Leading multi-chain platform, Polkadot’s imminent update (Polkadot 2.0) is aimed at meeting the rising needs of its consumers and developers. This new version will offer improved performance, functionality, and accessibility. This guide uncovers the reasons behind Polkadot 2.0 and the key features that will shape its future.
Understanding Polkadot and Its Origins
Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood developed Polkadot to allow several blockchains to interact with one another. It aggregates several blockchains into a single network, promoting interoperability.
Polkadot 1.0 has made notable progress since its introduction, but the evolving blockchain technology calls for constant development. Furthermore, Polkadot’s initial development left some elements as placeholders, which resulted in constraints that are now clearly evident. Polkadot 2.0 aims to overcome these flaws by introducing a series of upgrades that will greatly improve the platform’s performance and user experience.
Why Polkadot Needs an Upgrade
The limitations of the current Polkadot network have spurred the necessity for improvement. Below are the primary problems Polkadot 2.0 seeks to solve.
Slot Auctions
Polkadot’s present version consists of staking DOT tokens to rent parachain slots. This approach can be costly and ineffective since it usually uses more resources than required.
Slow Blocktime
Every blockchain network depends heavily on transaction speed. If Polkadot’s present block times were slower than those of its rivals, there would be delays and less responsiveness.
Project Limitations
Polkadot aims to be a “Global Supercomputer” where diverse projects can be built. However, its current capabilities are limited mostly to parachains. These limitations reduce the possibility for more general advances such as smart contracts.
Key Features of Polkadot 2.0
Polkadot 2.0 will incorporate various features to solve these obstacles and raise the platform’s efficiency.
Asynchronous Backing
Asynchronous backing will accelerate the parachain block (parablocks) processing. Under the current approach, each parablock depends on the newest block for validation, which restricts throughput.
However, asynchronous backing will allow multiple parablocks to be processed simultaneously, reducing block creation time from 12 seconds to 6 seconds. Asynchronous backing will also enable parablocks to hold four times as much data as before.
Thus, it accelerates transaction times and enables developers to create more projects and use cases. Developers will undoubtedly find these features helpful, but investors will also profit because they can easily access more blocks.
Agile Coretime
Agile coretime will modernize the parachain auction structure, orienting it more towards market needs. For instance, users can buy parachain spots for shorter periods—a year, a month, even an hour—instead of staking DOT tokens for long stretches. This flexibility lowers the entrance barrier for developers and raises DOT token liquidity.
Elastic Scaling
Elastic scaling allows Polkadot to allocate its resources better over its chains. Higher workload parachains can get more help as needed, guaranteeing seamless functioning amid large data loads.
Hermit Relay
The Hermit Relay model transfers some of the duties of the relay chain to the parachains. Although network security and governance depend on the relay chain, it now manages too many chores at once, slowing down the network. Hermit Relay will improve general network performance by assigning additional responsibilities to parachains, streamlining the operations of the relay chain.
Joint Accumulate Machine (JAM)
Offering more development possibilities than parachains, JAM will replace the relay chain. With this update, smart contracts and other services that are not now supported will be created. Since JAM marks a major revision of Polkadot’s basic architecture, its deployment will take place as the last stage in the Polkadot 2.0 deployment.
Additional Upgrades
Apart from the main upgrades, Polkadot 2.0 will also have other minor yet significant enhancements.
Internode Mixnet
This encrypted messaging tool guarantees safe communication on-chain and off-chain, safeguarding users’ intellectual property data and information.
Sassafras Consensus
This new consensus method will solve the shortcomings of the present BABE algorithm and improve network security and performance.
Smoldot
As a light client, Smoldot will allow users of substrate-building tools to have a direct link to the Polkadot network without third-party involvement.
Conclusion
Polkadot 2.0 is a major leap forward, providing a faster, more flexible platform that tackles present constraints and adds important improvements. Clearly, the implementation of this upgrade will impact blockchain interoperability and innovation in the future.