The Zilliqa team has partnered with Protofire to launch Zilliqa Safe, bringing the industry-leading multi-signature EVM wallet to the Zilliqa network.

Zilliqa Safe, available at safe.zilliqa.com, is an instance of the Safe multi-signature wallet and smart account solution that preserves the technology stack’s renowned security and core functionality while incorporating Zilliqa branding and support for the Zilliqa EVM network.

By linking their MetaMask or other EVM wallet to Zilliqa Safe, companies, teams, or users on the Zilliqa network can secure their funds and other assets in a multi-signature smart account built on gold standard for on-chain digital asset security.

A multi-signature (multisig) wallet requires multiple private keys to authorise a transaction, enhancing security by reducing the risk of theft and mitigating single points of failure. Even if one key is compromised, an attacker cannot complete a transaction without the other keys. 

Additionally, multisig wallets aid asset recovery as they allow multiple parties to hold keys to the same account, allowing access if one key is lost. This shared control ensures no single party has unilateral control, making fund management and recovery more secure in collaborative environments.

The launch of Zilliqa Safe unlocks new opportunities for the growing Zilliqa EVM ecosystem, and lays the foundation for secure multi-user and dApp asset management as we roll out Zilliqa 2.0.

A secure multi-sig wallet for Zilliqa EVM

Often referred to as the gold standard for secure on-chain asset management, Safe is one of the most trusted decentralised custody protocols and collective asset management platforms in the world, and Zilliqa retains this famed security through its instance of the platform maintained by industry-renowned blockchain experts Protofire.

Safe is the smart contract wallet protocol trusted by the biggest projects in the EVM space, with more than 9 million accounts deployed and over $100 billion in assets secured. 

Through the launch of Zilliqa Safe, investors, businesses, and projects of all sizes can be comfortable securing their assets in a battle-tested multi-signature wallet built on Zilliqa EVM.

This announcement demonstrates the ongoing commitment of the Zilliqa network to multi-chain interoperability and improve EVM compatibility to grow adoption and accessibility. This strategy enables and has led to integrations with best-in-class applications and major, industry-standard solutions for maximum accessibility and reach.

As the Zilliqa network evolves into a new, customisable and user-friendly platform with the rollout of Zilliqa 2.0, EVM compatibility will remain a key focus, and the launch of Zilliqa Safe is a part of the scaffolding required to enable large-scale investment and the construction of new EVM dApps and projects on the blockchain.

Get started with Zilliqa Safe

To create your multi-signature wallet on Zilliqa EVM, you will first need to create an account using a compatible EVM wallet such as MetaMask.

Read more about creating a MetaMask wallet on Zilliqa EVM.

With your MetaMask wallet now created and connected to Zilliqa EVM, begin by navigating to Zilliqa Safe, and then follow the steps below:

Click on the Connect Wallet button and select MetaMask from the pop-up menu.

You should now see your Safe account list, which will be empty. Click Create Account.

Enter a name for your Safe account and click Next.

For a 1/1 account without multiple signers, simply enter the name of the main signer. To create a multisig account, click on Add Signer and supply an Address and Name for each signer you wish to add.

Choose the threshold for your multisig account (how many signers are required to authorise a transaction) and click on Next.

Review the account configuration details and click on Create.

Congratulations, you have successfully created a multisig Zilliqa EVM account using Zilliqa Safe!

From here, you can send and receive transactions as normal, and if you have set up multiple signers and configured a threshold, you will need the required number of signers to authorise a transaction before it can be validated.

Zilliqa Safe also includes a number of quality-of-life features, such as a transaction builder, address book, and two-factor authentication for added security.

Get started with the first Zilliqa EVM multisig wallet today at safe.zilliqa.com.

The whitepaper for Zilliqa 2.0 has been officially published, detailing the design for an innovative, cutting-edge blockchain protocol that is designed to offer builders and brands unparalleled ease of use and customisability.

An evolution of Zilliqa’s original and pioneering sharding technology that combines peer-reviewed blockchain research with an industry-tested, multi-chain approach, this comprehensive upgrade to the Zilliqa network promises a unique way to build in Web3 that is easier and more scalable than ever before.

Zilliqa 2.0 aims to deliver a number of key technical features, including customisable and scalable x-shards, smart accounts, light client support, and built-in infrastructure for cross-chain communication. These technical components will be tested and rolled out as described in the Zilliqa 2.0 roadmap, beginning with the testnet launch of the updated network and its fully Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism.

Whilst each of these foundational pillars is an impressive solution independently, it is when they are combined into a holistic tech stack the overarching vision for a forward-thinking breed of blockchain emerges.

Let’s take a look at how these disparate parts stitch together to create the vision behind Zilliqa 2.0:

A blockchain you can shape as you imagine

The whitepaper for the Zilliqa 2.0 protocol upgrade begins by addressing one of the biggest problems in the blockchain industry - the lack of useability.

Conventionally, blockchain protocols have been designed to be rigid and inflexible, forcing all transactions to compete for the same block space and to adhere to the same fee structure for data processing. This delivers a reliable and secure protocol, yet one that cannot be optimised for multiple applications.

The whitepaper highlights this problem directly, noting that “just as there is no ideal computing infrastructure that satisfies the needs of all centralised information systems, there exists no single chain that can perfectly fulfil the requirements of all decentralised use cases”.

To address this challenge, Zilliqa 2.0 offers a cutting-edge sharding architecture in addition to its mainnet that comprises multiple customisable chains that can be shaped to meet the needs of specific applications or brands.

These x-shards are independent whilst also interconnected, each built upon and interlinked with the secure, reliable, and scalable Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet yet capable of being customised extensively depending on the user’s vision.

X-shards allow businesses and developers to build exactly what they imagine on the Zilliqa network while choosing or creating an x-shard that is best suited to their technical needs. X-shards communicate seamlessly with each other and the Zilliqa mainnet, making the transfer of assets and application data across each chain quick and straightforward.

With the introduction of x-shards, Zilliqa 2.0 delivers the first blockchain platform that allows you to select a Web3 infrastructure that is tailored to your needs, whether that means using a bridged native token, bespoke gas fees, customised privacy, or even different validators.

Zilliqa 2.0 gives you the ability to shape the blockchain you imagine and without limitations, unlocking an intuitive and differentiated approach to Web3 infrastructure that is designed to scale for mass adoption.

Making Web3 as easy to use as the internet

Giving users the ability to customise the blockchain according to their needs is one of the many ways Zilliqa 2.0 aims to make Web3 more accessible, intuitive, and easy to use for developers, companies, and end-users.

Through a suite of exciting changes and its latest powerful network components, Zilliqa 2.0 will deliver the blockchain platform that makes Web3 as easy to use and understand as Web2.

Whether you are making a purchase on a Web3-enabled application or building a tokenisation platform for a major brand, Zilliqa 2.0 is designed to make this process as simple and efficient as possible. 

The network’s new Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism will see a drastic improvement in block times, which means transactions are executed in a matter of seconds at even significantly lower fees.

Smart accounts will also enable a host of usability improvements, including introducing subsidised gas fees, which means Web3 apps can assume the process of paying for transactions to create a smoother onboarding process for end-users. Smart accounts will also unlock major quality-of-life improvements such as the ability to secure your account with social media credentials, whitelist addresses, and much more.

With light clients, customers will be able to securely interact with the network using devices with very low resource requirements instead of relying on third-party node providers. And Zilliqa 2.0’s built-in cross-chain communication infrastructure will make it easy to bridge tokens from other blockchains or use multi-chain applications, linking Zilliqa’s network extensively to the wider EVM ecosystem.

Each of these features and many more described in the Zilliqa 2.0 whitepaper are designed first and foremost to remove friction from the user experience and create the opportunity for mainstream adoption of Web3 by businesses and customers, while also making building on blockchain a simple and rewarding experience for developers.

The vision for Zilliqa 2.0 is to deliver a cutting-edge and market-leading blockchain protocol that makes the entire Web3 experience as easy as using the internet - and one that you can shape as you imagine.

The whitepaper and roadmap for Zilliqa 2.0 have been officially unveiled, outlining the evolution of the network towards a fast, efficient, and easy-to-use blockchain that adapts to its users’ needs.

An extensive evolution of the Zilliqa protocol, Zilliqa 2.0 brings a number of landmark changes that cement its position as a technical heavyweight in the Web3 space. 

Combining best practices and interoperable standards with revolutionary new approaches to scaling and consensus, Zilliqa 2.0 sits at the cutting edge of blockchain development while also focusing squarely on accessibility and making using Web3 as straightforward as the traditional Internet.

Whether you’ve already read through the Zilliqa 2.0 whitepaper and want to learn more, or you simply want an overview of the important changes coming in the new network, there are six headline features you need to know about.

Let’s take a look at the six powerful features coming in Zilliqa 2.0:

X-Shards: Shape the blockchain to your needs

One of the unique features of Zilliqa 2.0 is its exciting new sharding architecture. Building on Zilliqa’s pioneering sharding technology, Zilliqa 2.0 features a game-changing evolution of this innovative approach to blockchain scaling: X-shards.

Shards are different but interconnected instances of the same blockchain protocol that improve scalability by processing transactions in parallel, and X-shards expand this approach to offer a far more customisable and interoperable experience.

Put simply, X-shards are blockchains built on top of Zilliqa 2.0 that can be customised according to the needs of the apps and users operating on it. They can be set up to use stablecoins as their native token, offer cheaper transactions, deliver user privacy through encrypted transactions, or even use an alternative consensus model.

X-shards allow developers to shape the blockchain to their needs, and give users the ability to use apps across different X-shards and the Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet seamlessly, with the ability to communicate and transact across shards built into the protocol.

Read more about X-shards and the customisable future of blockchain.

Proof-of-Stake Consensus: Fast, low-cost, and energy-efficient

With the migration to Zilliqa 2.0 comes a shift to a faster, more efficient consensus mechanism that replaces the previous Proof-of-Work model with Proof-of-Stake. 

Zilliqa 2.0 will feature a consensus mechanism where validators use tokens instead of computing power to secure the network, staking ZIL to justify the validity of transactions. Not only is this a far faster and less expensive way to process transactions, it also saves on the unnecessarily high energy consumption incurred by Proof-of-Work consensus.

The shift to Proof-of-Stake with Zilliqa 2.0 will also bring a massive performance boost, delivering up to 30-times faster block times and 10-times faster finality compared with Zilliqa 1.0’s consensus mechanism. 

Zilliqa 2.0’s consensus model will allow everyone to play a role in securing the network, with all validators and delegators being rewarded according to the amount of ZIL they stake.

Learn more about the ultra-fast, energy-efficient consensus used in Zilliqa 2.0.

Cross-chain Communication: Plugged into other networks

Interoperability and cross-chain communication is a core feature of Zilliqa 2.0, with the groundwork for this strategy being laid in the recent introduction of native EVM compatibility to the Zilliqa 1.0 network.

EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) is the software platform used to build decentralised applications on Ethereum and other major protocols, including Zilliqa. EVM compatibility remains a key focus with Zilliqa 2.0, with the protocol now designed for simple and easy transactions across compatible blockchains.

The native ZIL token on Zilliqa 2.0 can be traded as a fungible token across other networks and EVM applications, unlocking access to the global multi-chain dApp ecosystem. This is further enhanced by the ability to easily conduct atomic swaps and deploy cross-chain bridges using the new Universal Cross-Chain Broker deployed on Zilliqa 2.0.

This built-in bridge infrastructure gives you the ability to easily bridge tokens and applications built on Zilliqa 2.0 to other EVM networks, marking a leap forward for the interoperability and accessibility of the blockchain.

Read more about easy and efficient cross-chain transactions on Zilliqa 2.0.

Smart Accounts: Making Web3 as easy as Web2

While it competes with the most technically advanced protocols in the Web3 space, Zilliqa 2.0 is designed with ease-of-use first in mind. The network is built to support a number of powerful capabilities that make it easier for users and developers to interact and build on the blockchain.

Zilliqa 2.0 will feature smart accounts, blockchain accounts with built-in support for advanced features that can unlock everything from powerful new transaction types or significantly improved user experiences.

Importantly, these smart accounts can remove the friction and complexity that is now synonymous with Web3. With smart accounts, users can sign in with their social media credentials instead of a private key. They can pay gas fees using fungible assets without having to purchase native tokens, or they can prevent accidental transfers to the wrong addresses.

Smart accounts are implemented on Zilliqa 2.0 via native account abstraction that supports the ERC-4337 standard, and they are backwards-compatible, meaning Zilliqa 1.0 accounts can be seamlessly upgraded with this extended functionality.

Read more about smart accounts and ease-of-use on Zilliqa 2.0.

Light Clients: Secure, decentralised ways to use Zilliqa

Another core feature of the Zilliqa 2.0 network is built-in support for light clients, lightweight nodes that can trustlessly interact with the blockchain without needing to store the entire history of transactions.

Introducing light clients with Zilliqa 2.0 unlocks the opportunity to create a more decentralised network, where private keys and wallets can be truly owned by their users and non-custodial applications can be efficiently deployed on the network.

Unlike full Zilliqa 2.0 nodes which must store the full digital ledger, light clients store only a chain of block headers which they verify independently. This means they can run on lightweight hardware without the need to offload custody to centralised parties.

Light clients allow you to manage assets or interact with multi-chain applications directly from your smartphone, without ever handing your keys to anyone.

Read more about how light clients drive the security and decentralisation of Zilliqa 2.0.

Tokenomics: Sustainable economy with attractive rewards

Finally, Zilliqa 2.0 comes with a major overhaul to the network’s token economy, with changes to both its consensus mechanism and rewards distribution.

The tokenomics of Zilliqa 2.0 are designed to deliver a sustainable future for the ZIL token while also offering attractive rewards for the validators that help secure the network.

To ensure the long-term health of its token economy, Zilliqa 2.0 will reduce inflation through an automatic balancing of the amount of ZIL awarded to validators and the amount burned in transaction processing.Zilliqa 2.0’s tokenomics are built to be future-proof and sustainable while ensuring that validators enjoy attractive incentives and are rewarded for their role. 

This approach, paired with the existing utility of gZIL in network governance and the groundbreaking ability to create additional token economies through customisable x-shards, places Zilliqa 2.0 among the most attractive networks for staking.

Read more about Zilliqa 2.0’s sustainable tokenomics and attractive incentives.

Learn more about Zilliqa 2.0

To find out more about the upcoming Zilliqa 2.0 network overhaul, visit the roadmap website or read the full whitepaper.

For the latest updates, stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the official blog.

As we head into the month of June, I am thrilled to see the reaction to the release of the recently launched Zilliqa 2.0 whitepaper and roadmap, which lays out a clear vision for an easy-to-use, fast, and flexible blockchain. 

I encourage everyone to dive into this exciting evolution of the Zilliqa protocol and the potential it has to shape the future of Web3.

The month leading up to this milestone has been an eventful one. May saw the Zilliqa network reach impressive milestones and several big announcements from projects within our ecosystem.

The Zilliqa infrastructure team also reacted quickly and with the utmost dedication to not only resolve a brief disruption to block production but also to deliver an upgrade to EVM compatibility with Zilliqa v9.3.4, making the developer experience on Zilliqa easier and more accessible.

Another highlight from May was The Winners Circle's partnership with star jockey Saffie Osborne. Saffie's recent historic wins have brought further acclaim to this initiative, and we are excited about the visibility and engagement this partnership will bring.

ZIL was also listed on BitMe last month, bringing Zilliqa to a leading exchange in Europe and Latin America, and allowing over 1 million Bit2Me users to trade and use ZIL seamlessly, significantly expanding our reach and utility in these regions.

Web3War revealed its 2024 roadmap and launched an ambassador programme, while TokenTraxx announced its Membership 2.0 May Campaign, offering users rewards for community engagement. Additionally, our team participated in various events, sharing our vision for Zilliqa 2.0 and the innovative capabilities it brings.

As we celebrate the announcement of Zilliqa 2.0 and work to deliver on the project's roadmap, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the community's unwavering support, and for their enthusiasm around the revitalisation of the Zilliqa protocol and ecosystem.

Together, as we build out the intuitive and flexible infrastructure of Zilliqa 2.0, we unlock the ability to shape the future we imagine.- Matt DyerZilliqa CEO

Check out all the highlights from May 2024 below:

Anticipation builds around Zilliqa 2.0

May saw the Zilliqa network hit an impressive milestone, reaching a total of more than 66 million transactions and 5 million addresses.

These figures demonstrate the healthy growth and activity on the network as work continues on the upcoming rollout of Zilliqa 2.0.

This past month, the Zilliqa technical team continued to work hard on the infrastructure required to deliver Zilliqa 2.0, building on the interest and activity within the flourishing Zilliqa ecosystem and the anticipation for the rollout of the network’s new whitepaper and roadmap.

Excitement around the capabilities of Zilliqa 2.0 was further kindled by a teaser of the new consensus mechanism’s performance, with Head of Research Zoltan Fazekas demonstrating the protocol is capable of burning 20 million gas per block with 1-second block times.

The Zilliqa 2.0 roadmap and whitepaper have since been revealed, outlining the evolution of the Zilliqa network as an easy-to-use, fast and flexible blockchain that users and developers can shape to their needs.

To find out more about Zilliqa 2.0, check out the official roadmap website.

The Winners Circle partners with Saffie Osborne

Looking at major projects within the Zilliqa ecosystem, The Winners Circle made headlines following the announcement of its partnership with star jockey Saffie Osborne.

The Winners Circle is a horse racing loyalty programme, developed by Racing League in partnership with Zilliqa, that aims to go 'Beyond the Race' by offering a range of exciting features to fans, from unprecedented access to Racing League events to the ability to compete for rewards in a skill-based prediction game.

As a result of this exciting partnership, racing fans can look forward to seeing The Winners Circle branding prominently displayed on Saffie’s chaps when she races in various events.

At just 22 years old, Osborne is quickly making a name for herself in the horse racing world. Recently, she made history as the first female jockey to win at Meydan Racecourse, securing a remarkable victory in the prestigious Lord Glitters Handicap. She also holds the distinction of being the first female jockey to win the Chester Cup.

Read more about The Winners Circle’s partnership with Saffie Osborne.

EVM improvements with Zilliqa v9.3.4

May was a busy month for the Zilliqa infrastructure team. In addition to the ongoing work on technical features for Zilliqa 2.0, work continued on improving EVM compatibility and delivering general network improvements.

Not only did the team work impressively quickly to minimise the effects of a network disruption and resolve the issue in a timely manner, but they also pushed the latest release of the protocol last month, Zilliqa v9.3.4.

Zilliqa v9.3.4 delivered several improvements to EVM compatibility aimed at making it easier and more accessible to deploy EVM applications on the Zilliqa network.

The upgrade also included a number of fixes for bugs related to EVM compatibility, improving the overall developer experience on the Zilliqa network.

Read more about upgrade v9.3.4 on the Zilliqa blog.

Bit2Me listing boosts reach in Europe

Another exciting highlight from May was the announcement of the ZIL token being listed on Bit2Me, one of the leading centralised exchanges in Europe and Latin America.

This means that the more than 1 million users of Bit2Me are now able to seamlessly purchase and trade ZIL, marking a significant step towards expanding the blockchain’s exposure and presence in these regions.

Users on Bit2Me will be able to buy and sell ZIL directly from the Bit2Me Wallet, and they will be able to make purchases with ZIL using the Bit2Me Mastercard, bringing more utility to Zilliqa’s native token.

Read more about the Bit2Me listing and what it means for the Zilliqa ecosystem.

AMAs and Ecosystem News

May was an exciting month for the Zilliqa ecosystem, with a number of projects making major announcements and the Zilliqa team attending a number of online and physical events to share our vision for Zilliqa 2.0.

Web3War, the free-to-play Skill2Earn multiplayer FPS developed by Zilliqa Group venture Roll1ng Thund3rz, revealed its roadmap for 2024, which includes its Season 2 update and the announcement of a browser-based racing game that will be launched by Roll1ng Thund3rz this year.

Other exciting Web3War-related announcements included the launch of the Web3War ambassador programme, which gives fans of the game the chance to become a Web3Warrior and earn rewards for joining an elite group of gaming influencers.

TokenTraxx, another Zilliqa Group venture creating the decentralised future of music, announced the launch of the Membership 2.0 May Campaign last month, giving users the chance to complete quests and earn rewards for interacting with the platform’s community of artists.

Torch, the smart wallet developed by IgniteDAO, saw impressive adoption of its instant unstaking feature last month, and it also announced it would support the $HRSE native token for The Winners Circle upon launch.

The Kalijo team has also continued to buy back and burn its $SEED token to encourage a growing token economy, and as of the end of May, they had burned more than 115,000 $SEED since the token’s launch.

The Zilliqa team was out in full force, last month, with Matt Dyer and Zoltan Fazekas appearing on a Spaces hosted by House of Chimera, where they broke down the vision behind Zilliqa 2.0 and the exciting capabilities offered by the evolution of the network.

Watch the full Zilliqa 2.0 spaces with Matt Dyer and Zoltan Fazekas.

Zilliqa Head of Product Anton Agafonov also made public appearances last month, joining a panel on Liquid Restaking Tokens (LRTs) at a community meetup in Dubai hosted by Staking Circle.

Stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the Zilliqa blog to stay up to date with the latest news!

We are delighted to officially unveil the whitepaper and roadmap for Zilliqa 2.0, the upcoming comprehensive upgrade to the Zilliqa network that will deploy on mainnet later this year.

Zilliqa 2.0 marks a paradigm shift for the Zilliqa network, bringing a major evolution that reworks the mechanics of the blockchain protocol at a foundational level. These enhancements are being developed in line with the project’s goal of delivering a fast, scalable, decentralised, and secure blockchain that is easy to use and uncompromising in its flexibility.

After a significant period in internal development, we are pleased to finally share all the exciting features coming in Zilliqa 2.0, and we appreciate all the support we received from the Zilliqa community as we worked to reach this point.

The whitepaper and roadmap for Zilliqa 2.0 have been published, and both are now available on the Zilliqa 2.0 roadmap website, which also includes a breakdown of several core features that will come with this exciting new version of the Zilliqa blockchain.

Read the whitepaper and roadmap for Zilliqa 2.0.

While the roadmap describes our plan for rolling out and publicly testing key features of Zilliqa 2.0 ahead of the full rollout of all features available in the new blockchain protocol, it should be noted that the timeline for implementation will depend on the success of feature testing.

That said, our goal is to migrate the mainnet chain to the new blockchain protocol, Zilliqa 2.0, by the end of this year. The mainnet migration to Zilliqa 2.0 will be accomplished in a way that preserves all historical account states and will not disrupt any actively maintained dApps running on the network.

Designed for efficiency, scalability and ease-of-use

The uniquely innovative feature delivered by the launch of Zilliqa 2.0 is x-shards, a new sharding architecture that offers unprecedented scalability through flexible customisation.

These sovereign, application-specific x-shards build on the core principles of Zilliqa’s first, pioneering approach to sharding while allowing them to be customised extensively according to the needs of the apps that are running on them. 

X-shards allow businesses and developers to build exactly what they want on the Zilliqa network while choosing or creating an x-shard that is best suited to their needs. X-shards communicate seamlessly with each other and the Zilliqa mainnet, making the transfer of assets and application data across them quick and straightforward.

Not only does Zilliqa 2.0 introduce a one-of-a-kind sharding architecture, but it also brings a new Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism and powerful tools for cross-chain communication.

Zilliqa 2.0 will see the network shift from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake, adopting a new consensus mechanism that delivers ultra-fast finality while being more lightweight and energy efficient. 

Block times can be tweaked as desired for every x-shard, but with Zilliqa 2.0 the root mainnet shard will now feature average block times of as low as 2 seconds, cementing the overhauled network’s position amongst the fastest in the industry.

The network overhaul will also add a cross-chain communication hub that facilitates easy communication between x-shards, the Zilliqa mainnet, and other EVM-compatible blockchains. This opens the door to accessible multi-chain applications and bridges, plugging Zilliqa 2.0 into the wider ecosystem of EVM networks.

Zilliqa 2.0 is designed with native EVM support, allowing it to run smart contracts written in languages such as Solidity and work with popular wallets like MetaMask. The network will retain support for Scilla and feature full interoperability between the two contract languages.

Other exciting features coming with the launch of Zilliqa 2.0 include an EVM-compatible implementation of account abstraction, which enables smart account functionality and the ability to use paymasters to facilitate token conversions for gas fees.

The tokenomics of the network will also be adjusted to account for the shift to Proof-of-Stake and to offer attractive but sustainable rewards to stakers that will reduce inflation to ensure a healthy token economy.

As we continue to work towards the milestones outlined in our roadmap, keep an eye on the official roadmap website for updates and more information on the exciting capabilities that are coming in Zilliqa 2.0.

Fireblocks, the market-leading infrastructure provider for enterprise-grade digital asset management, has announced that it has added support for the Zilliqa blockchain. 

This integration allows the institutional and enterprise users of Fireblocks to manage, store, and issue tokens and other digital assets on the high-throughput, highly secure Zilliqa network via the platform’s easy-to-use console and API.

Fireblocks is a multi-party computation (MPC) custody provider that allows enterprise and institutional clients to securely and efficiently purchase and transact digital assets across a range of supported blockchain platforms.

Zilliqa joins the growing number of EVM-compatible networks supported by the platform, opening up new opportunities for enterprise partnerships built upon the scalable and secure Zilliqa blockchain.

Through its native EVM compatibility, Zilliqa has implemented support for popular wallets such as MetaMask and developer tools such as Hardhat, significantly growing its user base and allowing developers to more easily build powerful multi-chain applications.

Now that Fireblocks has added support for Zilliqa, its customers will be able to store ZIL tokens in their Fireblocks Vault and transfer ZIL over the Fireblocks Network, allowing ZIL to be easily and safely transacted between enterprise customers.

Zilliqa’s integration into Fireblocks also opens the door to the institutional adoption of the network via the possibility of integration with solutions deployed by Fireblocks customers with significant existing user bases.

With this announcement built on the expanded EVM compatibility of the Zilliqa network, the way is open for major investors and enterprises to get involved in the exciting and growing Zilliqa ecosystem.

What institutional and enterprise access means for Zilliqa

Zilliqa ’s integration with Fireblocks open an accessible and secure avenue for institutional and enterprise-grade finance to reach applications and businesses building in the Zilliqa ecosystem, from investing in DeFi protocols to adding Zilliqa support within existing Web3 applications.

“The integration of our network with Fireblocks marks a pivotal moment for Zilliqa, granting institutional and retail investors seamless access to our high-throughput, secure and easy-to-use blockchain network,” said Zilliqa CEO Matt Dyer.

“This collaboration opens doors for everyone from end-users to financial institutions to explore and invest in the innovative and growing list of opportunities within the Zilliqa ecosystem, further fueling its growth and development.”

Dyer added that the strategic decision to integrate with Fireblocks unlocks massive new opportunities for the network by making it easier than ever for high-profile institutional platforms to add support for Zilliqa.

This enthusiasm was echoed by Fireblocks Managing Director for Financial Markets Stephen Richardson, who celebrated the integration of the Zilliqa EVM network.

“We are thrilled to be expanding Fireblocks’s multi-blockchain support to include Zilliqa EVM,” Richardson said. 

“Fireblocks supports over 50 blockchains and the leading token standards for Web3 and NFTs, and Zilliqa's integration presents new opportunities for institutional collaboration that leverages the capabilities of Zilliqa's ecosystem.”

Fireblocks serves thousands of financial institutions and has secured the transfer of over $4 trillion in digital assets. Its customers include high-profile companies such as Revolut, Worldpay, Robinhood, eToro and Galaxy Digital.

By adding support for Zilliqa, Fireblocks provides these customers with access to an efficient and scalable network powering innovative business cases across a range of exciting industries, from fan loyalty and Web3 gaming to luxury asset tokenisation and spatial web technologies.

Zilliqa's integration with Fireblocks also allows luxury brands to securely and confidently tokenise high-value assets and create exclusive digital experiences, leveraging the scalable and secure Zilliqa network through the Fireblocks platform. This unlocks new approaches to digital asset management for major brands looking to create Web3-powered experiences for their customers.

In implementing EVM compatibility as part of a strategy to improve interoperability and adoption through multi-chain applications, the Zilliqa network laid the foundation for this and further partnerships that amplify its reach and expose the ecosystem to large, established user bases.

Integrating with Fireblocks also enables major fiat on-ramps, exchanges, and consumer-facing platforms to easily support Zilliqa, igniting renewed excitement in the network among retail investors and end-users.

As we have moved into May, we continue to build towards the upcoming overhaul of the network with Zilliqa 2.0 while fostering the lift-off of landmark Web3 projects in our ecosystem.

Zilliqa's journey towards a sustainable token economy continued last month, and we explored the benefits of staking and welcomed new participants to join us in securing the network ahead of the transition to Zilliqa 2.0. With liquid staking and other tools available, earning rewards while maintaining liquidity has become a more exciting proposition than ever.

April saw The Winners Circle fan engagement platform continue to build momentum within the Web3 loyalty and horse racing spaces, bolstered by the presale for its native fan token $HRSE. 

Our presence at Paris Blockchain Week and Token2049 in Dubai underscored our commitment to fostering partnerships and exploring new opportunities in the Web3 space. From networking with potential collaborators to showcasing the latest updates in Web3 gaming, our journey continues to be marked by innovation and collaboration.

As we reflect on the achievements of the past month, I am grateful for the community's continued support and enthusiasm. 

I encourage both our longstanding community members and newcomers to start staking to earn rewards and explore the new DeFi opportunities becoming available on the Zilliqa network. 

There are exciting times ahead, so stay tuned for big announcements in the coming months.

Matt DyerZilliqa CEO

Check out all the highlights from April 2024 below:

Start staking ZIL ahead of Zilliqa 2.0

Ongoing adjustments to staking rewards continued last month, signalling the continued shift to a low-inflation network that offers a more sustainable token economy for everyone.

Reduced inflation is a key feature of the tokenomics for the Zilliqa 2.0 network, and those who validate transactions will be rewarded for their role in securing the network via a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism.

In April, we dived into the benefits of staking and laid out the case for new stakers to get involved with securing the network ahead of the migration to Zilliqa 2.0, which will place them in a strong position for when staking rewards increase with the shift to the new consensus mechanism.

Liquid staking and other tools have also been deployed to the Zilliqa network which make it possible to start earning staking rewards while maintaining liquidity for other activities such as multi-chain yield farming.

Read our deep dive into staking on Zilliqa.

Technical development and documentation

In addition to shifting to Proof-of-Stake, Zilliqa 2.0 will also feature native EVM execution and a range of general protocol improvements. 

The Zilliqa infrastructure team has continued to work on these features over the last month, laying the groundwork for a migration to an improved and more flexible protocol. 

It is important to note that the development of Zilliqa 2.0 is in some parts a gradual process, with improvements being delivered over time and in updates ahead of full network migration, while others may be rolled out after the mainnet is officially switched to the new protocol design.

Learn more about the features coming in Zilliqa 2.0 on the developer portal.

$HRSE presale launches on Kalijo

A key highlight from April was the launch of the pre-sale for $HRSE, the fan token for The Winners Circle engagement platform.

$HRSE is the passport to The Winners Circle, unlocking the innovative Web3-powered features of the programme such as Skill2Earn-based rewards for engagement, governance votes on how real-life teams are run, exclusive rewards, and much more.

The $HRSE presale was available exclusively on the Zilliqa EVM network and was hosted on the Kalijo launchpad, powered by the team behind the $SEED digital reserve asset, also built on Zilliqa.

To celebrate the launch of the pre-sale, Kalijo hosted a giveaway for qualifying participants, offering $500-worth of $SEED for anyone who spent more than 1,000 ZIL during the event.

The roadmap for The Winners Circle was also revealed, with the public sale and Token Generation Event set to occur in the near future.

Check out the AMA with Tom Fleetham and Georgia Todd to learn more about the $HRSE presale.

Ecosystem news and AMAs

The month began with a jaunt over to Paris Blockchain Week, where Zilliqa’s Bradley Laws and Tom Fleetham connected with potential partners and other exciting projects in the Web3 space.

This was followed up by another showing of the Zilliqa team, this time at Token2049 in Dubai, where Zilliqa CEO Matt Dyer, Head of Investor Relations Bradley Laws, and Head of Product Anton Agafonov explored opportunities and partnerships during one of the biggest Web3 events on the global calendar.

April also saw Zilliqa host a joint AMA with Racing League, where we explored the groundbreaking new approach The Winners Circle brings to fan engagement and how this is set to redefine the world of horse racing.

The broader Zilliqa ecosystem saw continued growth and development, including Kalijo launching its new Burn Journal for tracking burned tokens.

There is also reason to get excited on the DeFi and wallet adoption front, with DeBank hinting at its imminent listing of ZIL.

Stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the Zilliqa blog to stay up to date with the latest news!

The Zilliqa infrastructure team is working to enhance the network’s implementation of EVM compatibility in line with feedback raised by both users and projects building within the community.EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) is the software platform used to build applications on Ethereum and other protocols that have implemented EVM compatibility, including Zilliqa.

In line with our infrastructure development strategy, we are enhancing our EVM compatibility implementation to improve the ability to deploy and reliably interact with contracts and transactions on the Zilliqa network. 

The next network upgrade, Zilliqa v9.3.4, will include several changes that will improve the development experience on the network, in addition to fixes for specific bugs related to EVM compatibility.

By resolving outstanding issues and delivering a series of improvements to EVM compatibility, the upcoming network upgrade aims to make the process of developing applications and interacting with smart contracts on Zilliqa EVM easier and more reliable than ever before.

Issues to be resolved in Zilliqa v9.3.4

The list of issues that the Zilliqa infrastructure team aims to resolve with the upcoming network upgrade has been made publicly available so users and developers can track the progress being made in real-time.

Each of the bugs listed below includes a link to its corresponding issue on GitHub, and the team aims to fix these in the next network upgrade:

Issue #3927 - Gas estimation seems to return a low result, causing transactions to revert when they should not.

Our investigation is ongoing and our team is actively working on reproducing and finding tailored solutions for the gas estimation issues reported by our partners and community members. For those that can be resolved without a full network upgrade, we are exploring potential API improvements. If a change necessitates a full network upgrade, commonly referred to as a hardfork, this will be implemented with the migration to Zilliqa 2.0.

Issue #3928 - Log events for EVM transactions are occasionally duplicated.

This was a cosmetic issue which showed up in the otterscan UI; Zilliqa v9.3.4 will include code changes that remove the duplicate transaction hashes from the list returned by ots_searchTransactionsBefore/ots_searchTransactionAfter.

Issue #3929 - eth_getTransactionCount() does not support pending block number, making it impossible to submit more than one transaction per block using certain frameworks.

Zilliqa v9.3.4 will introduce code changes that will result in the nonce also being queried by the mempool in addition to the account state when eth_getTransactionCount is called, returning the greatest between them. This should resolve the issue for the vast majority of cases.

Issue #3930 - eth_getLogs() eventually stops supplying logs after being regularly called for some time.

The design of Zilliqa 1 does not allow us to replay transactions, and keeping logs for every transaction, forever, is not practical, so there is a timeout after which logs for a transaction cease to be available. Zilliqa 9.3.4 extends the timeout from 100 blocks to 48 hours.

Issue #3932 - eth_call() can't execute contract transfer calls.

This occurred because some tools still use the “input” field when making calls to eth_call(), not “data” . Zilliqa v9.3.4 will now look in “input” if “data” is not specified.

Issue #3933 - Calling a ZRC-2 contract from a ERC-20 contract results in an incorrect gas estimation as the Scilla gas fees are not accounted for.

We discovered that the Foundry framework does not utilise the eth_estimateGas RPC method to calculate the necessary gas limit, and its built-in estimations are inadequate for contracts that make use of the EVM <-> Scilla interoperability. This issue lies within the tool itself, not the Zilliqa API. Consequently, there are no relevant fixes available in Zilliqa v9.3.4. Our workaround involves specifying the gas limit in the Forge script parameters using a multiplier of 10x.

In addition to the above, we have received further feedback from the Zilliqa community that will be addressed in more improvements to EVM compatibility delivered by the migration to Zilliqa 2.0.

We are currently aiming to roll out the Zilliqa v9.3.4 network upgrade to mainnet on Monday, May 20th 2024. Developers can track the public list of issues flagged on the Zilliqa network on the project’s GitHub page.

For the latest updates on the development of Zilliqa, stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the official blog.

ZIL, the native token of the high-through, low-cost Zilliqa blockchain, is now listed on Bit2Me, one of the leading centralised exchanges in Europe and Latin America.

Bit2Me is a fully regulated exchange which is licensed by the Spanish Central Bank to be the country’s first crypto services provider and has received funding from BBVA Spark, the full financial services proposition created by BBVA, one of the biggest banks in Spain. The exchange has also been backed by Telefónica to enable digital asset payments for the telecommunications company’s customers.

This listing means that the more than 1 million users of the Bit2Me digital asset trading platform are now able to seamlessly purchase and trade ZIL on its integrated exchange, a significant step towards expanding the blockchain’s exposure and presence in these two regions. 

Users on Bit2Me will be able to buy and sell ZIL directly from the Bit2Me Wallet, and they will be able to make purchases with ZIL using the Bit2Me Mastercard, bringing more utility to Zilliqa’s native token.

Bit2Me serves more 150,000 unique monthly users across more than 100 countries and it has seen a massive 140% growth in active wallets over the year to date, now reaching a total of 456,000.

Zilliqa joins more than 280 assets already listed on the Bit2Me platform, broadening the reach of the evolving network in line with its renewed drive towards interoperability. This vision is exemplified through Zilliqa’s implementation of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility and the ongoing development of its efficient and scalable network.

Through expanding its reach through partnership with mainstream exchanges such as Bit2Me and offering a low-cost, high-throughput network that is easy to build on, Zilliqa is poised for accelerating adoption as its nascent DeFi ecosystem quickly grows.

ZIL’s listing on Bit2Me doesn’t just expand the blockchain’s exposure in Spain and Europe, but also in emerging markets in Latin America, where Bit2Me has a significant presence and there are exciting opportunities for boosting liquidity and network adoption.

Zilliqa has already established a presence in Spain through its longstanding partnership with global esports organisation MAD Lions and the pioneering Skill2Earn-based shooter Web3War, which is developed by Zilliqa Group venture Roll1ng Thund3rz and has seen massive adoption in Latin America.

The listing of ZIL on Bit2Me builds on the success of these initiatives through enhancing accessibility and providing further avenues for adoption of the Zilliqa network.

Zilliqa CEO Matt Dyer highlighted the exciting opportunities unlocked through the listing of the ZIL token on Bit2Me. 

“Together with Bit2Me's robust regulatory compliance and broad user base, the listing of ZIL brings tangible benefits to both seasoned traders and newcomers alike. Spain and Latin America have become hotbeds of growth within the Zilliqa ecosystem, and through this listing we are delighted to be delivering better access for our community in these regions.”

“With Zilliqa's EVM compatibility already delivering exciting applications for its DeFi ecosystem and the major usability improvements coming with Zilliqa 2.0, we are excited to soon unlock unprecedented opportunities for millions of traders and users,” Dyer said.

Bit2Me Director of Listings Cosmin Staicu added that the exchange was pleased to now offer direct ZIL trading to its customers.

“We're thrilled to welcome ZIL to the diverse array of assets listed on Bit2Me. Zilliqa's listing is aligned with our commitment to offer our users access to innovative and promising blockchain projects.”

“With over 280 assets now available on Bit2Me, we are empowering our global community with greater opportunities for investment and growth,” Staicu said.

For the latest news and updates from the Zilliqa ecosystem, stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the Zilliqa blog.

As we step into March, I am delighted to share the latest advancements shaping the trajectory of the Zilliqa ecosystem. The past month was marked by significant milestones that underscore our commitment to growing the core pillars of our network and community.

One of the most notable developments was the launch of the $SEED token, a groundbreaking digital reserve asset that opens up new multi-chain DeFi opportunities for the Zilliqa community. Built on EVM for ease of use and interoperability, this innovative addition to our ecosystem promises to redefine the landscape of decentralised finance on Zilliqa, offering users unprecedented flexibility and accessibility in managing their digital assets across various blockchain networks.

In addition to the excitement surrounding $SEED, there is a palpable buzz building around The Winners Circle as it gears up for its token launch. This revolutionary loyalty program continues to garner widespread attention and anticipation within the community, reaffirming our commitment to rewarding and empowering supporters with a new, Skill2Earn-based approach to fan loyalty.

I am inspired to see the growing momentum and enthusiasm within the Zilliqa community as these new projects roll out within the ecosystem. I encourage both our longstanding community members and newcomers to explore these exciting opportunities and help to shape the future of decentralised finance on Zilliqa.

The technical team continues to work hard to ensure the reliability of applications in the ecosystem while delivering the transformative enhancements that underpin our shift to Zilliqa 2.0, and we look forward to sharing much more of our plans around this network overhaul soon.

March is just the beginning of what promises to be a productive journey ahead. Keep a close eye on our progress, as we continue to push the boundaries of innovation and pave the way for a more decentralised and interconnected future.

- Matt Dyer Zilliqa CEO

Check out the full highlights from March 2024 below:

New DeFi opportunities with $SEED

One of the biggest moments in March was the launch of $SEED, the new digital reserve asset created by Kalijo.

Kalijo is the team behind PlunderSwap, the first EVM DEX deployed on the Zilliqa network, and they have continued to expand the ecosystem’s DeFi opportunities with the launch of $SEED, a token powering a multi-chain DeFi experience.

$SEED is an ERC-20 token deployed on the ZIliqa network, which means it can be purchased through popular EVM-compatible wallets like MetaMask. The token is designed to generate sustainable value for holders, allowing them to earn returns based on DeFi yields accrued across other major blockchains.

This was a milestone for the growth of DeFi on Zilliqa, with those who purchased the $SEED token in the presale now able to claim 20% of their overall balance each month.

Read more about $SEED on the Kalijo website.

ZilBridge restored and Scilla plugin updated

The technical team was hard at work over the past month, releasing new updates and resolving issues as work continues to progress on the network overhaul for Zilliqa 2.0.

The extended disruption to ZilBridge was resolved in March, with all transactions that were stuck being processed and full functionality being restored. The Zilliqa team worked closely with the Switcheo and PolyNetwork teams to fix the issue and we are grateful for the community’s patience and understanding during the downtime.

A full root cause analysis of the ZilBridge disruption was published, which breaks down how this issue occurred and the steps taken to resolve the issue.

The team also found the time to roll out new features for developers in March, with the latest version of the Scilla plugin for Hardhat being released.Version 3.8.0 of the Scilla plugin for Hardhat adds customisable deployment options, giving developers greater control over smart contract deployment by allowing them to override preset deployment parameters such as the gas price and gas limit.

A new deployment builder has also been added to the plugin, which delivers cleaner and more readable smart contract deployment code.

Redefining fan loyalty with The Winners Circle

The official announcement of The Winners Circle, an exclusive loyalty platform powered by the Zilliqa blockchain, continued to pick up steam in the last month. 

The announcement was featured in CoinTelegraph in March, bringing this revolutionary new approach to a growing audience ahead of the upcoming launch of its native fan token. $HRSE.

The project also made a splash last month by launching a collaborative airdrop with major players in the Zilliqa ecosystem, giving the community exciting rewards.

Partners in the collaborative airdrop hosted by The Winners Circle included PlunderSwap, Zilliqa, LunarCrush, IgniteDAO, Shibui Universe, and TokenTraxx.

Learn more about The Winners Circle on the official website.

Ecosystem News and AMAs

Highlights from the Zilliqa ecosystem last month include an AMA with the Kalijo team and Zilliqa CEO Matt Dyer on the launch of the $SEED token.

The AMA session explored how $SEED token holders can benefit from multi-chain DeFi yields and the growing ecosystem of financial tools on Zilliqa.

Listen to the full AMA with Kalijo and Zilliqa CEO Matt Dyer.

Matt also joined the FANZON3 podcast last month, where he spoke with Zilliqa Head of Business Development Tom Fleetham, and Web3 Media Labs Founder Joe Farren about Skill2Earn and how it can drive adoption for Web3 projects.

In other news, the Zilliqa network was integrated into Carbon, with ZIL now listed on the Carbon dApp store and Wallet and set to launch on LDX.FI.

The Torch smart wallet was also updated, with a number of new enhancements being added to the application along with general fixes and UI improvements.

The Roll1ng Thund3rz team continued to see impressive adoption for Web3War, the free-to-play multiplayer shooter built around a game-changing Skill2Earn model. 

Two new limited-edition cosmetic skin NFT collections were launched in March in partnership with PlunderSwap and Soulless Citadel, respectively, with each selling out on the Fus1on MARK3T in record time.

Stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the Zilliqa blog to stay up to date with the latest news!

One of the defining characteristics of most modern blockchains is the built-in scarcity of their token economies.

Fiat currencies like the US dollar suffer from high inflation rates which are controlled by the decisions of central banks in charge of the issuance of new money into the system. Unlike fiat, a peer-to-peer, decentralised system of money needs its native currency or token to be scarce to prevent inflation and make it an attractive proposition for those using it to transact value. 

For this reason Bitcoin, the first blockchain protocol, was designed with a total token supply limit of 21 million and an ongoing inflation rate reduction mechanism.

The importance of this characteristic is spotlit whenever Bitcoin experiences a “halving”, a regular event hard-coded into the protocol that sees the block rewards it allocates to miners halved. This controls the supply of new tokens coming into the economy and helps to ensure its sustainability.

As with other major blockchain protocols, Zilliqa also has a limited supply of its native ZIL tokens - with the total supply capped at 21 billion. 

New ZIL is introduced into the system through rewards allocated to stakers and miners on the network, but this must be adjusted to dynamically control inflation and ensure the token economy remains sustainable.

Find out more about Zilliqa’s token economy, the value of low inflation for a blockchain economy, and how you can earn staking rewards as a ZIL holder.

Scarcity and staking rewards

The scarcity of tokens is a highly praised feature of blockchain networks. Bitcoin’s fixed supply of 21 million has led it to be labelled as “sound money” due to its low-to-zero inflation and its fixed, pre-defined and publicly auditable issuance policy.

This perspective has been expanded further with allusions to Ethereum as “ultra-sound” money, due to its deflation over time as tokens are burned to process transactions.

The Zilliqa community is cognizant of the benefits of reducing ZIL inflation, which will be necessary for the amount of circulating ZIL to remain below the fixed total supply of 21 billion. This is why gZIL holders previously voted to adjust staking rewards on the Zilliqa network with the aim of reducing inflation.

This rewards adjustment has already been implemented on the mainnet, with the share of total rewards allocated to Staked Seed Nodes (SSNs) being reduced by a percentage point each month until it reaches 25% in October 2024.

Adjusting staking rewards according to this schedule will gradually aid the Zilliqa network in moving towards zero inflation and ensuring long-term sustainability of the ZIL token ecosystem.

This is one of the primary considerations of the token economics for Zilliqa 2.0, which aims to offer a new, Proof-of-Stake consensus model with attractive yet sustainable rewards for validators.

Zilliqa 2.0 and Proof-of-Stake

Currently, Staked Seed Nodes (SSNs) earn a share of block rewards for the role they play in processing information and serving data access to users on the Zilliqa network. ZIL holders are able to delegate the ZIL in their wallet to SSN operators, who then return staking rewards to holders after taking a small commission for this service.

Under the current consensus model, a percentage of block rewards is also issued to miners for their role in securing transactions on the network. However, this is set to change after the upcoming Zilliqa 2.0 overhaul.

Zilliqa 2.0 will use a Proof-of-Stake consensus model, with validators using staked ZIL tokens instead of hashpower to signal their support for the correct order and composition of transactions. The consequent removal of mining rewards that accompanies this model allows the inflation rate of ZIL to be significantly reduced, aiding the shift towards a low-inflation token economy.

Validators on Zilliqa 2.0 will comprise the SSNs operating on the current network, bolstered by new validators who are incentivised to participate through staking rewards. The rewards earned by validators under this PoS system will be adjusted dynamically to preserve a healthy staking ratio (the number of ZIL staked versus ZIL in circulation).

Whenever staking rewards are adjusted, they will be voted on through decentralised governance, giving the community a role in the management of Zilliqa’s token economy. Similarly to the current staking mechanism, ZIL holders will be able to delegate their stake to validator nodes and earn a share of the rewards for participating in consensus.

Stake to start earning ZIL

As staking rewards are adjusted and the Zilliqa network approaches a more sustainable tokenomics model with reduced inflation, the estimated annual percentage return for stakers remains attractive, especially compared with other major blockchains.

Despite the ongoing adjustment to staking rewards, the estimated annual percentage return for staking ZIL at the time of writing is 10.32%. Additionally, the shift to Proof-of-Stake will see the network’s real reward rate (accounting for token inflation) improve and reach much higher levels than other major PoS networks.

Any ZIL holder can take advantage of these attractive incentives to stake their ZIL and earn returns, and there are a number of powerful features now available on Zilliqa that offer extended functionality to standard staking.

Avely Finance, for example, has launched a liquid staking platform that awards stakers with a corresponding balance of its liquid staking token, which they can then use to swap for ZIL or other tokens and participate in the DeFi ecosystem.

That means that a ZIL holder can benefit from staking rewards while retaining their liquidity and exploring DeFi services like $SEED, the multi-chain digital reserve asset deployed by Kalijo. Additionally, if they stake through platforms like IgniteDAO’s Torch wallet, they can use instant unstaking to instantly unlock their staked ZIL when needed.

By staking ZIL, users can unlock these powerful incentives and take advantage of these new DeFi tools while also improving the network’s staking ratio and playing a role in securing the Zilliqa blockchain.

In the overhauled Zilliqa 2.0 network, users who stake ZIL will play a crucial part in the blockchain’s security, actively participating in consensus and earning rewards for protecting against malicious actors and verifying transactions.

With the growing ecosystem of DeFi applications being built on Zilliqa, the shift to a more sustainable token economy with Zilliqa 2.0, and staking rewards remaining attractively high, there has never been a better time to stake your ZIL.

Get started with staking ZIL on the Zilliqa network.

Following the upgrade of the Zilliqa network to v9.3.0 on January 3, 2024, the ZilBridge platform experienced what would become an extended disruption, leaving several transactions unconfirmed and users unable to make use of the platform.

This issue was resolved on March 27, 2024, when full functionality was restored to the platform.

ZilBridge is an Ethereum-Zilliqa Bridge powered by Carbon and Poly Network, and which enables the easy bridging of ZRC-2 fungible tokens across both Zilliqa and Ethereum. 

The Zilliqa technical team has conducted a root cause analysis of this disruption which provides a detailed breakdown of the issue and how it was resolved.

The disruption to ZilBridge, labelled as PIR-219, was caused in principle by the ZilBridge relay infrastructure not being shut down when the v9.3.0 network upgrade was implemented, causing it to relay incorrect block headers through the bridge infrastructure.

Factors which contributed to the delays in resolving this issue include the manner in which Zilliqa network upgrades are rolled out, the characteristics of how PolyNetwork validates transaction blocks, the discovery of bugs in the relayer program, and the time required to build a new genesis block and sync historical transactions with PolyNetwork.

As of March 27, these obstacles were overcome and full functionality was restored to the platform. ZilBridge is now back online and all previously stuck transactions have been synchronised and confirmed.

Root Cause Analysis - ZilBridge Disruption

ZilBridge (in part) uses a relayer program to relay suitable transactions and block headers to PolyNetwork, which then handles trans-shipment of the requests to Carbon and then on to other chains for delivery.

When a mainnet upgrade is implemented on the Zilliqa network, the following occurs:

The old network is made inaccessible

A new network is created from the persistence of the old network.

The new network replaces the old.

The new network is made accessible.

The Zilliqa team notifies partners ahead of a scheduled network upgrade so they are able to pause their infrastructure while the old network is made inaccessible. This imperfect process will be improved and made more dynamic and flexible with the rollout of Zilliqa 2.0.

In the case of the Zilliqa v9.3.0 upgrade, ZilBridge infrastructure was not paused during this process, and it continued to accrue headers from the empty blocks now being produced by the old network and it relayed these to PolyNetwork.

This meant that as the network came back up with v9.3.0, PolyNetwork found itself with a forked DS committee membership and it refused to sync with the new network.

PolyNetwork checks if a transaction block is correctly signed by reconstructing the DS (Directory Service) committee from the DS block headers reported by the Zilliqa blockchain. Only the latest DS committee is stored by PolyNetwork, and it is impossible to calculate previous DS committee members for previous DS blocks.

This meant that we needed to regenerate the genesis block for PolyNetwork - a time-intensive process which we would need to start from a time earlier than the current DS block.

As it is not possible to calculate DS committee memberships for previous blocks, the Zilliqa team created a tool that took saved persistence and worked forwards to reconstruct a genesis block at any point in the chain. This was then used to generate and sign a block at a block height just after the network upgrade.

Several genesis syncs had to be completed to account for the change in guard nodes between network versions, and bugs were then discovered in the relayer program that resulted in transaction blocks not being synced to PolyNetwork.

These bugs were fixed and we then encountered an issue stemming from the fact that PolyNetwork is unable to store the DS committee membership for a DS block that it has already stored a hash of. 

This caused the relayer to stop working and necessitated the creation of a genesis block between the last DS block PolyNetwork had seen and the first DS block with an outstanding bridge transaction.

The relayer was optimised to accelerate this synchronisation which, once complete, eventually resulted in PolyNetwork aligning with the Zilliqa network and functionality to ZilBridge being fully restored on March 27, 2024.

The Zilliqa infrastructure team has released version 3.8.0 of the Scilla plugin for Hardhat, the popular development environment for building EVM applications.

Hardhat is a development environment for smart contracts and decentralised applications (dApps) that makes it easy for developers to create, edit, compile, debug, and deploy smart contracts on EVM-compatible networks.

EVM, or Ethereum Virtual Machine, is a software platform used to build applications on Ethereum and other protocols that have implemented EVM compatibility, including Zilliqa.

The Scilla plugin for Hardhat allows developers to test, build, and deploy smart contracts written in Scilla on the Zilliqa network.

The latest version of the plugin includes a number of general fixes and several new features, which include major improvements to contract deployment.

Version 3.8.0 of the Scilla plugin for Hardhat adds customisable deployment options, giving developers greater control over smart contract deployment by allowing them to override preset deployment parameters such as the gas price and gas limit.

A new deployment builder has also been added to the plugin, which delivers cleaner and more readable smart contract deployment code.

Other new features include the ability to connect to and interact with Scilla contracts that are already deployed on the network, streamlining the development process for applications that interact with existing smart contracts.

The latest version of the Scilla plugin for Hardhat also includes a number of general improvements, including an update to node modules to retain compatibility and security, a migration from ESlint to TSLint in line with industry trends, and the introduction of support for Algebraic Data Type (ADT) parameters for contract constructors.

To learn more about how to use the new features introduced in version 3.8.0 of the Scilla plugin for Hardhat, view the ReadMe on GitHub.

Documentation and package information for version 3.8.0 of the plugin is also available on the npm registry.

The improvements introduced in the latest version of the Scilla plugin for Hardhat represent one facet of the Zilliqa infrastructure team’s ongoing commitment to enhance the development experience on the EVM-compatible Zilliqa platform.

Stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the Zilliqa blog to stay up to date with the latest news on EVM compatibility and other announcements.

As we continue to deliver a strong start to 2024, I am thrilled to present the latest highlights and strides in the Zilliqa ecosystem, offering a glimpse into the dynamic and exciting year unfolding before us.

The standout achievements of the past month have included Zilliqa's drive to revolutionise both Web3 gaming and fan loyalty through a unique Skill2Earn approach that has the potential to shake up the market by delivering sustainable and accessible rewards to players and fans. The next generation of Web3 entertainment is here, and it is powered by Zilliqa.

This month, we were excited to see the announcement of The Winners Circle, an innovative fan loyalty programme designed to reward racing fans for engaging with their favourite sport and secured by the Zilliqa blockchain.

We also saw the resounding success of the token offering for $FPS, the in-game token for Web3War. The overwhelming response from investors and enthusiasts alike is a testament to the burgeoning potential of Web3 gaming on the Zilliqa platform.

Our infrastructure team deserves commendation for their tireless efforts in laying the groundwork for a transformative year ahead.  As we forge ahead, momentum is building towards the rollout of Zilliqa 2.0, a monumental milestone that will redefine the capabilities and possibilities of our network.

I am inspired by the potential of the Zilliqa ecosystem, fueled by the continued growth of applications such as Plunderswap, Web3War, Ionise, IgniteDAO, and Avely Finance.

I would like to thank the Zilliqa community for your continued support, and I encourage you to stay tuned for more information on our rollout plan for Zilliqa 2.0, as we prepare to unveil a truly cutting-edge protocol that will deliver unprecedented performance and flexibility.

Matt DyerZilliqa Blockchain CEO

Check out all the highlights from February 2024 below:

Building the future of Web3 gaming on Zilliqa

Among the many exciting topics circulating within and beyond the Zilliqa community over the past month, the one that ignited the most excitement was Zilliqa’s Skill2Earn approach to Web3 gaming.

Following the rise and fall of the “Play2Earn” model for Web3 gaming, Zilliqa is poised to deliver a new, sustainable approach by rewarding high-quality engagement with Skill2Earn. 

Skill2Earn solves the problems of previous models by rewarding gamers based on their skill and in-game performance, and it puts the player experience first by prioritising high-quality gameplay.

Skill2Earn has debuted on the Zilliqa network with the launch of Web3War’s in-game token and ranked gameplay matches, and it will also be integrated into other groundbreaking new Web3-powered platforms going forward, including The Winners Circle loyalty programme.

Read more about Skill2Earn and how it can drive growth for Zilliqa.

Redefining fan loyalty with The Winners Circle 

A key highlight from February was the announcement of The Winners Circle, an exclusive loyalty platform and members club built by Racing League in partnership with Zilliqa.

The Winners Circle uses Zilliqa-powered Web3 features to unlock innovative and unprecedented rewards for horse racing fans.

These include entry into prize draws for exclusive experiences, discounts on merchandise and tickets, and the opportunity to participate in a fantasy prediction game that rewards you for your skill.

At the core of The Winners Circle is its $HRSE loyalty token, which will be launched in the coming months to early investors and those looking to enjoy the benefits of The Winners Circle.

Read the full announcement of The Winners Circle loyalty platform. 

Staying in the loyalty space, February also saw the launch of Season 2 of The Pride, the fan loyalty programme from MAD Lions.

With these and other exciting announcements, the last month affirmed Zilliqa’s role in powering the infrastructure that will deliver the future of fan engagement.

Growing Zilliqa’s financial layer

February was also a great month for growing DeFi and the financial layer on Zilliqa, bringing new opportunities for ZIL holders to explore, from cross-chain DeFi yield tools to successful token sales.

A major highlight of the last month was Kalijo announcing $SEED, an upcoming digital reserve asset on Zilliqa that will allow holders to benefit from DeFi yields on other EVM networks. $SEED aims to become an anchor of the Zilliqa DeFi ecosystem by regularly and reliably extracting value from multiple blockchains and reverting growth back to Zilliqa.

February saw the official launch of $FPS, the in-game token for Web3War, with the project completing multiple successful offerings as part of its token generation event. 

The token had a wildly successful launch and generated impressive engagement across multiple exchanges and platforms.

Last month also saw Avely Finance reach a major milestone, with the amount of stZIL minted now at a total of 100 million tokens.

AMAs and Ecosystem News

Amidst the excitement around Skill2Earn and its potential to boost growth in the Zilliqa ecosystem, Matt Dyer and Zilliqa Head of Business Development Tom Fleetham hosted an AMA to break down the benefits of this exciting new model and what it means for the network.

To find out more, read the highlights or listen to the full AMA.Following the launch of its native token last month, version 3.0 of Web3War was released, introducing the Season Pass and Skill2Earn through ranked matches.

This marked the first deployment of Skill2Earn in a Web3 game powered by Zilliqa, bringing exciting new opportunities for players to earn rewards in a high-quality, online shooter.

Read the full announcement for Web3War version 3.0.

LunarCrush, the social insights platform built on Zilliqa, announced Coin Grants last month, allowing Web3 developers to apply for funding to build on the LunarCrush API.

IgniteDAO made a major announcement, too, with the launch of its Instant Unstaking Partnership, encouraging the community to drive adoption of its Torch smart wallet.

Stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the Zilliqa blog to stay up to date with the latest news!

In an industry often marked by fleeting trends and unsustainable models, Zilliqa is pioneering a new era of GameFi with a focus on building longevity and genuine engagement. 

The nascent world of GameFi, the combination of online gaming and decentralised finance, offers exciting potential but is haunted by the early failures of Play2Earn models for Web3 games.

Through exciting new projects like Web3War and The Winners Circle, Zilliqa is pioneering a radical new approach to Web3 gaming through the philosophy of Skill2Earn, a merit-based system that rewards gamers based on their skill and in-game performance.

To explore the potential of this new Skill2Earn model and what it means for the Zilliqa blockchain, Zilliqa Technology CEO Matt Dyer recently joined Head of Business Development for Sports and Gaming Tom Fleetham for a live AMA session with the community.

They covered everything from the sustainability of Web3 gaming models to how Skill2Earn will drive value and growth for the Zilliqa blockchain, and the session concluded with some exciting news about Web3War, the flagship Skill2Earn multiplayer first-person shooter powered by Zilliqa.

Check out all the highlights from the AMA session below:

A new, sustainable approach to GameFi

Tom kicked off the discussion with a look back at the initial approaches to Web3 gaming, dissecting their shortcomings and giving context for Zilliqa’s decision to take a new approach.

“When we look at the gaming and sports sectors from the previous bull run, we see they achieved great traction but had flawed models,” Tom said.

“If you look at Axie Infinity, the growth of that game was insane. You also had fan tokens, mainly through Chilliz and Socios, performing similarly. But those models did not prove to be sustainable, and there are various reasons for that.”

“We feel that we can take a different approach and create more sustainable models this time around,” he added.

Tom noted that building a sustainable economy for Web3 gaming centres around high-quality user experiences, utility, and fair incentives for engagement.

“The fundamental problem when it comes to Play2Earn is that all the players are rewarded just for playing. What that means is that if you stop bringing in new players, you're eventually going to run out of rewards.”

“We believe that fundamentally some players need to be net contributors to the game if you're actually ever going to create a sustainable economy,” he said.

Other issues created by the Play2Earn approach to Web3 gaming include the incentivisation of the use of bots to farm rewards. As the required interactivity from users is generally low, these games can attract an audience of automated programs, building the opposite of real engagement.

This problem can be solved through high-quality gameplay aimed at traditional gaming audiences and a requirement to demonstrate skill and in-game performance.

“If all you care about in the Play2Earn model is the rewards that are coming back, then the actual quality of the game doesn't matter - as long as it's passable and works, it's good enough,” Tom said. 

“Now we're seeing a new crop of Web3 games that put gameplay first and are much higher quality, but I think the jury is still out on what model works in terms of creating a sustainable Web3 game economy, and our solution to that is Skill2Earn.”

Skill2Earn drives utility and engagement

As demonstrated by Web3War, The Winners Circle, and other projects coming soon the Zilliqa blockchain, Skill2Earn is designed to encourage deep engagement through high-quality experiences and real utility.

Matt and Tom noted that as a more mature approach to GameFi, Skill2Earn can be the key to unlocking the massive potential market for Web3 gaming by focussing on interactivity and sustainable adoption.

“We believe that Skill2Earn will give fans more of an interactive experience and an incentive to dive deeper and learn more about the sport in question,” Tom explained. “If you're going to be incentivised to be a skillful fan, that is obviously going to lead to deeper engagement.”

“Skill2Earn allows you to create a sustainable rewards economy. We don't want to create a scheme that relies on new users to be joining all the time for the value to be maintained within the project.”

Tom added that this new approach also opens up opportunities that have previously not existed for players looking to break out into professional gaming. By allowing players to earn rewards based on their performance, Skill2Earn gives gamers a clearly defined way to start earning from their sport.

“If you look at the esports industry, there is not really any such thing as a semi-pro esports player. If you compare esports with traditional sports, it's very much an all-or-nothing situation and there's also no real defined path to becoming a professional gamer.”

“Skill2Earn can actually provide a place for aspiring professionals to start earning money from playing games, and I think that has the potential to be huge. I think there are plenty of gamers out there who would fancy themselves as particularly good at one game or another, and if they have the opportunity to earn rewards based on their skill, that is going to be really appealing,” Tom said.

Tom also noted that Skill2Earn is applicable to the fan loyalty space, as exemplified by projects like The Winners Circle, through imbuing fan tokens with real utility and giving users the ability to earn meaningful rewards based on their skill and knowledge of their favourite sport.

“On the sports side, the likes of Chilliz and Socios achieved big things in terms of the fan tokens and the partnerships they closed during the last bull run. But the real problem from a sustainability point of view, and from a fan's point of view, is that there is not a huge amount of utility associated with those tokens,” Tom said.

“It's not a particularly compelling experience to be a token holder of those fan tokens. There is also generally no way to earn the token so you are not really rewarded for being a fan.”

“Ultimately the only reason to buy and hold these fan tokens becomes speculation, and that's not really what fan tokens should be about, in our opinion,” he said.

In contrast to these initial models, The Winners Circle is leveraging Skill2Earn and the Zilliqa blockchain to drive passionate engagement from horse racing fans while rewarding them with exclusive access and unforgettable experiences.

Tom also teased that Zilliqa is exploring opportunities to bring this Skill2Earn engagement approach to fan token initiatives with its existing esports partners in future.

“We really want to show what ‘good’ looks like in terms of how we create a sustainable model for Web3 gaming and how we create fan tokens with genuine utility and the ability for fans to earn them,” he said.

Building value for the Zilliqa network

Matt contextualised the launch of Web3War and The Winners Circle, and elaborated on what the success of Skill2Earn means for the Zilliqa blockchain.

“There is a lot of focus around Web3War and what we've done there, but we also have The Winners Circle and the $HRSE token coming soon as well. It's not just one game that we're looking at - it's more of a holistic play around how we are approaching the market with Skill2Earn as a key differentiator,” Matt said.

“We are strong from a layer-one perspective in terms of the infrastructure we have in place, and we have a laser focus on and around the Skill2Earn mechanism that we feel drives sustainability.” 

“I think that narrative will attract a lot of people towards Zilliqa.”

The adoption of Skill2Earn projects running on the Zilliqa blockchain can also lead to a healthier ecosystem through boosting transaction volume and interaction with other decentralised applications or wallet providers on the network.

“The activity of Skill2Earn - things like playing against other people, staking your tokens as a function to get access to features - drives on-chain transaction volume and value for the network,” Matt said.

“Transactions, particularly around smart contracts, are where gas is burned, which fuels the trajectory of a layer-one network. As we have more projects building on Zilliqa that are being used by a large number of people, that is going to drive transaction volume on the layer-one, which in turn drives a deflationary mechanic.”

This growth of Skill2Earn projects comes as exciting new tools are being deployed on the network, making the blockchain more attractive to developers and users alike.

“Looking at what's happening on Zilliqa with the success of Web3War and various other teams building some cool stuff from a DeFi perspective, we are going to start to see a lot more liquidity being put into the ecosystem,” Matt said. 

“Beyond specific games or fan engagement platforms, this downstream effect of the success of our Skill2Earn approach is really exciting.”

The AMA session was closed off with a surprise appearance from Roll1ng Thund3rz co-founder and CTO Valentin Cobelea, who announced the launch of Web3War v3.0.

This latest release of the free-to-play Web3 multiplayer shooter marks the launch of its first seasonal content update, as well as the first implementation of Skill2Earn mechanics in the game, giving anyone the ability to earn rewards for proving their skill.

Ready to try out the first-ever Skill2Earn multiplayer game powered by Zilliqa? Head to the Web3War website to get started.

The next generation of Web3 entertainment is here, and it is powered by Zilliqa.

The boom and busts of the last cycle’s ‘Play2Earn’ have haunted the GameFi space. Whilst games like Axie Infinity drove impressive user numbers for a while, the unsustainable tokenomics of several of these projects meant the ‘earn’ element was short-lived. The model was pioneering, yet imperfect. 

Zilliqa is aiming to level up these early ideas through its unique Skill2Earn philosophy, a merit-based system that rewards the best gamers, and it all begins with Web3War.

Web3War, the action-packed multiplayer shooter developed by Roll1ng Thund3rz, recently launched its $FPS in-game token, which unlocks a myriad of innovative player experiences, maps, and seasons. More significantly, this landmark brings a new dawn for gaming through a utility token that is crafted to offer genuine value to players.

Skill2Earn puts gamers and incentives first. Players are rewarded based on their in-game performance, allowing them to earn tokens for outcompeting their rivals which, in turn, incentivises deeper engagement than Play-to-Earn mechanics.

The combination of Skill2Earn with Zilliqa’s scalable and powerful Layer-1 blockchain will drive the network effects and growth of the ecosystem. Player activity in-game - via tokens, NFTs and SeasonPasses - leads to more transaction volume, wallets, TVL, and dApp development for the Zilliqa network.

The Winners Circle will also leverage Skill2Earn within its prediction games, which forms a core part of its strategy for rewarding fans for their engagement. This exclusive loyalty programme is just another example of Zilliqa’s strategy to break new ground in the entertainment and gaming space.

Let’s take a look at how Skill2Earn can drive growth on Zilliqa. 

Skill2Earn and a sustainable approach to Web3 entertainment

Many projects have attempted to leverage the unique capabilities of Web3 by implementing various types of ‘Play-to-Earn’ systems. This mechanic simply rewards players with digital currency as long as they continue to engage with the product (i.e. time = reward).

This ‘Play-to-Earn’ model initially attracted widespread attention. However, it has proven to be difficult to maintain, with a number of projects witnessing their token economy collapse due to diminishing rewards and, therefore, lower interest from gamers. Many were unsuccessful due to overly basic gameplay or simply a lack of fun.

Skill2Earn offers a refreshing and more refined approach to Web3 gaming that puts the player experience and skillful gameplay first. Rewards stem from deep engagement, dedication and results which, in turn, motivates players to become more accomplished so that their game proficiency, and not just their time, unlocks benefits.

Read more about the Skill2Earn mechanic used within Web3War.

This approach is primed to be rolled out across the Zilliqa ecosystem as Skill2Earn is fully integrated with its scalable, flexible, and interoperable infrastructure.

Engaging gaming projects that drive value for users and Zilliqa

Projects like The Winners’ Circle and Web3War drive growth on the Zilliqa blockchain through both exposing Zilliqa to new audiences and through their operations.

This results in users of these applications and others on the Zilliqa network benefitting from the operation of these layer-two applications.

When players in Web3War earn $FPS through gameplay or purchase cosmetic skin NFTs and other items, this builds transaction volume on the Zilliqa blockchain, creating value for the network’s token economy.

The increased adoption of Zilliqa brought about by these applications is also great for the network, as it leads to more people using wallets, DeFi applications, and other solutions running on the blockchain.

Whether it’s increased demand for native tokens or the deflationary result of more gas being burned for transactions, the success of projects like Web3War and The Winners Circle helps grow a healthier economy for the Zilliqa network.

This phenomenon is set to be the driver for significant growth on Zilliqa as more ambitious projects come online and their success attracts more people to build on the network.

The new Skill2Earn model used in Web3War, the Winners Circle, and other upcoming projects leaves the Zilliqa ecosystem poised for rapid expansion as it benefits from this more engaging and sustainable way to approach Web3 gaming.

With game-changing projects across a range of industries, an unprecedented and novel approach to Web3 gaming, and the technical platform to deliver fast and reliable performance, Zilliqa has quickly become the destination for scalable and sustainable Web3 projects that will help drive growth in the ecosystem.

As we kickstart the new year, I am thrilled to share the exciting updates and developments from January, which serve as a small taste of what to expect from the productive year ahead for the Zilliqa ecosystem.

The biggest highlight from the last month was the announcement of the launch of Web3War's native token and in-game currency, FPS. It is great to the massive interest in the initial offerings for the token on exchanges and launchpads. 

Congratulations to the team from Roll1ng Thund3rz for continuing to deliver on their vision for the future of Web3 gaming - I can't wait to see what comes next for this Zilliqa Group venture and their debut title, Web3War. 

I’d like to thank Bradley Laws, Zilliqa’s Head of Investor Relations, for his instrumental role in supporting the Web3War token launch. I would also like to thank the infrastructure team for their hard work at the beginning of what is sure to be a busy year from a technical standpoint. 

We are building momentum towards the launch of Zilliqa 2.0, and we continue to improve the network and prepare the blockchain for the exciting new features we have developed. 

As we embark on another year together, I am inspired by the growing potential offered by the Zilliqa ecosystem and network. The recent rollout of applications like Plunderswap, Web3War, Ionise, and Avely’s liquid staking make Zilliqa a more exciting space than ever before. I’d like to invite our community, both old and new, to get involved with these new features and applications, and to actively participate in governance. Your support is the driving force behind our continued progress and success.

January was a fantastic start to the new year, but look out for more news on Zilliqa 2.0 and other game-changing announcements coming soon - it is going to be an unforgettable year for Zilliqa.

Matt DyerZilliqa Blockchain CEO

Check out all the highlights from January 2024 below:

Zilliqa network upgrade to v9.3.0

January was a productive month for Zilliqa from a technical standpoint, with the network being upgraded to version 9.3.0.

This update brought a number of changes, one of the most important of which was the desharding of the network to improve efficiency and reliability as we progress towards the rollout of Zilliqa 2.0.

Zilliqa 2.0 will feature an improved sharding architecture that will offer greater scalability and flexibility while also featuring unprecedented customisation. 

Ahead of the implementation of this new sharding model, a proposal was passed through Zilliqa’s decentralised governance platform to deshard the network to improve efficiency.

Read more about the upgrades to the network introduced in Zilliqa v9.3.0.

Following the desharding of the network, we also conducted an analysis of mining rewards on the network and confirmed that the average profitability for miners has remained at the same level.

Adjusting staking rewards for sustainability

January saw the technical team continue to prepare the network for its upcoming migration to Zilliqa 2.0. In addition to the Zilliqa v9.3.0 upgrade, an adjustment was also made to staking rewards.

This adjustment sees the share of total rewards allocated to Staked Seen Nodes (SSNs) adjusted from its previous level of 34% to 25% at a rate of one percentage point each month until October 2024. 

The decision to adjust staking rewards was made to improve the long-term sustainability of the Zilliqa network with the goal of reaching zero inflation. This was proposed on the Zilliqa governance forum and voted on by gZIL holders, where the proposal was passed with an overwhelming majority and 112% of the required quorum.

As we move towards Zilliqa 2.0 and an overhauled, more efficient network architecture, it is great to see our community participating in governance and enacting the changes that will ensure the sustainability of Zilliqa and the ZIL token ecosystem.

Read more about the changes to staking rewards on Zilliqa.

Web3War IDOs and launchpads for token offering

The first month of 2024 was marked with building excitement in the Zilliqa ecosystem as Web3War announced the opportunity for fans to back the project and reserve its upcoming in-game currency, $FPS.

Created by Web3 entertainment and gaming company Roll1ng Thund3rz, Web3War is a multiplayer first-person shooter with powerful Web3 features that revolutionise the gaming experience, and the $FPS token is at the core of its innovative Skill2Earn reward system.

In January, Web3War announced that it had partnered with several exchanges and launchpads for the launch of $FPS, including popular platforms such as DAO Maker, Gamestarter, Gate.io. 

This announcement gave Web3 gaming fans several opportunities to back the project early and reserve their allocation of the in-game currency for Web3War, which will be used to unlock exclusive rewards, ranked gameplay access, new features, and so much more.

Visit the Web3War website to learn more and start playing today.

AMAs and ecosystem news

The Zilliqa ecosystem was buzzing in January with the news of the $FPS token offering for Web3War.

Matt Dyer joined Roll1ng Thund3rz Co-founder Valentin Cobelea for an AMA on the launch of $FPS, giving the community exciting insights into the utility and opportunities provided by the token ecosystem.Zilliqa’s Head of Ecosystem Kevin Meyer also participated in AMA last month, joining Coin Gabbar to discuss the future of dApps and the Web3 ecosystem.

Additionally, Matt Dyer announced he will be a featured speaker at Blockstart Scotland later this year, where he will explore how to overcome the common challenges faced by Web3 businesses.

On the ecosystem and developer side, the year began strongly with the launch of the Zilliqa Rust SDK, which allows developers to easily build dApps on the Zilliqa network using Rust.

Projects across the Zilliqa ecosystem continued to thrive, with PlunderSwap seeing continued growth as the first EVM DEX on the network and Torch publishing a tutorial series on how to use the powerful features of its Smart wallet.

Stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the Zilliqa blog to stay up to date with the latest news!

2023 was a landmark year for Zilliqa, packed with major announcements, technical achievements, new partnerships, and more.

As we charted our course through the changeable landscape of the blockchain industry, the Zilliqa community and ecosystem proved resilient and capable of building exciting new products and applications regardless of which way the wind was blowing in the wider market.

One of the key missions of the Zilliqa team is to move towards a faster, more flexible network architecture that delivers value and utility across a range of industries. We are cultivating a blockchain and ecosystem of partners that offer scalable and accessible applications while delivering sustainable growth.

From a high-profile strategic alliance with Google Cloud to the rollout of EVM compatibility and launch of new Web3 gaming and loyalty solutions, Zilliqa’s progress in 2023 was a testament to the success of this result-oriented approach to building Web3 solutions. 

As we journey into 2024, we aim to continue delivering real products and features to the market while building a faster and more flexible network model that will underpin the Web3 applications of the future.

Let’s take a look at a few of the biggest highlights from the Zilliqa ecosystem in 2023:

Formation of Zilliqa Group

Building innovative new business cases on the Zilliqa blockchain requires a solid and sustainable framework for growth, and that is why we announced the formation of Zilliqa Group in 2023.

This new corporate structure encompasses several exciting ventures launching from incubation, the core Zilliqa blockchain, and the establishment of a services layer for network integration across a range of industries.

The transition to Zilliqa Group allows companies incorporated under its umbrella to offer world-class services that link and build upon technology created by other elements of the new group structure.

An example of companies incorporated under Zilliqa Group is Roll1ng Thund3rz, the Web3 entertainment company ushering in a new era of gaming that uses blockchain technology to enhance the player experience and give gamers true ownership over their digital assets.

Zilliqa Group also relaunched its metaverse venture last year, announcing the launch of MetaMinds - a Metaverse-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform provider that leverages spatial web technology to craft immersive metaverse experiences for customers.

Building strong partnerships

Zilliqa’s impressive business achievements were bolstered by the announcements of several major collaborations over the course of 2023.

Chief amongst these was the announcement of Zilliqa Group’s strategic alliance with Google Cloud, which saw the tech giant commit to operating a Staked Seed Node (SSN) on the Zilliqa network. Infrastructure operated by the Zilliqa team was also migrated to Google Cloud to improve resilience and performance across the mainnet.

2023 also saw Zilliqa announce a partnership with GMEX ZERO13 to deliver a consumer-focussed carbon offset platform powered by blockchain technology. This platform will revolutionise the way customers interact with their favourite brands, allowing them to play a more active role in offsetting their carbon footprint.

Another major announcement we made last year was a collaboration with ChainUp to expand Web3 infrastructure offerings and boost the potential of future partnerships across  key industries. As part of this agreement, ChainUp also committed to running a Staked Seed Node (SSN) on the Zilliqa network,

These and many more partnerships drove excitement around the businesses and applications building on Zilliqa while bolstering the ecosystem’s ability to deliver growth in new industries, with each collaboration marking an important milestone on Zilliqa’s path to delivering value through Web3 solutions.

EVM compatibility launched on mainnet

2023 saw significant improvements made to the Zilliqa network, one of the most important of which was the introduction of Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatibility to the mainnet.

This allowed Solidity contracts to interact with the Zilliqa network, opening up the ecosystem to a global network of Web3 developers and improving interoperability with major cross-chain platforms.

EVM compatibility continued to be improved throughout the year, with new features such as support for fungible Scilla tokens being added, as well as improvements to developer tools.

As we head into 2024, we are continuing to enhance EVM compatibility on Zilliqa, as interoperability and cross-chain communication remain a key focus for the network infrastructure team going forward.

Laying the foundation for stronger DeFi

An exciting product of EVM compatibility on Zilliqa is the potential for DeFi applications to be quickly and easily deployed to the network. 

EVM compatibility unlocks massive potential for DeFi, and we have already seen applications laying the foundations for a growing and healthy DeFi ecosystem on Zilliqa.

Ionise, the first money market protocol built on Zilliqa EVM, launched in November 2023 with support for borrowing and lending ZIL and zUSDT. The platform is an exemplar to other DeFi applications, demonstrating that EVM platforms can be deployed to and operate reliably on the Zilliqa mainnet.

Last year also saw the launch of PlunderSwap on the Zilliqa mainnet, marking the first deployment of an EVM-based decentralised exchange (DEX) on the network.

DeFi opportunities were also expanded by the introduction of liquid staking through Avely Finance, which gives ZIL stakers flexibility by giving them stZIL tokens based on how much ZIL they are staking through the platform.

Zilliqa’s DeFi ecosystem is poised for exceptional growth now that the first building blocks are on the mainnet and developers are equipped with all the tools they need to start deploying EVM applications on the network

The road to Zilliqa 2.0

Over the past year, the Zilliqa infrastructure team made significant progress on the migration of the network to Zilliqa 2.0. 

We saw changes to staking rewards to reduce the inflation of ZIL and ensure a more sustainable token economy, as well as the desharding of the network ahead of the rollout of a more efficient sharding architecture with Zilliqa 2.0.

Holders of gZIL will also be happy to hear that various governance improvements were also implemented last year, including the ability to delegate your voting power to a trusted party, ensuring that you are extracting maximum value from your role in the decision making process.

The network changes implemented as part of the roadmap to Zilliqa 2.0 were enacted through proposals on Zilliqa’s decentralised governance system and successfully passed through votes by gZIL holders.

Looking ahead to 2024, there are many more important updates coming to the network as we approach the launch of Zilliqa 2.0. If you are a gZIL holder, keep an eye on the Zilliqa governance portal and have your say on the upcoming improvements to the network.

Powering a new era of Web3 gaming

Roll1ng Thund3rz, the Web3 entertainment company behind the FUS1ON Gaming Hub and the multiplayer first-person shooter WEB3WAR, made truly impressive progress over the course of the last year.

WEB3WAR was greatly enhanced as the development team worked to deliver a truly high-quality gaming experience, and several much-anticipated Web3 features such as NFT skins were implemented into the game and the FUS1ON Gaming Hub.

FUS1ON Gaming Hub was also launched on the Microsoft Store, with a web version of its marketplace also available via a web browser.

Roll1ng Thund3rz announced a number of major partnerships last year, including collaborations with music streaming service Styngr and gaming news portal Nohto.

At the start of 2024, though, WEB3WAR is set for its biggest milestone since release: the launch of its $FPS in-game currency. 

Keep an eye on the WEB3WAR website for the latest updates on new releases and features coming this year.

Redefining the fan loyalty experience

Another major highlight from the Zilliqa ecosystem last year was our expansion into the fan loyalty space, where the Zilliqa underpins exciting new loyalty programmes and initiatives across several major brands.

We announced a partnership with Racing League UK to deliver a new loyalty programme called The Winners Circle, aimed at horse racing fans and empowered with the unique utility of blockchain technology. In this new programme, fans will have the opportunity to own shares in their favourite horses, vote on important governance decisions, compete in prediction games to earn physical and digital rewards, and enjoy exclusive discounts on tickets and merchandise.

The Zilliqa network is also powering another fan loyalty programme launched in 2023, The Pride by MAD Lions. This programme rewards fans with digital collectibles through a streamlined interface and underlying infrastructure built on Zilliqa.

Loyalty is a growing industry globally, and Zilliqa has already begun to disrupt traditional fan interactions with new and exciting initiatives that reward fans for their support with tangible rewards and experiences.

Expect to see a lot more from the fan loyalty space as Zilliqa heads into 2024 and beyond.

Exciting updates coming in 2024

2023 was a truly impressive year for the Zilliqa ecosystem, but there are even more exciting announcements coming in 2024!

Don’t miss the latest news - stay tuned to our socials and subscribe to the Zilliqa blog.

The Zilliqa network was recently upgraded to version 9.3.0, bringing a number of changes aimed at improving the reliability and efficiency of the blockchain.

One of the key changes included in this upgrade was the desharding of the network to improve efficiency ahead of a new sharding architecture being launched as part of Zilliqa 2.0.

Following the desharding of the network with Zilliqa v9.3.0, a number of miners expressed concern over potential changes to the rewards they earn for their role in securing the network.

Miners on Zilliqa compete to solve complex cryptographic puzzles in a Proof-of-Work (PoW) model to secure the network and protect against Sybil attacks. These mining nodes can be individuals or groups of miners pooling their hashrate together to take a share of the pool’s rewards.

It is important to note that the total mining rewards issued every epoch were not changed in Zilliqa v9.3.0. 

Desharding the network has led to higher competition on the single active shard as well as higher rewards for miners when they are selected by the PoW mechanism. This means that while miners may not earn rewards as regularly, they are receiving more ZIL when they do.

We have analysed the effects of desharding on mining profitability and concluded that over time, reward levels remain approximately unchanged for miners assuming their performance in supplying signatures does not change. This means that, on average, miners are earning roughly the same rewards based on their hashpower as they did before the network upgrade.

Essentially, while mining rewards fluctuate more due to the elimination of unnecessary shards, the average profitability for miners over time remains the same as it was before Zilliqa v9.3.0 was rolled out.

Thanks to profitability remaining consistent, individual miners can enjoy the same competitive rewards they have earned previously without needing to switch to larger pools. Instead, they can continue to contribute their hashpower to the mining pool which best fits their requirements, whether that is a low commission rate or dual-mining support.

The graph below shows how mining rewards have remained stable over time following the v9.3.0 upgrade rolling out to mainnet:

Mining pools with concerns around Zilliqa’s reward mechanism are welcome to provide their node information to the Zilliqa team through the relevant support channel, where we will work to address any issues they are experiencing.

Cosignature-based rewards and GCP migration

In addition to the implementation of desharding, Zilliqa v9.3.0 also saw the Zilliqa team migrate its infrastructure to Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

This migration will improve the efficiency of infrastructure and APIs operated by Zilliqa, and will also lead to reduced downtime for future network upgrades.

Following this migration, we were aware of concerns regarding the allocation of cosignature-based rewards, which are allocated to the first two-thirds of nodes that supply valid signatures during pBFT consensus.

In migrating Zilliqa-operated infrastructure to a new platform in a different region, there was a concern that this would lower the cosignature-based rewards allocated to validators on the network.

These concerns have proven to be unfounded, as the proportion of nodes earning cosignature-based rewards has remained approximately the same as before the migration of Zilliqa-operated infrastructure to GCP.

The graph below shows the validators’ success rate in earning cosignature-based rewards following the v9.3.0 upgrade rolling out to mainnet:

Cosignature rewards have also been reduced and base rewards raised to mitigate the advantage of nodes deployed in regions with lower latencies.

With the v9.3.0 upgrade now successfully deployed on mainnet, the Zilliqa network maintains a healthy level of decentralisation and is continuing to improve its sustainability. 

As we progress to Zilliqa 2.0, expect to see more exciting features and improvements rolled out to the Zilliqa network. 

The technical team continues to work hard on overhauling Zilliqa to become a faster and more flexible protocol with a powerful new sharding architecture set to test the boundaries of blockchain’s capabilities.

Want to stay up to date with the latest news on Zilliqa 2.0? Subscribe to our blog and stay tuned to our socials for future updates.

The Zilliqa technical team has launched a new Rust Software Development Kit (SDK) that allows developers to build decentralised applications (dApps) on the Zilliqa blockchain using the Rust programming language.

Version 0.2.0 of the zilliqa-rs SDK is officially live, offering several features that make it easy for Rust developers to build and interact with Scilla contracts using the native Zilliqa API.

The SDK comprises built-in libraries that allow developers to easily interact with the Zilliqa API from within their Rust application, encompassing everything from transferring ZIL between addresses to interacting with complex contracts.

The new Rust SDK brings more flexibility and accessibility to the developer experience on Zilliqa, expanding the options for building applications and opening up the network to more developers across the world.

It is important to note that this initial release of the Zilliqa Rust SDK is subject to future improvement and we welcome any feedback from the community regarding bugs and other issues with the toolset.

As with many other Rust packages, documentation for the Zilliqa Rust SDK is available on crates.io.

Zilliqa Rust SDK features

Version 0.2.0 of the Zilliqa Rust SDK supports a number of important features, including all JSON-RPC endpoints for the Zilliqa API.

This means Rust developers can build applications that interact with the testnet and devnet in addition to the Zilliqa mainnet, allowing them to test out their applications before deploying or interacting with contracts on the mainnet.

The SDK also streamlines a number of functions related to creating and signing blockchain transactions. The toolkit includes a TransactionBuilder, which significantly simplifies the process of composing transactions for publication on the network.

When it comes to interacting with contracts, the Zilliqa Rust SDK generates corresponding Rust code for Scilla contracts. All contract transitions generate corresponding Rust functions, there are certain functions that allow developers to read the current state of the contract, and the built-in deploy function makes it impossible to accidentally deploy a contract with the incorrect parameters.

All data types in Scilla, including complex types, are converted to Rust in a type-safe manner, meaning incorrect data types can’t be passed into a function where a different type is required. This makes the powerful type-checking features of Rust available to developers when building or interacting with Scilla contracts.

For a breakdown of the features available in the Zilliqa Rust SDK, read the release notes on GitHub.

Using the new Rust SDK for Zilliqa

Before you get started using zilliqa-rs in your Rust application, you will need to create a new binary project and add both zilliqa-rs and tokio as dependencies for your project.

In order to call the Zilliqa API from your application, you must first create an HTTP provider using the URL of the Zilliqa network you wish to interact with. A list of URLs for the Zilliqa mainnet and test networks can be found on the Zilliqa Developer Portal.

Now that you have added zilliqa-rs as a dependency and set up an HTTP provider for the Zilliqa API endpoint, you are able to interact directly with the blockchain using the features included in the Rust SDK.

From within your Rust application, you are now able to complete operations such as reading the balance of a wallet address, creating a new wallet, and sending ZIL from your wallet to another on the Zilliqa network.

More complex contracts are also supported. By defining a path to a contract saved as a Scilla file, the Rust SDK automatically generates corresponding functions for the transitions in the Scilla contract you have pointed to.

This allows you to first deploy a contract on the network before reading its state and calling its transitions to update the state of the contract, all directly from within your Rust application.

Read more on GitHub for a detailed guide on how to use the Zilliqa Rust SDK.