Crypto Quill

Zilliqa, a high-performance blockchain platform that aims to provide scalability, security, and decentralization, has successfully upgraded its network to v9.3.0 on January 3, 2024. The upgrade introduces several new features and improvements that enhance the network’s capabilities and efficiency.

Active Reward Control and Desharding

One of the major changes in the Zilliqa v9.3.0 upgrade is the introduction of active reward control and desharding of the network. Active reward control is a mechanism that adjusts the reward levels for ZIL holders and miners based on network decisions and governance proposals. This ensures that the rewards are fair and competitive, while also protecting them from sudden inflation changes that may occur due to software performance improvements.

Desharding is the process of removing shards from the network temporarily until a new and improved sharding architecture is implemented with Zilliqa 2.0. Sharding is a technique that splits the network into smaller units called shards, which can process transactions faster and more efficiently than a single shard. However, sharding also introduces some challenges, such as increased complexity, security risks, and coordination costs.

By desharding the network ahead of Zilliqa 2.0, Zilliqa aims to improve its efficiency and throughput by reducing block time and increasing scalability. The upgrade also includes some bug fixes related to sharding.

EVM Compatibility Improvements

Another key feature of Zilliqa v9.3.0 is the improvement of EVM compatibility. EVM stands for Ethereum Virtual Machine, which is a software framework that allows developers to create smart contracts on various blockchains using a common programming language called Solidity.

Zilliqa supports EVM compatibility through its Scilla programming language, which is designed to be compatible with Ethereum’s Solidity syntax and semantics. Scilla also enables developers to create custom smart contracts on Zilliqa using familiar tools such as Remix IDE.

The upgrade adds support for Type 1 and Type 2 EVM transactions, which are two types of transactions that can be executed on EVM-compatible blockchains using different methods: direct execution or indirect execution through an intermediate layer such as PolyNetwork or zkSync.

The upgrade also adds some bug fixes related to EVM compatibility, such as error handling when calling Scilla contracts with EVM applications directly in the transaction receipt.

Efficiency Improvements and Migration to GCP

The Zilliqa infrastructure team has been working continuously to improve the performance, efficiency, and reliability of the Zilliqa network as it prepares for the launch of Zilliqa 2.0 later this year.

The upgrade includes some efficiency improvements such as:

• Optimizing gas consumption by reducing unnecessary computations
• Reducing memory usage by using more compact data structures
• Enhancing parallelism by using multiple threads
• Improving security by implementing various cryptographic techniques

The upgrade also includes a migration from Google Cloud Platform (GCP) to Amazon Web Services (AWS), which will provide better scalability, availability, and cost-effectiveness for hosting Zilliqa services such as nodes, wallets, exchanges, etc.

Zilliqa v9.3.0 is a significant upgrade that brings many new features and improvements to the network’s capabilities and efficiency. The upgrade aligns with Zilliqa’s roadmap for achieving its vision of becoming a leading platform for decentralized applications (DApps) across various industries.