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Multisig extrinsics

Organizations can protect their wallets with multi-signature wallets

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A multisignature wallet account requires several wallet accounts to sign off on any transaction that might take place. This is very useful for organizations - it increases security and distributes control of the account from one password to multiple passwords.

There are tutorials on how to create and use multisig accounts at polkadot.js

In this tutorial, we will look at the extrinsics that are created during a multisig event on chain. There are three events

  • Multisig.as_multi
  • Multisig.approve_as_multi
  • Multisig.cancel_as_multi

The three stages of a multisig operation

  • Start of the operation: Either Multisig.as_multi or Multisig.approve_as_multi may kick off the operation.
    • In this step a threshold is set. This is the number of sigs required for the operation to be completed.
      • If the Multisig.as_multi is called, [args][call] describes the extrinsics to be processed on chain upon completion.
      • If the Multisig.approve_as_multi is called, `[args][callHash] is a hash that describes the extrinsics to be completed.
    • A fee is paid when completing a multisig process. This will be deducted from the coldkey of the wallet starting the multisig process.
  • Collect signatures In this step, subsequent calls are collected to reach the threshold. These can be Multisig.as_multi or Multisig.approve_as_multi calls.
    • These transactions contain a maybeTimepoint argument with two parameters to connect with the inital multisig call.
      • height the block number of the original call.
      • index The exttrinsic index of the original call.
  • Complete the operation. Either Multisig.as_multi or Multisig.cancel completes the operation.
    • Multisig.as_multi - completes the operation as successful. The threshold has been reached, and the calls denoted will now be run on chain.
    • Multisig.cancel_as_multi - as probably expected, this will cancel.
      • Cancel extrinsics have the timepoint extrinsic that matches the maybeTimepoint from the collection step. On a cancel step, this is required, so it is not "maybe" included in the extrinsic.
      • The fee is refunded to the key that kicked off the process.

Examples

Example 1:

In this example - more than threshold calls are made - because the last call must be a as_multi. This multisig is being used to transfer 13.2 tao.

Initial call

See it on Taostats: 4472647-0009 

{
 "id": "4472647-0009",
  "extrinsic_id": "4472647-0009",
  "parent_id": null,
  "extrinsic_index": 9,
  "success": true,
  "error": null,
  "pallet": "Multisig",
  "name": "approve_as_multi",
  "full_name": "Multisig.approve_as_multi",
  "args": {
    "callHash": "0x536a4ae2fe64d59a3b8a4fa4f9db38c728aa1f8216570d69b1be6274b6b50fdc",
    "maxWeight": {
      "proofSize": "0",
      "refTime": "0"
    },
    "otherSignatories": [
      "0x34fff9eeda79435aba922eb7af06924065d9a96f516093bc6801009c4317ae56",
      "0xd0a9c979be7514edc82b8f41d096212f8d5a2aacce2ddfe87a7f8ed1d9e06e55"
    ],
    "threshold": 2
  },
  "origin": {
    "__kind": "system",
    "value": {
      "__kind": "Signed",
      "value": "0xa2d7f3250155801ebfae9c5cc0d522a479d9110499630409be004a5b53838c34"
    }
  },
  "origin_address": "0xa2d7f3250155801ebfae9c5cc0d522a479d9110499630409be004a5b53838c34",
  "timestamp": "2024-12-13T13:18:00Z",
  "block_number": 4472647
  },

In this initial call, the approve_as_multi is called. The signer of the extrinsic can be found in origin_address. There is a threshold of two - meaning one additional signature is required (and there are two args/otherSignatories that are eligible to complete the process).

Second call

See it on Taostats: 4472648-0009 

{
  "id": "4472648-0009",
  "extrinsic_id": "4472648-0009",
  "parent_id": null,
  "extrinsic_index": 9,
  "success": true,
  "error": null,
  "pallet": "Multisig",
  "name": "approve_as_multi",
  "full_name": "Multisig.approve_as_multi",
  "args": {
    "callHash": "0x536a4ae2fe64d59a3b8a4fa4f9db38c728aa1f8216570d69b1be6274b6b50fdc",
    "maxWeight": {
      "proofSize": "0",
      "refTime": "0"
    },
    "maybeTimepoint": {
      "height": 4472647,
      "index": 9
    },
    "otherSignatories": [
      "0x34fff9eeda79435aba922eb7af06924065d9a96f516093bc6801009c4317ae56",
      "0xa2d7f3250155801ebfae9c5cc0d522a479d9110499630409be004a5b53838c34"
    ],
    "threshold": 2
  },
  "origin": {
    "__kind": "system",
    "value": {
      "__kind": "Signed",
      "value": "0xd0a9c979be7514edc82b8f41d096212f8d5a2aacce2ddfe87a7f8ed1d9e06e55"
    }
  },
  "origin_address": "0xd0a9c979be7514edc82b8f41d096212f8d5a2aacce2ddfe87a7f8ed1d9e06e55",
  "timestamp": "2024-12-13T13:18:12Z",
  "block_number": 4472648
}

The second call is also approve_as_multi. It is matched to the first call by the extrinsic:

"maybeTimepoint": {
  "height": 4472647,
  "index": 9
},

We can see that the origin_address matches one of the other_signatories in the first call.

📘

Threshold

The threshold for this Multisig process is 2, and this is the 2nd signature.

BUT The final multisig event must be a Multisig.as_multi. So this extrinsic does not complete the Multisig.

Third call

See it on Taostats: 4472650-0006 

{
            "id": "4472650-0006",
            "extrinsic_id": "4472650-0006",
            "parent_id": null,
            "extrinsic_index": 6,
            "success": true,
            "error": null,
            "pallet": "Multisig",
            "name": "as_multi",
            "full_name": "Multisig.as_multi",
            "args": {
                "call": {
                    "__kind": "Utility",
                    "value": {
                        "__kind": "batch_all",
                        "calls": [
                            {
                                "__kind": "Balances",
                                "value": {
                                    "__kind": "transfer_keep_alive",
                                    "dest": {
                                        "__kind": "Id",
                                        "value": "0xf02df68b1a1a9f72d868ee45c53e3a215abaaa1bb01b1f400aee16829547554e"
                                    },
                                    "value": "13268437943"
                                }
                            },
                            {
                                "__kind": "System",
                                "value": {
                                    "__kind": "remark",
                                    "remark": "0x312d3078343061356638666237633661383839643765343563396636346566343830326233313238363831383932613633636439616633376330666539393263626334352d313934"
                                }
                            }
                        ]
                    }
                },
                "maxWeight": {
                    "proofSize": "8811",
                    "refTime": "322610689"
                },
                "maybeTimepoint": {
                    "height": 4472647,
                    "index": 9
                },
                "otherSignatories": [
                    "0x34fff9eeda79435aba922eb7af06924065d9a96f516093bc6801009c4317ae56",
                    "0xd0a9c979be7514edc82b8f41d096212f8d5a2aacce2ddfe87a7f8ed1d9e06e55"
                ],
                "threshold": 2
            },
            "origin": {
                "__kind": "system",
                "value": {
                    "__kind": "Signed",
                    "value": "0xa2d7f3250155801ebfae9c5cc0d522a479d9110499630409be004a5b53838c34"
                }
            },
            "origin_address": "0xa2d7f3250155801ebfae9c5cc0d522a479d9110499630409be004a5b53838c34",
            "timestamp": "2024-12-13T13:18:36.001Z",
            "block_number": 4472650
        }

This is a multisig.as_multi and can conclude the multisig process. Note that the origin_address matches the otherSignatories from the previous calls, and the maybeTimepoint also references the original multisig call.

We can finally see the extrinsics to be processed. A transfer of 13268437943rao (13.27 tao) to wallet address 0xf02df68b1a1a9f72d868ee45c53e3a215abaaa1bb01b1f400aee16829547554e will be processed now that the multisig has been completed.

Example 2:

in this example, the owners of Subnet 52 are setting the maximum registration cost to 8 tao.

First call:

This call sets the threshold at 2, and lists 3 other possible signers of the multisig:

See it on Taostats: 4470399-0007 

 "id": "4470399-0007",
        "extrinsic_id": "4470399-0007",
        "parent_id": null,
        "extrinsic_index": 7,
        "success": true,
        "error": null,
        "pallet": "Multisig",
        "name": "approve_as_multi",
        "full_name": "Multisig.approve_as_multi",
        "args": {
            "callHash": "0x6a26028b812fbabfc55b511ad30d43d494f422380bda41bf770752a0d97fad84",
            "maxWeight": {
                "proofSize": "4697",
                "refTime": "171339000"
            },
            "otherSignatories": [
                "0x4aac8da05fd543a7289230071e07cf84472e879ee6f05a580c560eed0371aa78",
                "0x8ad144093c8b47c08d87a4e2c720f27a1261257ef38a206b2c32b873fb2a0540",
                "0x96f712f459001d62d24425d0515d406cc974485fc1184c6ff3de08ecfdcd1658"
            ],
            "threshold": 2
        },
        "origin": {
            "__kind": "system",
            "value": {
                "__kind": "Signed",
                "value": "0x7843fc4a1bcb721d7dd67e613c33936ecc46dc898662f8bbd5554d9a53c6014e"
            }
        },
        "origin_address": "0x7843fc4a1bcb721d7dd67e613c33936ecc46dc898662f8bbd5554d9a53c6014e",
        "timestamp": "2024-12-13T05:48:24Z",
        "block_number": 4470399
    }

Second call:

The maybeTimepoint matches the block/extrinisic of the first call. It is an as_multi call, and meets the threshold, so will complete the extrinsic.

This call also exposes the calls that will be processed on chain - Admin.sudo_set_max_burn, which is used to set the max registration cost for a subnet. In thi9s case, SN 52 now has a maximum registration of 8 tao.

See it on Taostats: 4470428-0008 

        {
            "id": "4470428-0008",
            "extrinsic_id": "4470428-0008",
            "parent_id": null,
            "extrinsic_index": 8,
            "success": true,
            "error": null,
            "pallet": "Multisig",
            "name": "as_multi",
            "full_name": "Multisig.as_multi",
            "args": {
                "call": {
                    "__kind": "AdminUtils",
                    "value": {
                        "__kind": "sudo_set_max_burn",
                        "maxBurn": "800000000",
                        "netuid": 52
                    }
                },
                "maxWeight": {
                    "proofSize": "4697",
                    "refTime": "171339000"
                },
                "maybeTimepoint": {
                    "height": 4470399,
                    "index": 7
                },
                "otherSignatories": [
                    "0x7843fc4a1bcb721d7dd67e613c33936ecc46dc898662f8bbd5554d9a53c6014e",
                    "0x8ad144093c8b47c08d87a4e2c720f27a1261257ef38a206b2c32b873fb2a0540",
                    "0x96f712f459001d62d24425d0515d406cc974485fc1184c6ff3de08ecfdcd1658"
                ],
                "threshold": 2
            },
            "origin": {
                "__kind": "system",
                "value": {
                    "__kind": "Signed",
                    "value": "0x4aac8da05fd543a7289230071e07cf84472e879ee6f05a580c560eed0371aa78"
                }
            },
            "origin_address": "0x4aac8da05fd543a7289230071e07cf84472e879ee6f05a580c560eed0371aa78",
            "timestamp": "2024-12-13T05:54:12Z",
            "block_number": 4470428
        }

Example 3 (cancel)

First call

See it on Taostats: 4445415-0007 

{
  "id": "4445415-0007",
  "extrinsic_id": "4445415-0007",
  "parent_id": null,
  "extrinsic_index": 7,
  "success": true,
  "error": null,
  "pallet": "Multisig",
  "name": "approve_as_multi",
  "full_name": "Multisig.approve_as_multi",
  "args": {
    "callHash": "0x0320ac365c31a9b66cc4b6819034f9ee0b5d739f1abb46155a3b5b7a65048777",
    "maxWeight": {
      "proofSize": "12296",
      "refTime": "3118516090"
    },
    "otherSignatories": [
      "0x103d4c4ee677d68bf2c73f370adbd03e7cbfbd3285c319f3d4b914d6db54f635",
      "0x660a7a15ed4368f4c0a12a1e75a6725587934645db38c91e13900a76b495b87b"
    ],
    "threshold": 3
  },
  "origin": {
    "__kind": "system",
    "value": {
      "__kind": "Signed",
      "value": "0xa0a381c42a7e069869a2489164b7532911a685d7011596aec733c49a80dd3214"
    }
  },
  "origin_address": "0xa0a381c42a7e069869a2489164b7532911a685d7011596aec733c49a80dd3214",
  "timestamp": "2024-12-09T18:31:36Z",
  "block_number": 4445415
}

Second Call

In the cancel call, timepoint connects to the initial extrinsic. This will cancel the multisig process.

See it on Taostats: 4445425-0005 


{  
    "id": "4445425-0005",  
    "extrinsic_id": "4445425-0005",  
    "parent_id": null,  
    "extrinsic_index": 5,  
    "success": true,  
    "error": null,  
    "pallet": "Multisig",  
    "name": "cancel_as_multi",  
    "full_name": "Multisig.cancel_as_multi",  
    "args": {  
      "callHash": "0x0320ac365c31a9b66cc4b6819034f9ee0b5d739f1abb46155a3b5b7a65048777",  
      "otherSignatories": [  
        "0x103d4c4ee677d68bf2c73f370adbd03e7cbfbd3285c319f3d4b914d6db54f635",  
        "0x660a7a15ed4368f4c0a12a1e75a6725587934645db38c91e13900a76b495b87b"  
      ],  
      "threshold": 3,  
      "timepoint": {  
        "height": 4445415,  
        "index": 7  
      }  
    },  
    "origin": {  
      "**kind": "system",  
      "value": {  
        "**kind": "Signed",  
        "value": "0xa0a381c42a7e069869a2489164b7532911a685d7011596aec733c49a80dd3214"  
      }  
    },  
    "origin_address": "0xa0a381c42a7e069869a2489164b7532911a685d7011596aec733c49a80dd3214",  
    "timestamp": "2024-12-09T18:33:36Z",  
    "block_number": 4445425  
  }

Updated 8 days ago