Avalanche9000, the largest upgrade to the Avalanche blockchain since its mainnet launch in September 2020, has officially launched on the Fuji testnet as of November 25, 2024. This upgrade aims to significantly enhance the platform’s capabilities, focusing on reducing costs and improving developer accessibility.
Key Features of Avalanche9000
- Cost Reduction: The upgrade boasts a remarkable 99.9% reduction in deployment costs for Layer 1 (L1) blockchains. This is expected to make it much more economically feasible for developers to launch new projects on the Avalanche network.
- Validator Management Overhaul: Validators will no longer need to stake 2,000 AVAX tokens or synchronize with the Primary Network. Instead, a new ValidatorManager smart contract decentralizes validator management, allowing L1 networks to set their own rules and incentives.
- Interchain Messaging: The upgrade introduces enhanced interchain communication capabilities, enabling different L1s to interact more effectively, which is crucial for building network effects and interoperability among various applications.
Retro9000 Grant Program
As part of this upgrade, Avalanche has launched the Retro9000 grant program, which allocates up to $40 million in retroactive rewards for developers building on the Avalanche9000 testnet. This includes a $2 million referral program designed to incentivize network adoption and innovation among developers.
Goals of the Retro9000 Program
- Encourage developers to build publicly and engage with the community.
- Provide financial incentives that reward successful projects based on community votes.
- Foster a vibrant ecosystem with over 500 L1 networks already under development across various sectors such as gaming, payments, and institutional research.
Conclusion
With Avalanche9000 now live on testnet, the platform is poised to revitalize its ecosystem by attracting more developers through significant cost reductions and robust support mechanisms. The upcoming mainnet launch is anticipated in the coming months, further expanding Avalanche’s capabilities and developer engagement.
