As the final stages of preparation for Session’s TGE are underway, an important update regarding the launch timeline is being shared today.

The technical progress towards mainnet has been exceptional, with nearly every component now ready to support a mainnet launch and a third and final audit now complete. Much of this progress was made possible by the testnet node operator community, who have engaged in extensive testing of the new Session Network and its features over the past few months.

However, bringing the new Session Network to mainnet involves more than smart contracts alone. As many community members have already anticipated, it is now clear that the Session Token TGE will not occur before the end of 2024. Instead, current assessments of internal factors, both technical and non-technical, along with external factors, indicate that a launch in early 2025 would better support ecosystem sustainability and migration readiness. The targeted timeframe is between February 5, 2025, and March 20, 2025, with every effort focused on launching closer to the earlier end of this range.

Stakeholders, particularly Oxen service node operators and contributors, have voiced a preference both for an earlier TGE date and clarity on a fixed timeline. This sentiment is entirely reasonable, considering their long-term commitment to Session and ongoing participation in the Oxen Service Node Bonus Program. In addition, the past timeline adjustments, from Q2 2024 to 2024, and now to February-March 2025, have understandably left Oxen stakeholders feeling uncertain and frustrated.

While the goal has always been to provide clear timelines to stakeholders, the evolving requirements of the network migration now mean that flexibility is necessary to ensure both stability and sustainability for the Session ecosystem both at and after TGE. As a result, setting an earlier TGE date or a fixed date (beyond the given timeframe) is not feasible at this time. This post outlines why this is the case. The reasons for the timeline adjustment to February-March 2025, the importance of maintaining a degree of timeline flexibility rather than locking in a fixed date in advance, and how this approach serves the long-term interests of the Session ecosystem, are explained below.

Which factors have made a launch in February-March 2025, rather than 2024, necessary?

Session Token’s TGE marks the migration from the old Oxen network to the new Session Network, a shift that is of crucial importance to Session messenger and its large and growing user base. Session is an essential channel of communication for over 1 million users, and for some people, it may be the only one they can safely use. Service disruptions during the migration must therefore be kept to an absolute minimum. To this end, the following areas of technical work are currently a high priority.

Improved Stability for the Network and Staking Portal

As testnet node operators can attest to, the testnet has not yet achieved full stability. Further time to battle-test multicontributor nodes and associated features like reserved slots for staking contributors, as well as to continually optimise the Staking Portal frontend and user experience will ensure that operators and contributors can stake with ease in all different configurations, from a range of different devices. This will ensure that the Network and Staking Portal are highly resilient and robust once on mainnet, providing a seamless experience not just for network operators and contributors, but for the end users of Session that rely on them. 

Comprehensive Migration Preparation and Testing

The additional time will be invaluable in ensuring a seamless migration from Oxen to the new Session Network. This period allows for more comprehensive preparations, including simulating the actual transition process for operators moving from Service Nodes on the Oxen network to Session Nodes on Arbitrum. By conducting rigorous test migrations, potentially with real nodes in the testnet, Session’s contributors can anticipate and resolve any issues before mainnet migration. This proactive approach strengthens the network’s readiness and helps guarantee a smooth, uninterrupted transition when the mainnet launch arrives, reducing the likelihood of downtime and other issues for end users of Session.

Why can’t TGE happen before the migration from Oxen to the new Session Network?

TGE cannot take place before the migration from Oxen to the new Session Network because it is directly tied to the Oxen Service Node Bonus Program, which encourages Oxen Service Node operators to remain staked through TGE and participate in the transition to the new network. The points accumulated in this program must be finalised at the same time the token is issued to ensure Service Node operators receive the correct amount of Session Tokens.

As part of the migration, a bridge will also be established to allow Oxen holders to swap their Oxen coins for Session Tokens at TGE. If TGE were to occur before the migration and the creation of this bridge, Oxen holders would have no way to obtain Session Tokens from their existing holdings, blocking access to the new tokens.

Why can’t you give a more specific date for TGE beyond the February 5-March 20 timeframe?

As is the case for many projects in the cryptocurrency space, setting a fixed date well in advance of a TGE is challenging due to factors both technical and non-technical in nature.

Creating Buffer to Address Unforeseen Technical Challenges

Given the complexity of migrating Session to a new network, the potential for unforeseen technical challenges—‘unknown unknowns’—make it important to maintain flexibility around launch timing. The testnet phase has already highlighted areas for significant further refinement, with unanticipated issues facing network synchronisation, backend robustness and operator and staker user experience. Such challenges, if unresolved, could impact the stability and usability of the network for both operators and stakers, and by extension, end users of Session at and beyond TGE. Retaining flexibility around the TGE timeline ensures that these issues can continue to be thoroughly investigated and addressed as they arise, as they have been so far through the collaboration between testnet operators and Session’s development contributors. 

Enabling Flexibility for Launch Partnerships

Moreover, a successful launch requires strong, aligned partnerships that will support the ecosystem's growth post-launch. Securing alliances and integrations with complementary projects—such as liquid staking providers and other industry partners—can expand Session’s reach and improve network capabilities. Maintaining a degree of timeline flexibility is essential to finalising such strategic partnerships.

What are the benefits to launching in February-March 2025?

Awareness Raising and Web3 Growth

Building awareness is central to growing Session’s crypto-native user base and setting the stage for a sustainable ecosystem post-TGE. While Session and Session Token’s profile has been boosted significantly in recent months both on social media and through extensive press coverage of the recent launch of the Swiss Session Technology Foundation, a February-March 2025 TGE will allow for further awareness raising around Session and Session Token.

Heightened visibility among crypto users, achieved through initiatives including engagement with industry thought leaders, incentivised social media growth, and awareness raising in collaboration with partner projects, will further establish Session as a leader in decentralised communication and ensure ecosystem sustainability post-launch.

Organic Growth through the Testnet Referral Program

The Session Network’s strength relies on the continued participation and enthusiasm of its operator community. In particular, the recently-launched testnet referral program will play a crucial role in further network growth to establish a large, geographically diverse and resilient network of operators and contributors on mainnet.

Uptrends in Web3 Interest for 2025

Interest and engagement with crypto itself is expected to increase in the coming months in light of recent cultural and political shifts affecting consumer attitudes towards web3. By executing a smooth, well-prepared launch in February-March 2025, the Session ecosystem will be better placed to benefit from this trend.

What does a February-March 2025 TGE mean for stakers in the Oxen Service Node Bonus Program?

Adjustment to Oxen Service Node Bonus Program

To ensure that early participants in the Oxen Service Node Bonus program retain their advantage, daily points will be adjusted from 800 points per day to 700 points per day per active node. This adjustment supports the planned February-March 2025 TGE timeline, helping to sustain the benefits for those who joined the program early.

Testnet Participation

With TGE approaching, this is also an optimal time to start running or staking to testnet nodes, and Oxen stakers are highly encouraged to start participating in the Session Testnet Incentive Program if they have not already.

As a reminder, all operators who are registered for the Oxen Service Node Bonus Program are automatically eligible to participate in the private Session Testnet, where points can be earned for running and staking to testnet nodes, with participants rewarded with Session Tokens at TGE. The bulk of mainnet features are now available on testnet, including multicontributor nodes, and a number of additional participant incentives are available, including a points bonus for running multicontributor nodes, and bonus test SENT tokens for successful referrals as part of the recently launched referral program. In addition to benefiting from the incentive program through rewards at TGE, Oxen stakers will also become confident users of the new system on the Session Network and understand its differences to Oxen. A key change here is learning how to set up and effectively use Arbitrum RPC providers, which will also be a requirement for an upcoming mandatory service node upgrade ahead of the hardforks that will usher in mainnet. Oxen stakers will also be able to provide UX feedback to help optimise the new web-based Staking Portal and ensure that the staking experience is intuitive and convenient based on their needs.

In short, participating in testnet is the best way for Oxen stakers to prepare for the upcoming TGE and mainnet, and help ensure stability for the Session Network during the transition and the over 1 million people that rely on it. Here are key resources to help you to get started:
Learn more about the Testnet Incentive Program here
Test SENT Faucet
Session Testnet Node documentation
Access testnet support in the Session Token Discord

I have questions and/or feedback on this announcement. Where do I share these? 

Whether you’re an Oxen staker, testnet participant or Session user, your constructive input on this announcement is welcomed. Please feel free to share your thoughts, questions, concerns and suggestions via the Session Token Discord. You can use a public channel, or you can open a ticket to raise any questions or concerns privately.

How can I stay informed in the lead up to TGE?

The Session ecosystem is becoming stronger with each step forward, and regular updates will continue to be shared on this blog and in the Session Token Discord to keep the community informed as TGE approaches. For more information about the technical milestones leading up to mainnet, please refer to the Session Token Launch Plan.

Thank you for your continued support as this journey progresses.

Onward.