    └───────────────┘

2. Architectural Layers

The system is divided into the following layers:

  1. Presentation Layer
  2. Application Layer
  3. Integration Layer
  4. Wallet Layer
  5. Blockchain Layer
  6. Data & Analytics Layer
  7. Governance & Security Layer

3. Presentation Layer

The presentation layer contains interfaces through which users interact with CeloHT.

Examples include:

  • CeloHT website
  • CeloHT dApp
  • Agent interfaces
  • Education interfaces
  • Community dashboards
  • Partner interfaces

The presentation layer should not directly manage private keys or sensitive blockchain credentials.


4. Application Layer

The application layer contains business logic and application workflows.

Responsibilities may include:

  • User onboarding
  • Educational content
  • Agent workflows
  • Payment initiation
  • Transaction status
  • Community services
  • Impact reporting
  • Public information

Business logic should remain separated from presentation components wherever possible.


5. Integration Layer

The integration layer connects CeloHT applications to external infrastructure.

Potential integrations include:

  • Celo RPC infrastructure
  • Blockchain explorers
  • Wallet providers
  • APIs
  • Analytics services
  • Hosting infrastructure

The integration layer should isolate third-party dependencies so that an external provider can be replaced without rewriting the entire application.


6. Wallet Layer

Wallets provide transaction authorization.

Primary interaction:

User
 │
 ▼
CeloHT Application
 │
 ▼
Wallet
 │
 ▼
Transaction Signature
 │
 ▼
Celo Network

The application must never request or store:

  • Seed phrases
  • Private keys
  • Wallet recovery phrases

7. Blockchain Layer

The blockchain layer is provided by Celo.

It can support:

  • CELO transactions
  • cUSD transactions
  • Smart contracts
  • Contract events
  • Wallet addresses
  • On-chain verification

Blockchain transactions should be treated as externally verifiable records.


8. Smart Contract Layer

Where smart contracts are used, the application communicates with deployed contracts through wallet-signed transactions.

Frontend
   │
   ▼
Contract Interface
   │
   ▼
Wallet Signature
   │
   ▼
Smart Contract
   │
   ▼
Celo Blockchain

Contracts should have:

  • Documented addresses
  • Verified source code where possible
  • Defined permissions
  • Tests
  • Events
  • Security documentation

9. Data Layer

CeloHT may operate with both on-chain and off-chain information.

On-chain

  • Transaction hashes
  • Wallet addresses
  • Contract events
  • Token balances
  • Smart-contract state

Off-chain

  • Educational records
  • Application configuration
  • Community program information
  • Public resources
  • Operational data

Sensitive data should not be unnecessarily stored on-chain.


10. Agent System

The Agent System connects local communities with blockchain-enabled services.

                CeloHT Platform
                       │
                       ▼
                Agent Interface
                       │
             ┌─────────┼─────────┐
             ▼         ▼         ▼
           Agent A   Agent B   Agent C
             │         │         │
             ▼         ▼         ▼
         Community Community Community

Agents may support:

  • User onboarding
  • Wallet education
  • Cash-in
  • Cash-out
  • Transfers
  • Community support

Agent operations must follow documented operational and security policies.


11. Education System

Education is integrated into the system rather than treated as a separate marketing function.

Education
    │
    ▼
User Understanding
    │
    ▼
Wallet Adoption
    │
    ▼
Responsible Usage
    │
    ▼
Community Participation

The education system can cover blockchain, financial literacy, wallets, Celo, cUSD, digital security, and responsible Web3 participation.


12. Reforestation System

The environmental component connects CeloHT's digital ecosystem with physical community impact.

CeloHT Community
       │
       ▼
Environmental Program
       │
       ▼
Tree Planting
       │
       ▼
Community Verification
       │
       ▼
Impact Records

Potential metrics include:

  • Trees planted
  • Communities involved
  • Participants
  • Seedlings distributed
  • Environmental activities

13. Security Model

Security is applied across every layer.

User Security
      ↓
Wallet Security
      ↓
Application Security
      ↓
API Security
      ↓
Smart Contract Security
      ↓
Blockchain Security

Core principles:

  • Least privilege
  • Secure secrets management
  • Dependency monitoring
  • Code review
  • Automated testing
  • CI security checks
  • Wallet safety
  • Contract verification

14. Deployment Architecture

A production deployment can conceptually follow:

Developer
   │
   ▼
GitHub Repository
   │
   ▼
CI/CD Pipeline
   │
   ├── Lint
   ├── Test
   ├── Build
   └── Security Checks
   │
   ▼
Deployment Platform
   │
   ▼
CeloHT Application
   │
   ├── Frontend
   ├── APIs
   └── Services

15. Development Environments

CeloHT software should distinguish between:

  • Local development
  • Testing
  • Staging
  • Production

Production credentials must never be committed to source control.

Environment variables should be managed securely.


16. Observability

Production systems should provide sufficient visibility to identify:

  • Application failures
  • API failures
  • Transaction failures
  • Contract errors
  • Performance problems
  • Security events

Blockchain transactions should additionally be traceable through their transaction hashes.


17. Scalability

The architecture is designed to scale horizontally.

Potential scaling paths include:

  • Multiple frontend applications
  • Independent backend services
  • Additional agent interfaces
  • Additional communities
  • More educational content
  • More blockchain integrations

The system should avoid unnecessary coupling between independent components.


18. System Design Principles

CeloHT system development should follow:

  1. Security first
  2. Modular architecture
  3. Minimal unnecessary dependencies
  4. Transparent financial flows
  5. Publicly verifiable blockchain activity
  6. Clear separation of concerns
  7. Reproducible deployments
  8. Open documentation
  9. Community accessibility
  10. Measurable impact

Status

Document: System Architecture Version: 1.0 Project: CeloHT Blockchain: Celo Architecture: Modular Web3 System

CeloHT

Community-powered Web3 for real-world impact.

CeloHT is an open-source community initiative building practical solutions around Web3, financial inclusion, education, decentralized services, and environmental impact.

Learn. Build. Participate. Impact.

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