Road to Zilliqa 2.0 - From Aventurine to Mainnet

The journey towards Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet is well underway, marked by the recent launch of the Aventurine proto-mainnet.

The release of Aventurine signals a critical step forward, paving the way for the full mainnet release—Agate—scheduled for the first quarter of 2025. 

While the initial goal was to complete the migration to Zilliqa 2.0 in 2024, the decision to extend the proto-mainnet phase reflects our commitment to making the shift to a new network as seamless as possible for everyone. 

This robust and extensive testing phase is critical for a successful migration to the new network, and it gives development teams the time they need to test their applications and ensure they run smoothly on the new protocol before they are switched over to Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet.

Let’s take a closer look at what preparing for the Agate release and full mainnet migration to Zilliqa 2.0 involves, and what you can do to prepare.

Preparing for Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet

Transitioning to Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet is not just another network upgrade, it is a full migration to a completely new protocol. The new Zilliqa 2.0 network uses a different architecture and Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, and migrating the transaction history from the old Zilliqa network to the new protocol is a major technical feat.To ensure everything runs smoothly, the proto-mainnet phase has been extended to give developers, validators, and delegators the time they need to adapt and prepare for the shift to Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet.

Aventurine offers both proto-testnet and proto-mainnet networks. The proto-testnet imports the transaction history of the current Zilliqa testnet, and the proto-mainnet imports the transaction history and the entire state of the current Zilliqa mainnet. The imported state includes the balances and data stored by all accounts and smart contracts created on the current Zilliqa mainnet, whether they are EVM or Scilla contracts. 

This provides a powerful opportunity for builders to see how their dApps and tokens will run on the Zilliqa 2.0 protocol.

• For Users: The extended phase allows users to get used to the new staking system. It ensures there’s enough time to test the upcoming staking portal, which will allow users to explore the available validators and provide information on commission rates after mainnet launch. Rolling this out to Aventurine first will help users understand how to move staked $ZIL to the validators securing the Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet without issues once migration is complete.
• For Developers: Builders can use Aventurine to test their decentralised applications (dApps) on the new Zilliqa 2.0 network. This includes ironing out any interoperability challenges with Scilla and EVM. Popular dApps imported from the old Zilliqa network will also be available for testing on the new system.
• For Validators: The new Zilliqa 2.0 network uses a Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, where validators earn rewards for securing the network. Ahead of the migration to Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet, it is important that validators have the opportunity to test their node setups and synchronise with the network. They can also explore the reference staking contracts to ensure they are able to quickly deploy their configuration upon migration. This hands-on phase is crucial to ensuring the network is secure and stable before the mainnet goes live.

The Aventurine proto-testnet phase gives everyone a chance to experiment, provide feedback, and make sure the system works as intended, reducing the risks of disruption when the mainnet is launched.

The Road Ahead

Aventurine is the final step before the Agate release brings Zilliqa 2.0 to life. The full mainnet launch will see the current Zilliqa mainnet officially switch to Zilliqa 2.0, and delegators will be required to reallocate their stake to the validators of their choice.

To facilitate this, users on Zilliqa 2.0 mainnet will be able to access a staking portal featuring a list of active validators, through which they can connect their EVM wallet and delegate their stake. This will initially be trialled on the Aventurine proto-mainnet to give users a chance to familiarise themselves with the process.

The extended Aventurine proto-mainnet phase is a chance for everyone—developers, validators, and delegators—to get involved, enhance Zilliqa’s decentralisation, test the system, and offer feedback.

We encourage the community to explore Aventurine’s features and provide feedback on any issues you encounter with the new protocol. Your insights and suggestions will help shape Zilliqa 2.0 into a stronger, more user-friendly network.

Whether you’re a developer, validator, or part of the wider community, now is the time to explore what Zilliqa 2.0 has to offer. Visit the roadmap and developer portal to connect to the proto-mainnet, test its features, and prepare for the upcoming mainnet launch.

Zilliqa 2.0 is a brand-new, cutting edge blockchain that will enable a more scalable, secure, and interoperable future for Web3. Join us in building that future and be part of this exciting journey.