The first public testnet for =nil; protocol, an Ethereum layer-2 that employs zero-knowledge sharding, is now live.

The =nil; Foundation announced the launch of testnet v1 on October 30, marking another significant milestone as the Ethereum L2 protocol moves closer to its mainnet.

The testnet follows the platform’s earlier devnet release, which allowed developers to stress-test the project’s proof of concept. With the public launch of =nil; Testnet v1, the zkRollup aims to gather valuable feedback from a broader group of users.

For this release, the focus is on enhancing the development experience and putting improvements through user testing. An expanded ecosystem of decentralized applications is now accessible as developers test zkSharding. Testnet v1 offers the public an opportunity to help identify potential bugs as various applications undergo stress testing. Developers will also use the testnet to work on tooling.

Key Features of =nil; Testnet v1

The =nil; Foundation introduced the Ethereum zkRollup in November 2023, aiming to scale the Ethereum network to over 60,000 transactions per second via zkSharding.

What is zkSharding?

zkSharding combines zero-knowledge Rollup with sharding, enabling parallel transaction processing. This allows the network to maintain a shared state, making it possible to scale Ethereum without the typical trade-offs that developers face with modularity.

Addressing Key Issues

The =nil; zkSharding solution helps to address several significant issues:

  • Liquidity and security fragmentation
  • Composability with Ethereum’s mainnet
  • Data transparency and verifiability

The testnet brings the layer-2 protocol closer to its roadmap goal of launching the mainnet in Q4 2025.

Future Phases

After testnet v1, =nil; will progress to the v2 and v3 phases in Q2 and Q3 of 2025, respectively. The key targets before the mainnet launch include zkEVM, performance testing, stability, and UX improvements.

“The public launch of =nil; Testnet v1 is a critical step towards achieving our mainnet goals and enhancing the Ethereum network’s scalability.”

For those interested in cryptocurrencies, investing, and finance, exploring the advancements in Ethereum layer-2 solutions like =nil; protocol is essential. Stay updated with the latest news and developments in the cryptocurrency world.

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