Ecosystem Update | August 2023

Welcome to the August 2023 edition of the Subspace Network Ecosystem Update

TL;DR

• The Subspace Network August community call was a success with several key updates: check out the recording on YouTube.
• Domains coming soon! In the Subspace Network, domains function as sovereign chains, often referred to as rollups.
• Introducing 3 ways to participate in the Subspace Network: run a Farmer node, run an Operator node, or participate as a Nominator.
• Stake Wars, an initiative designed to test domain execution and staking protocols, is scheduled to launch during the Gemini III incentivized testnet phase.
• Space Race, an initiative designed to encourage farmers to pledge as much disk space as they can, will strengthen our consensus in the lead-up to the Mainnet Beta launch.
• Simple CLI has been renamed to ‘Pulsar’ to streamline technical support and provide clarity.
• The Incentivized Testnet phase will commence upon confirming the stability of Gemini 3f.
• Gemini 3f non-incentivized testnet is live. Join now!

Estimated read time: 6 minutes, 39 seconds

Subspace Network Domains

Domains can be conceptualized as application-specific blockchains that are securely anchored to and validated by the core network.

In the Subspace Network, a “domain” represents an execution environment layer on top of our Decentralized Storage Network (DSN). Domains function as sovereign chains, embodying our commitment to scalability through a modular approach. While farmers provide consensus on transaction sequencing, operators handle their execution.

Deploying a domain is simple, and our architecture supports unlimited domain creation. We will be deploying a shared Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible domain, called “Nova”, designed for those interested in running their Solidity contracts without having to deploy their own domain. It will be possible to create a personalized runtime, allowing domain behavior customization. Soon, anyone will be able to deploy a domain with just a transaction.

Detailed documentation on these functionalities coming soon!

3 Ways to Participate in the Subspace Network

There will be three key roles powering the Subspace Network.

Farmer Node

Farmers pledge space to the network, which is used to build plots.

Plots are used for two things:
1. Plots are used to store things
2. Plots are used to solve puzzles based on the data stored. This is how a farmer proves they are actually storing data. The data-based puzzle-solving is at the core of how we are an eco-friendly PoAS network.

While farmers on the Subspace Network power the PoAS consensus, they do not execute.

Operator Node

Operator nodes are responsible for executing transactions and do not have to run a farm.

They will do this by staking a number of slashable Subspace credits to provide crypto-economic security to execution. Higher their stake, the greater the chance they’ll be picked to execute a transaction, and therefore earn a tx fee.

Nominator

Nominators are Subspace credit holders who choose to stake with a specific operator.

The combined stake of an operator includes their own contribution and that of their nominators. As this collective stake grows, the operator processes more transactions and earns higher fees, of which a share is then distributed to their nominators.

More details coming soon!

Stake Wars

Stake Wars is an initiative designed to battle-test the intricacies of execution and staking on domains.

Stake Wars is a fun staking-based game designed to test domain execution and staking protocols. There will be multiple phases, beginning with a focused bootstrapping stage, collaborating with select expert teams for setup and early bug identification. Once we achieve desired stability, we’ll expand access, enabling anyone meeting the minimum stake requirement to serve as an operator. Additional fun will be unlocked when we activate nomination. Anyone will be able to earn additional rewards on the Subspace credits they farmed by staking with their choice of operators.

While our plans are still evolving, it is certain that there will be a dedicated reward pool for Stake Wars.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Space Race

Space Race is a collaborative initiative scheduled to launch ahead of Mainnet Beta.

As we approach the culmination of our incentivized testnet, we’re thrilled to introduce Space Race!

Space Race is an initiative that will encourage our farmers to pledge as much disk space as they can, contributing to strengthening our consensus in the lead-up to the mainnet launch. It will be a collective effort that will drive us to our final stage.

Details coming soon!

Simple CLI renamed to ‘Pulsar’

This change aims to streamline technical support and provide clarity.

We’ve renamed “Simple-CLI” to “Pulsar”. A pulsar is a highly magnetized, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. NASA compares a pulsar to a lighthouse. At night, a lighthouse emits a beam of light that sweeps across the sky. Even though the light is constantly shining, you only see the beam when it is pointing directly in your direction.

This revision addresses naming ambiguities and better encapsulates our product’s core identity while staying in harmony with the Subspace Network’s commitment to continually enhance the product with new features.

Incentivized Testnet Update

Gemini III marks the final testnet stage before advancing to Mainnet Beta.

We are excited to share that Gemini III Incentivized Testnet will run for an extended period, offering farmers the opportunity to earn greater rewards than in previous incentivized testnet phases.

Our commitment to building a robust network means we will be performing rigorous testing and debugging, which will involve several resets. Full transparency, even after transitioning into the incentivized phase, Gemini III will continue to evolve with new iterations as we integrate essential features for the mainnet. This means there will be multiple network resets.

The Rationale
Although the multiple network resets may present challenges, our goal is to transition to the incentivized phase as soon as possible in response to community feedback. We want to show our appreciation for the continuous support we’ve received by giving our community what they asked for.

The hard resets, however, will present a strategic opportunity for proactive farmers to claim a significant portion of the block rewards in the early stages. Please keep an eye on our announcements for network resets and take advantage of the opportunities.

One of our primary objectives during the incentivized phase is to establish an active network of committed farmers in preparation for mainnet to assist us in testing the network in conditions that mirror the mainnet environment.

What you can expect:

• Extended Testing Period: More time to understand, engage, and optimize your farming strategies.
• Capitalization Opportunities: Leverage the resets to refine your methods and maximize rewards. Joining a new network early is an opportunity to get a larger proportion of the block rewards.
• Collaborative Community Effort: Your input is vital in our collective effort to build a groundbreaking decentralized network.

While Gemini 3f will initially launch as a non-incentivized testnet, we want to stress the importance of everyone’s contribution. Your active participation, feedback, and support will help us ensure a seamless approach to the mainnet.

Stay tuned for more details on timelines, participation guidelines, and reward mechanism.

Gemini 3f is Live — Join Now!

Gemini 3f non-incentivized testnet is now live.

We’re happy to share that Gemini 3f, the latest iteration of Gemini III is now live. While Gemini 3f will initially commence as a non-incentivized testnet, we anticipate initiating the incentivized testnet phase once we have confirmed its stability.

As we continue to enhance our codebase, it’s possible for users to encounter some technical issues, such as bugs or slow sync times. Additionally, periodic network resets are to be anticipated as part of our ongoing efforts.

Gemini 3f contains key upgrades and improvements based on our community’s feedback, including, but not limited to:

• DSN syncing implemented and enabled by default. This means nodes can be pruned as they can sync history from the DSN rather than each other.
• Farmer plot resizing.
• Domains, including an EVM domain runtime.
• Performance improvements.
• Sector expiry and replotting.
• Farming command structure changes on the advanced CLI.
• A number of bug fixes.

To get started, please visit the Subspace Network documentation page.

Recommended Minimum Hardware Setup:

• CPU: 4 Core+
• RAM: 8 GB+
• SWAP: 4 GB
• Storage: 100 GB+ SSD

*There are breaking changes. If you are switching over from Gemini 3e, please execute the ‘wipe’ command before initiating Gemini 3f.

Gemini 3f Resources
Subspace Network Telemetry
PolkadotJS Explorer

We’re Hiring!

If you’re passionate about blockchain, crypto, or Web3 and have a strong background in software engineering and computer science, please check out the open roles on our career page.

Thank you for the continued support and we look forward to seeing you in our community!