TGE Test-Run: Ready, Set, Simulate 🏃

With the Session Token TGE window of February 5 – March 20 days away, preparations are in full swing to ensure a seamless and successful launch. To ensure everything runs smoothly, a full-scale internal TGE test run will take place on February 5. This simulation will replicate the entire TGE process in a controlled environment, stress-testing all relevant systems to identify and resolve potential issues before launch. Smart contract functionality, user experience features, transaction flow—every component will be put to the test to ensure that the TGE is a success.

The official TGE date within the launch window will be determined based on the outcome of this test. This approach prioritizes security, efficiency, and user experience—ensuring that when Session Token goes live, it does so without a hitch. More updates will be shared as the testing phase progresses.

Staking UX Gets a Fresh New Flow 🌀

With the recent rollout of the new and improved registration flow and a vastly more robust backend, the Staking Portal has been running more smoothly than ever, marking significant progress for Session Token’s staking UX ahead of launch. This progress wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of the testnet node operators who have supported the project’s journey to mainnet by stress testing new features, reporting bugs, and expanding the testnet through the referral program. Your contributions have been instrumental in tweaking and refining the infrastructure ahead of the full launch 🤝

The final major feature release for the Staking Portal is now on the horizon: the ability to reserve stakes on multicontributor nodes for specific wallet addresses. This feature will provide greater flexibility and coordination for stakers, ensuring that contributions to shared nodes can be allocated as intended. With this final piece in place, the Staking Portal will be fully equipped to support the staking experience as the Session Token launch nears. LFG 🚀

Join The SESH! 📢

January saw a super exciting announcement released: SESH will be the official ticker for Session Token. While SENT was used during the testnet phase, its drawbacks became clear over time. SENT lacked a strong connection to the Session brand, posed SEO challenges, and had multiple meanings that could cause confusion for a global audience. The switch to SESH aligns with the project’s identity, making it more intuitive, recognisable, and accessible.

A well-chosen ticker does more than just label a token—it helps build recognition and foster community engagement. The most effective tickers are memorable, distinct, and free from ambiguity. SESH is a natural abbreviation of Session, reinforcing the link between the token and the app it powers. Unlike SENT, which could be interpreted as the action of sending, or a unit of fiat currency, SESH is unique and unmistakable. The community has also strongly supported the choice, reflecting its organic appeal and resonance.

To ensure a seamless transition, the testnet token was renamed from test SENT to test SESH during the contract redeployment that accompanied the most recent node upgrade. References to SENT were updated across the Staking Portal and testnet documentation, and test SESH tokens were distributed to testnet participants.

If you haven’t participated in the testnet yet, there’s still time to join the SESH. Check the referral-request channel in Discord, and stay tuned for giveaways of referral links on Session Token’s X account.

Here’s My Account ID, So Call Me (Maybe) 🤙

January also saw three more point releases for iOS, delivering improvements to Session’s voice and video calling—which remains in beta—as well as fixes for crashes and overall stability. These updates refine call reliability, permissions handling, and app performance, ensuring a smoother experience for users.

Version 2.8.5 addressed a key issue where incoming calls would always fail due to CallKit (an Apple framework that allows VoIP) implementation issues; fixing this has made calls far more reliable. It also included accessibility improvements for broken media and an automated update to translations.

Version 2.8.6 focused on stability, fixing a number of crashes. Several issues related to database handling and asynchronous execution were resolved, improving overall app performance and preventing unexpected shutdowns—especially on the home screen. Another round of translation updates was also included.

Version 2.8.7 further strengthened call stability, refining microphone permissions, improving push notification handling for calls, and adding a retry mechanism for call messages to prevent failures. A fix was also introduced to stop finished calls from reappearing after reopening the app.

With calls still in beta, these updates mark a steady progression toward a more reliable, private calling experience on Session. More refinements are on the way, bringing Session one step closer to fully stable decentralised voice and video calls.

Groups v2: Coming To A Session Client Near You 🤝‍

Groups v2 launching in T-Minus 3 … 2 … 1 🚀Session’s next major release will be available very soon—most likely before you read the next Session Lab Update. This major overhaul will deliver a faster, more dependable group chat experience. By introducing huge behind-the-scenes upgrades that improve group chat performance, ensuring greater stability and efficiency.

Importantly: the upgrade will necessitate re-creating your Groups once you update your Session client. Eventually, old Groups will become read-only. Make sure that if you administrate or participate in a group chat on Session that you and your pals are all ready for the update so that you can easily switch over to Groups v2 once the update drops.There will be a bunch of information published in February that will tell you everything you need to know—for now, if you want to learn more, check out this blog.

Session En Español 🇪🇸

Session is gaining traction in the media, with recent features in Computer Hoy, Spain’s best-selling technology magazine, and the Early Bird Podcast, which explores the latest in crypto, finance, and Web3. These appearances mark an important step in expanding awareness of Session and its mission to bring private, decentralized messaging to a broader audience. The Computer Hoy feature introduces Session to a Spanish-speaking tech community, while the Early Bird Podcast dives into how Session leverages Web3 to enhance security and censorship resistance.

This is just the beginning—more podcast appearances are lined up for February, with Session set to be featured on several shows covering privacy, blockchain, and decentralised technology. These media engagements are key to reaching new users, educating people on the importance of secure communication, and reinforcing Session’s position at the forefront of Web3 messaging. Expect to see more discussions about Session across major platforms in the coming weeks.