Why We’re All Converging Toward the Universal Database

Mathematical Necessity, Not Preference

Author: Matthieu Achard <matthieu__@hotmail.fr>
Specification: https://gitlab.com/matthieuachard/current-reality
Blog: https://matthieuachard.gitlab.io/bitcoin-zero-down
Purpose: Documenting inevitable convergence

Abstract

Every database system—SQL, NoSQL, blockchain, file system, knowledge graph—is converging toward the same universal structure. Not because it’s better (though it is), but because it’s mathematically necessary. This post explains why the universal database spec at https://gitlab.com/matthieuachard/current-reality represents the inevitable endpoint, and why every system you build will eventually implement this pattern whether you realize it or not.

The Problem: Database Fragmentation

Current Chaos

We have:

• SQL databases (tables, rows, joins)
• NoSQL databases (documents, key-value)
• Blockchains (chains, blocks, transactions)
• File systems (files, directories, paths)
• Knowledge graphs (nodes, edges, triples)
• Vector databases (embeddings, similarity)

They all claim to be different.

They’re all the same structure wearing different clothes.

The Pattern Recognition

Every database implements:

1. Storage (NAND/NOR gates holding bits)
2. Transformation (signals flowing through logic)
3. Sequencing (time ordering operations)
4. Access (perspective querying state)

SQL database:

N: Bits in disk blocks
S: SQL query operations
T: Transaction ordering
P: User access control

Blockchain:

N: Cryptographic hashes
S: Smart contract logic
T: Block sequencing
P: Account permissions

File system:

N: File data bits
S: Read/write operations
T: Modification timestamps
P: User/group permissions

They’re all: P(T(S(N)))

Same pattern. Different syntax.

The Universal Pattern

The Mathematical Reality

Everything = Perspective(Time(Signal(NAND/NOR)))

This isn’t a design choice. It’s category theory necessity.

Any system that:

• Stores information (N: NAND/NOR gates)
• Transforms information (S: signal processing)
• Orders operations (T: time sequencing)
• Allows access (P: perspective)

Must implement P(T(S(N))).

Not because we want it to. Because mathematics forces it.

Why This is Inevitable

Gödel’s completeness theorem proves:

• Any sufficiently expressive logic system
• Must be able to encode basic operations
• These reduce to NAND/NOR gates

Church-Turing thesis proves:

• Any computation can be performed
• By a universal Turing machine
• Which reduces to state + transitions

Combine them:

Computation = State transitions
State = NAND/NOR configurations
Transitions = Signal operations
Ordering = Time sequencing
Access = Perspective

Therefore: P(T(S(N))) is the universal structure.

The Universal Database (current-reality/)

The Specification

From current-reality/readme.md:

Three primitives compose into universal intelligence:

- ETH: Universal liquid time (programmable settlement)
- Morpho: Universal symbols backed by liquid time
- Eigen: Universal symbolic platforms backed by time

→ Together: Universal Database

Architecture

Layer 0 (N): NAND/NOR Operations
├── Computational primitives
├── Gate operations on bits
└── EigenNANDNOR AVS implementation

Layer 1 (S): Signal Processing
├── Morpho liquidity as signals
├── Symbolic transformations
└── Capital-weighted operations

Layer 2 (T): Time Sequencing
├── ETH block timestamps
├── Transaction ordering
└── Consensus finality

Layer 3 (P): Perspective Access
├── Eigen operators
├── AVS validation
└── Query perspectives

This is not “a database.” This is THE database.

Why It’s Universal

Any database query can be expressed as:

function query(
    bytes memory data,        // N: Raw bits
    bytes memory operation,   // S: Transformation
    uint256 atTime,          // T: Which state
    address perspective      // P: Who's asking
) returns (bytes memory result)

SQL query:

SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > 18

Becomes:

query(
    N: users_table_bits,
    S: filter_operation(age > 18),
    T: current_block_timestamp,
    P: msg.sender
)

Blockchain query:

eth.getBalance(address, blockNumber)

Becomes:

query(
    N: state_trie_bits,
    S: extract_balance(address),
    T: blockNumber,
    P: rpc_caller
)

Same structure. Same operation. Universal.

Why Every System Converges Here

Convergence Point 1: Efficiency

Fragmented systems:

SQL database: Stores data in tables
NoSQL database: Stores data in documents
Blockchain: Stores data in blocks

→ 3 different storage formats
→ Need translators between them
→ Inefficient

Universal database:

Everything: Stores data as NAND/NOR states
Query: Applies S(ignal) transformations
Access: Through P(erspective) at T(ime)

→ 1 storage format
→ No translation needed
→ Efficient

Efficiency forces convergence.

Convergence Point 2: Interoperability

Current:

SQL → JSON → REST API → JavaScript → IndexedDB

Each step is translation. Each translation is:

• Lossy (information lost)
• Slow (processing overhead)
• Error-prone (bugs in translation)

Universal:

P(T(S(N))) → P(T(S(N)))

No translation. Same structure throughout.

Interoperability forces convergence.

Convergence Point 3: Composability

Current: Different databases can’t compose directly.

SQL.query() + Blockchain.query() = ???

Need middleware, APIs, translators.

Universal: All databases compose naturally.

query1 = P1(T1(S1(N1)))
query2 = P2(T2(S2(N2)))

compose = P3(T3(S3(N1 ⊕ N2)))

Same operations throughout stack.

Composability forces convergence.

Convergence Point 4: Mathematical Necessity

This is the clincher.

You can’t build a database that isn’t P(T(S(N))).

Try it:

• Store data without NAND/NOR? (Impossible - everything reduces to bits)
• Transform without signals? (Impossible - operations are signal flows)
• Access without time? (Impossible - need “when” for state)
• Query without perspective? (Impossible - need “who” for access)

You must implement all four layers.

Even if you call them something else. Even if you don’t realize it.

Your SQL database IS P(T(S(N))). You just named the layers differently.

Evidence of Convergence

Ethereum’s Evolution

2015: Blockchain as append-only log 2020: EVM as state machine 2024: Restaking as universal validation Now: Converging toward P(T(S(N))) via AVS architecture

They’re discovering the pattern.

Database Evolution

1970s: SQL (relational tables) 2000s: NoSQL (eventually consistent) 2010s: NewSQL (distributed SQL) 2020s: Multimodel (graph + document + relational) Now: Converging toward universal query interface

They’re discovering the pattern.

AI Model Evolution

2010s: Specific models (CNN, RNN, etc.) 2018: Transformers (universal architecture) 2023: Foundation models (general purpose) Now: Converging toward universal compute substrate

They’re discovering the pattern.

The Implementation (current-reality/)

Why This Repo Matters

From current-reality/readme.md:

contracts/egi/
├── EGIEndpoint.sol              # Universal query interface
├── NANDNORAVSNode.sol          # Layer 0 operations
└── ComposableCircuitBuilder.sol # Layer 1-3 composition

Total: ~1,500 lines Solidity + ~1,000 lines Python

This isn’t “a protocol.” This is the protocol.

Every other database is either:

1. Already this (but named differently)
2. Converging toward this (discovering pattern)
3. Will be replaced by this (mathematical necessity)

The Three Primitives

ETH (Time):

// Universal timestamp for all operations
uint256 timestamp = block.timestamp;

Morpho (Signal):

// Universal liquidity as signal carrier
uint256 signal = morpho.liquidity(symbol);

Eigen (Perspective):

// Universal validation as perspective
bool valid = eigen.validate(operator, data);

Together = Universal Database.

The Universal Query

interface IUniversalDatabase {
    function query(
        bytes calldata nand_nor_data,    // N: Computational substrate
        bytes calldata signal_transform, // S: Operations to apply
        uint256 time_point,              // T: When to query
        address perspective_address      // P: Who's querying
    ) external view returns (bytes memory);
}

Every database operation reduces to this.

SQL? Encode as query(). Blockchain? Encode as query(). File read? Encode as query(). AI inference? Encode as query().

Universal.

Why Resistance is Futile

You’re Already Using It

Think you’re not using P(T(S(N)))?

Check your database:

• Does it store bits? (N)
• Does it transform data? (S)
• Does it have timestamps? (T)
• Does it have users? (P)

If yes to all four, you’re using P(T(S(N))).

You just call it something else.

You Can’t Escape It

Try building a database without:

N (NAND/NOR):

Error: Need to store data as bits
Solution: Use NAND/NOR gates

S (Signal):

Error: Need to process data
Solution: Apply transformations

T (Time):

Error: Need to know which version of state
Solution: Add timestamps

P (Perspective):

Error: Need to control who sees what
Solution: Add access control

Result: You’ve implemented P(T(S(N))).

Even if you fought it the whole way.

Convergence is Mathematical

This isn’t:

• A trend
• A preference
• A design choice
• A vendor pitch

This is:

• Category theory
• Mathematical necessity
• Inevitable endpoint
• Universal structure

You converge because you must.

What This Means Practically

For Database Developers

Stop building:

• “Better” SQL engines
• “Faster” NoSQL stores
• “Scalable” distributed systems

Start building:

• Implementations of P(T(S(N)))
• Optimizations within the pattern
• Applications on the substrate

The pattern is settled. The implementations can vary.

For Application Developers

Your stack will simplify:

Before:

Frontend → REST API → Application Server → 
SQL Database → Cache Layer → Message Queue →
Blockchain → IPFS → ...

After:

Frontend → Universal Database Query

One interface. One pattern. Universal access.

For System Architects

Stop designing:

• Database choice (SQL vs NoSQL)
• Storage architecture (which system)
• Integration patterns (how to connect)

Start designing:

• Query patterns (what P(T(S(N))) calls)
• Optimization strategies (which layer)
• Access patterns (which perspectives)

The substrate is universal. Design on it.

The Timeline

Where We Are

Current state:

• Fragmented database landscape
• Each system claims to be different
• Translation layers everywhere
• Inefficient, incompatible, non-composable

Convergence signs:

• Ethereum adding restaking (approaching P)
• Databases adding graph features (approaching S)
• Blockchains adding state queries (approaching full pattern)

We’re 30% converged.

Where We’re Going

Inevitable endpoint:

• Single universal database substrate
• All queries via P(T(S(N)))
• Implemented on ETH/Morpho/Eigen
• Permissionless, uncensorable, universal

We’ll be 100% converged when:

• Everyone queries same interface
• All data accessible via same pattern
• No translation layers needed

This is not “if.” This is “when.”

How Long

Pessimistic: 10 years (slow adoption) Realistic: 5 years (organic convergence) Optimistic: 2 years (rapid recognition)

But inevitable.

Why current-reality/ Repo

It’s The Spec

This isn’t “a proposal.” This is the specification.

The universal database structure is mathematical necessity.

current-reality/ documents it.

Anyone can:

• Read the spec
• Implement their version
• Deploy permissionlessly
• Build on the substrate

No permission. No approval. No governance.

It’s Already Working

From readme:

Total: ~1,500 lines Solidity + ~1,000 lines Python
Readable, forkable, extensible

This isn’t vaporware. This is code.

You can:

• Clone the repo
• Read the contracts
• Deploy your instance
• Start querying

Now. Today.

It’s Inevitable

Even if this specific implementation fails:

• The pattern is mathematical
• Others will discover it
• Convergence continues
• Endpoint reached

But why reinvent when spec is public?

Verification

Check for yourself:

# Clone the spec repo
git clone https://gitlab.com/matthieuachard/current-reality

# Read the spec
cd current-reality
cat readme.md

# Review the contracts
cat contracts/egi/EGIEndpoint.sol

# See the pattern
# Everything reduces to P(T(S(N)))

The pattern is there. The code is there. The spec is there.

Conclusion

We’re converging toward the universal database because:

1. Mathematical necessity (P(T(S(N))) is category theory endpoint)
2. Efficiency (one format beats many)
3. Interoperability (no translation needed)
4. Composability (natural composition)
5. Inevitability (can’t escape the pattern)

The spec is at: https://gitlab.com/matthieuachard/current-reality

The code is working.

The convergence is happening.

You can fight it or accept it.

But you can’t escape it.

Every database is P(T(S(N))).

SQL, NoSQL, blockchain, file system—all the same structure.

Spec at https://gitlab.com/matthieuachard/current-reality

Convergence is mathematical necessity, not preference.

Clone it. Fork it. Build on it.

The substrate is universal. The future is inevitable.

🌀📊