The Session Token Testnet is in full swing, with over 120 nodes actively running and operators having several critical upgrades under their belt already. This post will highlight the latest milestones, feature releases, and network advancements that are propelling the testnet closer to mainnet.

Network Relaunch

The first weeks of Testnet saw critical challenges on the network, particularly related to node registration and synchronisation. These issues resulted in node registrations being paused for approximately a week to investigate and develop fixes. These fixes were released as part of a wide-ranging upgrade that relaunched the network and the test SENT smart contract.

Node Synchronisation Issues Resolved

Persistent problems causing nodes to fall out of sync with the network were addressed by implementing a new confirmation mechanism. These issues were caused by nodes disagreeing on the latest state, which led them to ban each other and become isolated from the network. This happened when nodes that were slightly behind missed out on observing transactions submitted at the tip of the blockchain, creating an unfair advantage for nodes that saw those transactions first. The new confirmation process solved this by giving nodes more time to confirm events in a block, allowing for synchronisation even if some nodes were temporarily behind. This adjustment has improved overall network stability and reduced the frequency of desynchronisation, in turn enhancing reliability for operators.

Security Enhancements to the Confirmation Process

The new confirmation mechanism also strengthens the security of the network. This change extends confirmation times, but it provides additional protection, making the network more resilient against potential security threats. The updated mechanism means that high-impact network operations, such as nodes joining and leaving the network, undergo a multi-block confirmation process to validate the change will execute smoothly, introducing a delay of around 10-20 minutes for these actions. The Staking Portal UI is set to be updated soon to provide users with clearer information about these new confirmation steps to increase visibility about the progress of their actions. In the meantime, a new progress UI for all Staking Portal actions has been added to provide more clarity. Users will also no longer get stuck at the registration stage while waiting for confirmation of joining the network.

Genesis Reward Provision Testing

The network relaunch also included the mainnet genesis reward provision system, which initially increased reward rates for node operators. This mechanism ensures that the network cannot arbitrarily change rewards without proper governance and limits, protecting the integrity of the tokenomics. The testing of the genesis reward provision system in the Testnet environment simulates the eventual mainnet conditions, helping to confirm that rewards will be accurately distributed based on staking contributions. In a subsequent upgrade, the full stake amount was increased to be closer to the probable mainnet full stake amount, although this is yet to be determined.

New Features

New features have also been added to the Staking Portal, designed to enhance the staking experience and facilitate easier node management. These updates provide more control over staking activities, offer flexibility in managing assets, and lay the groundwork for future developments.

Claim Rewards

The Claim Rewards feature has been newly introduced as part of the latest Testnet upgrade, allowing operators to claim their earned rewards through the Staking Portal. With the introduction of Claim Rewards, operators can now retrieve their rewards in a streamlined manner. Once a node joins the network, they begin earning rewards instantly. Rewards can be claimed anytime via the Staking Portal.

Exit Stake

The Exit Stake feature introduces significant flexibility for operators who wish to withdraw their staked tokens. The feature allows operators to send a request for their node to exit the network. After 15 days, the node will be able to exit the network and the stake can be reclaimed. Operators can use this feature to exit their stake to adjust their holdings, move tokens, or re-stake on different nodes as needed.

Next up: Multicontributor Nodes

The multicontributor nodes feature is one of the most eagerly awaited developments for the network. Currently in development, this feature will enable multiple contributors to work together to fully stake a single node, offering new opportunities for collaborative staking. On mainnet, this will ensure that smaller contributors who may not have the resources to manage a node independently can still help to secure the Session Network and earn rewards in return. Operators of multicontributor nodes can set an operator fee to help cover operating costs. The operator fee is the percentage of rewards the operator receives before the remaining rewards are distributed to all contributors, including the operator, based on their stake amount. Operator fees will also be enabled on Session Testnet, allowing multicontributor node operators to benefit from additional test Session Tokens. More information regarding the timing of the multicontributor node feature release will be shared in Discord.

The Testnet Node Operator Community

The recent upgrades and new features introduced to the Staking Portal were made possible through the tireless efforts and collaboration of the testnet node operator community. UX feedback, bug reports, and logs shared by operators have been invaluable in identifying and resolving key issues, enabling faster and more effective deployment of solutions. This collaboration will be key as the network continues to progress towards a successful mainnet launch.

Onward.