Merge branch 'main' into satp-stg-cbdc-ci

Author: pandaio22

README.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
  [![Open in Visual Studio Code](https://img.shields.io/static/v1?logo=visualstudiocode&label=&message=Open%20in%20Visual%20Studio%20Code&labelColor=2c2c32&color=007acc&logoColor=007acc)](https://vscode.dev/github/hyperledger-cacti/cacti)
- [![License](https://img.shields.io/github/license/hyperledger-cacti/cacti)](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0) [![CII Best Practices](https://bestpractices.coreinfrastructure.org/projects/4089/badge)](https://bestpractices.coreinfrastructure.org/projects/4089)
- [![OpenSSF Scorecard](https://api.scorecard.dev/projects/github.com/hyperledger-cacti/cacti/badge)](https://scorecard.dev/viewer/?uri=github.com/hyperledger-cacti/cacti)
+ [![License](https://img.shields.io/github/license/hyperledger-cacti/cacti)](https://opensource.org/licenses/Apache-2.0) [![LFX Health Score](https://insights.linuxfoundation.org/api/badge/health-score?project=cacti)](https://insights.linuxfoundation.org/project/cacti) [![CII Best Practices](https://bestpractices.coreinfrastructure.org/projects/4089/badge)](https://bestpractices.coreinfrastructure.org/projects/4089)[![OpenSSF Scorecard](https://api.scorecard.dev/projects/github.com/hyperledger-cacti/cacti/badge)](https://scorecard.dev/viewer/?uri=github.com/hyperledger-cacti/cacti)
  [![GitHub issues](https://img.shields.io/github/issues/hyperledger-cacti/cacti)](https://github.com/hyperledger-cacti/cacti/issues)
+[![LFX Active Contributors](https://insights.linuxfoundation.org/api/badge/active-contributors?project=cacti)](https://insights.linuxfoundation.org/project/cacti)
 
 ![Cacti Logo Color](./images/HL_Cacti_Logo_Color.png#gh-light-mode-only)
 ![Cacti Logo Color](./images/HL_Cacti_Logo_Colorreverse.svg#gh-dark-mode-only)
@@ -13,6 +13,18 @@ Hyperledger Cacti is a multi-faceted pluggable interoperability framework to lin
 [Cacti is a _Graduated_ Hyperledger project](https://www.hyperledger.org/blog/hyperledger-cacti-a-general-purpose-modular-interoperability-framework-moves-to-graduated-status). Information on the different stages of a Hyperledger project and graduation criteria can be found in
 the [Hyperledger Project Incubation Exit Criteria document](https://wiki.hyperledger.org/display/TSC/Project+Incubation+Exit+Criteria).
 
+# 📍 Important announcement
+
+We are conducting an initiative called "Cacti cleanup". The initiative focuses on several key goals:​
+1. Reduce complexity: Simplifying the codebase architecture
+2. Delete old code: Removing deprecated or low-value components to focus energy on high-value features
+3. Reduce vulnerability surface: Improving security posture
+4. Improve documentation: Making the project more accessible and understandable
+5. Enhance onboarding: Making it easier for new contributors to get started
+6. Optimize the CI/CD pipelines by reducing runtime and costs
+
+Please refer to [the overview of this initiative (+ the SATP-Hermes initiative)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN1m0vgV7bY), and the [public Github project board](https://github.com/orgs/hyperledger-cacti/projects/2). Please contribute and vote on the different aspects of the initiative [on the Discord threads](https://discord.com/channels/905194001349627914/908379338716631050/1428405972992266343).
+
 ## Scope of Project
 
 The existence of several blockchain and distributed ledger technologies of different flavours in the market as well as networks of varying scopes and sizes built on them necessitates the need for interoperability and integration, lest we end up with a fragmented ecosystem where digital assets and the workflows (often contracts) governing them remain isolated in silos. The solution to this is not to force all chains to coalesce (i.e., "*a single chain to rule them all*") but rather enable the networks to orchestrate transactions spanning their boundaries without sacrificing security, privacy, or governance autonomy (i.e., self-sovereignty). Hyperledger Cacti offers a family of protocols, modules, libraries, and SDKs, that can enable one network to be interoperable with, and carry out transactions directly with, another while eschewing the need for a central or common settlement chain. Cacti will allow networks to share ledger data, and exchange and transfer assets atomically, and manage identities, across their boundaries, as illustrated in the figure below.