New Testnet features: Claim Rewards and Exit Stake 🌐

The new Session Network is rapidly advancing. This past month saw the successful release of two highly anticipated features on testnet: Exit Stake and Claim Rewards.

The Claim Rewards feature has now made it possible for testnet node operators to access their test SENT rewards directly through the Staking Portal, streamlining the process and providing an efficient way to manage earned rewards. In addition, the Exit Stake feature has been introduced, giving operators the flexibility to withdraw their staked tokens. This allows users to send a request to exit their stake, and after a 15-day period, their node will be able to leave the network, enabling them to reclaim their stake. These releases have provided operators with greater control over their staking journey, ensuring they can adjust their holdings or move tokens as needed.

A Staking Portal glow-up 🌟

In addition to new features, the staking user experience is continually being enhanced based on insights and feedback from testnet node operators. This week, an overhaul of the Staking Portal will be released, deploying several improvements and new features such as real-time timers, detailed stake histories, and clearer contract error messages, all aimed at making staking more user-friendly and accessible. Stay tuned for a more detailed blog post on this this week!

Looking ahead, the development of multi-contributor nodes is a particularly exciting step, as it will allow multiple contributors to collaborate in staking a single node, broadening participation and enabling smaller contributors to engage with the network.

Text strings overhaul shipped 🚢

Following weeks of review by professional translators, bilingual team members, and community contributors the massive overhaul to Session’s text strings has officially been shipped! Every piece of in-app text has now been standardised across iOS, Desktop and Android in order to streamline development, simplify localisation, and create a better, more consistent cross-platform user experience.

This update has been fully rolled out on Desktop, with an ongoing staged roll-out for iOS and Android. If you spot some new in-app text in your local language that seems a bit off, you can review and re-translate them on Session’s Crowdin page. Approved contributions will then be integrated into the app as part of subsequent releases.

You can find a guide for reviewing translations here.

Shedding light on the network 💡

Historically, Session has been careful about how and when it communicates about the token that powers it. However, part of the underlying strategy behind the migration from Oxen to Session Token is to make Session’s infrastructure more accessible to its users, and there is an exciting new feature in store that will go a long way in achieving that.

Once the Session Network is launched, a new page in the Settings menu will introduce the Session Network to everyday users in a way that is simple and approachable. Anyone who uses Session will be able to see how many nodes are part of their swarm and access resources to learn more about contributing to the network through staking—it’s a powerful new way to explore the decentralised network that lies at the heart of Session.

Groups v2 on the horizon 👪

Significant progress has been made on the groups rebuild across all platforms. These changes will lay the groundwork for major performance improvements and enable the introduction of new features for groups, ensuring a smoother and more reliable experience, especially for larger chats. Groups v2, expected to be released at the beginning of 2025, will be a foundational change that not only improves current stability but also unlocks the potential for exciting new features in future releases, offering a more dynamic and intuitive group chat experience. More details will be shared in an upcoming blog post, with a deeper dive into what's in store.

Testing, 1, 2, 3 🔨

The Lokinet rewrite is an ongoing effort focused on improving efficiency, privacy, and stability by rebuilding its foundational components. A testnet has been running on the rewritten Lokinet, showing promising results. Service node operators can expect dramatically increased efficiency in operating logic. As work continues, the updated Lokinet aims to deliver a more robust and enhanced user experience. Lokinet contributors have put together a blog sharing insights into the process.

Extra, extra, read all about it 📰

As centralised messaging apps come under fire, interest in private, secure and decentralised messaging alternatives is growing faster than ever. Session and Session Token were mentioned in major publications this month like ZDNet, Decrypt, GNcrypto and Moonlock, and recommended in smaller blogs and publications like ThingLabs, Linker, Techround and EddieOz. Session and Session Token’s followers and engagement are continuing to grow on X, with Session reaching the milestone of 90,000 followers, reflecting a growing awareness of the benefits of decentralisation when it comes to ensuring truly private messaging.

On the conference circuit 🌎

Session contributors have also been actively engaging with the wider community at major conferences in both the crypto and privacy spaces, including Token2049, Mainnet Messari, and Global Gathering 2024. The overwhelmingly positive response from industry leaders at these events underscores the growing recognition of Session's mission to redefine secure, decentralised communication.