TL;DR
- Somnia launched Shannon Testnet to assess the scalability and stability of its blockchain technology before mainnet deployment.
- The network surpassed 1 million transactions per second in previous tests and now optimizes its congestion resistance.
- Its infrastructure enables the development of on-chain games, financial applications, and social networks without scalability limitations.
Somnia has launched Shannon Testnet, a testing network designed to evaluate the performance and scalability of its blockchain technology before its deployment on the mainnet. Inspired by the advancements of its DevNet phase, this environment aims to enhance decentralization, stability, and platform efficiency.
During previous tests, the network achieved over one million transactions per second with minimal latency and low fees. Additionally, it processed more than 3.6 million transactions across 300,000 unique addresses, demonstrating its ability to handle a high volume of activity. With Shannon Testnet, Somnia is testing its congestion resistance while providing an optimized environment for developers looking to build applications without scalability restrictions.
The time is NOW! Somnia’s Testnet: Shannon is LIVE. 🚀https://t.co/8xNRJIm1kB
— Somnia – a Fully Onchain World (@Somnia_Network) February 21, 2025
Built to handle MILLIONS of users: fast, stable, and ready for real-world apps at scale. We’re aiming to have at least 1 MILLION users test it out!
✅ All essential dev tools integrated
✅ Live… pic.twitter.com/qaw3beo6i3
The inclusion of multiple external validators and the removal of state resets strengthen the network’s stability and security. This allows developers to work without interruptions and ensures data persistence within the system. Furthermore, the testnet’s technical infrastructure is fully operational, facilitating the integration of new projects and fostering ecosystem growth.
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Somnia: Speed and Scalability Without Limits
The development of this test network is based on several technical innovations that improve system speed and efficiency. Parallel transaction execution through MultiStream Consensus prevents network bottlenecks. Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) bytecode optimization enhances single-core processor performance. IceDB, a deterministic database, enables nanosecond-level read and write speeds. Finally, advances in data compression reduce bandwidth consumption, allowing millions of transactions to be processed without affecting system stability.
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Shannon Testnet’s infrastructure opens new opportunities for the development of decentralized applications with high-speed demands. Somnia aims to facilitate the creation of fully on-chain games, financial applications with instant transactions, and scalable social networks. Its focus on efficiency and decentralization provides an environment capable of supporting large-scale digital experiences without the congestion issues affecting other networks.
Paul Thomas, founder of Somnia, emphasized that this testnet will serve as the foundation for a new generation of blockchain applications. With performance rivaling traditional high-traffic systems, the ecosystem moves toward mass adoption with tools designed to deliver speed and scalability without compromising decentralization