The Sonic blockchain is an up and coming layer one (L1) Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible network designed for high-speed transaction processing. Known for its rapid transaction finality, the blockchain achieved a finality speed of 720 milliseconds during earlier testing phases. Sonic Labs aims to revolutionize blockchain scalability and usability by offering sub-second finality and high throughput, addressing key limitations in the blockchain space.

“In preparation for the Sonic mainnet, we’re excited to release our upgraded, default testnet 2.0. Introducing Blaze, the new Sonic testnet with incredible performance enhancements,” Sonic Labs announced on Nov. 30 via X. As of 221,000 blocks processed, the average block time on Blaze is 1.17 seconds, with a finality time of 0.85 seconds. By 2:25 p.m. EST on Nov. 30, the network had processed approximately 174,000 transfers, showcasing its capabilities.

The Blaze testnet serves as a critical step in Sonic’s development, demonstrating the blockchain’s capacity to handle extensive transactions with unmatched efficiency. The team’s commitment to improving developer incentives and infrastructure includes features like SonicVM for execution and SonicDB for low-latency transactions. These features are designed to attract decentralized application (dapp) developers and strengthen the network’s ecosystem.

Founded in 2019, Sonic Labs evolved from Fantom, a project addressing scalability challenges in blockchain technology. Andre Cronje, a prominent blockchain innovator and the Chief Technology Officer of Sonic Labs, plays a key role in the project’s development. Sonic will also introduce a native token, “S,” which is integral for transaction fees, staking, and governance, with a one-to-one conversion from Fantom’s FTM tokens upon launch.

As the team transitions to the Sonic mainnet, the blockchain’s ability to maintain its technical achievements under real-world conditions will be closely monitored by the crypto community.