Breaking down the launch of Gemini 3h

As mentioned in our previous post, Gemini 3 is our last testnet before Mainnet Beta. The incentivized phase of our testnet has evolved through several stages, beginning with 3f and gaining traction with 3g, where we ran Stake Wars. Now, as we approach being feature complete, we’re advancing into the latest phase, Gemini 3h, marking a new frontier in our network’s development.

Each version has introduced new functionality, and 3h is no different. This latest version implements a more complete implementation of fraud proofs, which increases security. It also includes numerous DSN fixes and refinements to the staking protocol, enabling greater scale and paving the way for our fees and rewards specification as we finalize our tokenomics. XDM or “Cross Domain Messaging” is still under development. The primary focus here is resolving security concerns, and hence will not be part of the initial release.

In the past, we concurrently operated versions 3f and 3g, presenting farmers with a strategic choice regarding resource allocation in preparation of the shift in incentives from the old to the new network. This approach proved effective, and now, as we approach what might be the final network transition before the Mainnet Beta, our strategy is to intensify these efforts.

The detailed plan will serve as a crucial rehearsal for the mainnet launch, allowing us to test all the moving parts on a smaller scale. With this in mind, we’re excited to introduce the Mini Space Race, the next step in our journey towards a seamless mainnet deployment!

Mini Space Race

Bootstrapping a decentralized, permissionless protocol like Subspace presents unique challenges. More specifically, a Proof of Archival Storage (PoAS) network faces various security risks in its early stages, particularly as it gathers initial space pledged before it has achieved a robust, farmer base for secure consensus.

To address these risks, the plan involves activating network incentives (rewards) only after achieving a sufficient level of space has been pledged and plotted; a “Space Race” to start rewards if you will.

Our Mini Space Race is structured into three distinct phases:

1. Launchpad
2. Liftoff
3. Escape Velocity

Let’s take a look at them in a bit more detail.

Phase 1: Launchpad

• Gemini 3h Chainspec Development: The chainspec for Gemini 3h will be built, but no one will be able to start on the new network just yet.
• Proof of Time Seed Ceremony: This will utilize a specific Bitcoin block height to inject randomness into the Proof-of-Time (PoT) feature. This is a crucial step in safeguarding the protocol from long-range attacks, forcing malicious actors to expend an equivalent amount of time — not just computing power or storage. For an in-depth understanding of PoT, refer to our Subnomicon resource.
• Software Preparation: While everyone can download and prepare the software, they will have to wait for the Bitcoin blockheight to pass and the PoT seed to be determined. After it’s available, farmers can input it into their nodes as a command-line option.
• Post-Ceremony Chainspec Update: Following the seed ceremony, we’ll update the Gemini 3h chainspec, eliminating the need to manually enter the PoT seed.
• Genesis Farmer Launch: The network will start with a sole genesis farmer once we have the PoT seed. This farmer will be run by our team, allowing us to add seed data to the network. The seed data will be the initial blockchain history and those of you familiar will understand the relationship between blockchain history growth and replotting. Our aim here is to hit a balance between acceptable initial sync times and sensible replotting schedules. Keep in mind, replotting is how new data enters the network and is core to the protocol.
• Limited Farming at Outset: Initially, only the genesis farmer will be active, with other farmers able to sync their nodes but not farm. Plotting will be subject to constant replotting as the seed data continuously grows the blockchain history and triggers sector expiry. We don’t know exactly how long the seeding will take, but we do invite altruistic farmers to start plotting as it will help the health of the network when we hit the next phase. Building plots this early will require a lot of replotting but, while painful, is the optimal way to approach the new network from a rewards perspective.
  -Essentially, farmers will have a head start if they join us while we are seeding the data.
• Special Call for Timekeepers: Running timekeepers on 3h, especially those with fast cores, is invaluable. This isn’t incentivized yet, but it’s essential for the network’s health. We’re especially looking for those who can start a timekeeper alongside the network genesis. If you need assistance with this, please don’t hesitate to contact us on Discord. Your contribution is highly valued, and we’ll be deeply appreciative of your support.
• Optional Participation in Phase 1: Farmers should note that Phase 1 participation is voluntary and will require resource commitment without immediate incentives.

Phase 2: Liftoff

This phase marks the beginning of our mini Space Race. We will announce a target amount of storage to be pledged to the network, signifying the race’s end. Remember, this is is a dress rehearsal for our current mainnet launch plans. We’ve included some additional information below.

• Adjustment of Incentivized Testnet Rewards During Phase 2: To mimic the initial stages of the mainnet, we will pause the 0.1% per week reward accrual during Phase 2.
  - From the start of Phase 2, the incentivized testnet’s reward pot will not increase until we achieve our targeted space pledge. Thus starting the Space Race to reactivate incentivized testnet rewards.
  - The goal is to set a target that can be realistically attained within 5–7 days, though the actual duration of this pause is dependent on the proactive efforts of our farmer community.
  - We’ll employ a similar bootstrap approach for mainnet to quickly secure consensus. This dynamic is designed to create a sense of urgency, mirroring the environment we aim to foster during the Mainnet Beta launch.
• Community Event to Start Phase 2: To begin this phase, there will be event planned where we will:
  - Stop rewards on Gemini 3g at a particular block.
  - Set an initial solution range.
  - Enable block authoring by any farmer.
  - Celebrate the journey we have been on so far with a number of initiatives we are planning in the lead up to and during Phase 2.

At this point, it will make sense for any farmer who has not already done so to start plotting as fast as their rigs will allow them to. Remember that having the first sectors plotted on a new network is a great opportunity to build up your amount of incentivized block and vote rewards. And, as we know, they will be converted into mainnet rewards a little further down the road.

We will all be watching the space pledged growing anxiously as it gets us closer and closer to…

Phase 3: Escape Velocity

Those who experienced Ethereum’s transition from Proof of Work (PoW) to Proof of Stake (PoS) will recognize similarities in this phase.

• The exact time to reach escape velocity is uncertain, as it depends on the community’s efforts in pledging the target space. This could occur at any moment, day or night.
  - The team will keep the community informed regularly on the progress towards our goal and as we approach the final few TiBs and GiBs there will be another, async community event in Discord where we hope as many of our wonderful members as possible will join us for the final countdown.
• Activation of Rewards Upon Target Completion: When the required space pledged is reached, as determined by the solution range, rewards will be activated. Farmers will see TSSC accruing in their accounts, and the specific block will be marked as the point at which we start counting incentivized testnet block and vote rewards again. It will also trigger the continuation of the reward pot accrual of 0.1% of token supply per week. This will conclude the Space Race!
• Phase 3: This will be ongoing as we digest how the Space Race went, test the new features of Gemini 3h and finalize our plans for launching Mainnet Beta where things will get really exciting!

To Conclude

We maintain our commitment to transparency, acknowledging that our schedule will always depend on the network’s behavior.

While we haven’t encountered significant issues so far, we echo our initial stance: Challenges, breaks, and unforeseen issues are expected during this testnet phase. We encourage you to assess us based on how transparently and fairly we respond to these events, rather than the occurrence of the incidents themselves.

As we near the completion of our Mainnet Beta feature implementation, our goal is for Gemini 3h to be the final network reset. However, we can’t guarantee this with absolute certainty. The smooth journey so far, without major missteps or unscheduled resets, is a testament to the skill of our core contributing engineers, and we are hopeful this trend will continue.

We also hope that everyone will join us on this exciting, never-been-tried-before network transition. Onwards Subspacers! To the next frontier!