Polkadot 2.0, the latest upgrade to the Polkadot network, will launch in Q1 2025. An early testnet version of the blockchain is already available on the Kusama network.
The launch period was confirmed earlier today by Parity Technologies, the developers behind Polkadot.
Polkadot 2.0 Will Introduce Much-Needed Scalability to the Blockchain
Polkadot 2.0 represents a significant upgrade of the Polkadot network, introducing technical advancements to enhance scalability, flexibility, and accessibility for developers.
According to Parity Technologies, the upgrade will have three key features – Async Backing, Agile Coretime, and Elastic Scaling.
The first two features have been successfully implemented in the network. The team is currently working on Elastic Scaling ahead of its Q1 2025 launch.
“Last part of Polkadot 2.0 is Elastic Scaling. Projects will be able to add multiple Cores for one task, shorten block production time or add on-demand Cores if they have throughput problems,” Polkadot executive Emil Kietzman wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
These features will reduce the block time from 12 seconds to 6 seconds, increasing transaction throughput. DApps and other projects on Polkadot 2.0 will be able to access network resources on-demand, moving away from the traditional parachain slot auction model.
Most importantly, Elastic Scaling will allow the network to scale dynamically as needed. These enhancements on Polkadot 2.0 could potentially lower developers’ entry barriers.
DOT has seen a significant rally in November, surging over 100%. The network’s high staking returns have attracted new users in 2024. According to an earlier CoinGecko report, Polkadot is among the top three blockchains that provide the highest staking yields.
Polkadot Market Performance Throughout November. Source: BeInCrypto
Furthermore, the network’s interoperability has received wider praise from developer communities. Another report earlier this year named Polkadot as one of the leading blockchains in development and community engagement. Despite these recognitions, the network has suffered extensively in the past few years due to the lack of scalability. As a result, the number of core developers on the network has gradually decreased.
Polkadot 2.0 can potentially change this and introduce much-needed scalability and accessibility to the blockchain. A successful launch can bring more DApps to the ecosystem and drive DOT’s market prospects.
