Avalanche, the layer-1 blockchain, has recently launched its largest upgrade since its mainnet launch, Avalanche9000, on the Fuji testnet. This significant upgrade brings a host of improvements, including a 99.9% reduction in chain deployment costs, enhanced interchain communication, and a generous $40 million Retro9000 retroactive rewards program for developers building on the network.
One of the key features of Avalanche9000 is the simplification of validator requirements. Previously, validators were required to stake 2,000 AVAX tokens and sync with the Primary Network. With the new upgrade, validators, now referred to as L1-only validators, can participate without these stringent requirements. They will instead pay a continuous fee based on the number of active validators, significantly reducing the barrier to entry.
Additionally, the upgrade introduces a new ValidatorManager smart contract, which decentralizes validator management, shifting responsibility from the centralized Avalanche P-Chain to individual L1 networks. This move aims to foster a more decentralized and community-driven ecosystem.
The $40 million Retro9000 rewards program is designed to incentivize developers to build innovative applications and tools on the Avalanche9000 testnet. This initiative is expected to fuel the growth of the Avalanche ecosystem and attract a wider range of developers and projects.
With Avalanche9000, the platform aims to become a more accessible and developer-friendly blockchain, unlocking new possibilities for innovation and scalability. As the testnet goes live, the community eagerly anticipates the full launch of Avalanche9000 on the mainnet, which is expected to further solidify Avalanche’s position as a leading layer-1 blockchain.
