- The Avalanche9000 testnet was launched, reducing costs and enabling permissionless L1s.
- The upgrade will lower validator and C-Chain fees, enhancing accessibility.
- Avalanche also launched a $40 million grant program to stimulate adoption and development of the new Avalanche L1s.
Avalanche, the eighth largest blockchain by total value locked (TVL), has taken a huge leap forward with… Launched “Avalanche9000” upgrade on testnet.
This upgrade, described as the largest in blockchain history, aims to revolutionize application development, reduce transaction costs, and make validations more affordable.
Avalanche9000: Avalanche overhaul
The upgrade went live at 1pm ET on Monday and represents a pivotal step towards the planned mainnet deployment by the end of 2025.
Avalanche9000 is not just a technical improvement but an ecosystem overhaul designed to simplify blockchain development for builders and reduce costs for users.
Central to the upgrade are two conversion proposals: the ACP-77 and the ACP-125.
ACP-77 introduces a new framework for auditors, enabling users to launch their own low-cost, permissionless subnets, now renamed “L1s.” This change expands access, allowing developers ranging from decentralized exchange operators to blockchain creators to spin their own chains.
On the other hand, the ACP-125 lowers the minimum charge on Avalanche's core C-series significantly from 25 nAVAX to 1 nAVAX, equivalent to a 96% reduction. This move aligns Avalanche's transaction costs with leading costs Ethereum Layer 2 solutions such as Arbitrum and Polygon.
Avalanche9000 is also enhancing its cross-chain capabilities with features like Interchain Messaging (ICM), paving the way for interconnected decentralized applications (dApps). There are over 500 new L1 characters in various stages of development, from game series to small business solutions.
This transformative upgrade underscores Avalanche's mission of reducing barriers to blockchain adoption.
Luigi Donorio DiMio, COO of Ava Labs, emphasized its pioneering nature: “Avalanche9000 enables scale and flexibility that were previously impossible. By making validators permissionless and reducing costs, it redefines what can be achieved on our network.”
$40 million grant program
The Avalanche Foundation has combined the Avalanche9000 upgrade with an aggressive $40 million grant program dubbed “Retro9000,” designed to spur adoption and development of the network.
Developers who build on the testnet can sign up for grants, with retroactive rewards available upon mainnet deployment.
A $2 million referral fund within Retro9000 encourages influencers, business developers and key opinion leaders to drive adoption.
With Avalanche9000 on the testnet and scheduled to launch its mainnet in 2025, Avalanche is in a strong position to strengthen its position in the competitive blockchain ecosystem, promising a more accessible and cost-effective future for developers and users alike.