Avalanche launches Avalanche9000 testnet to reducing costs and enable permissionless L1s

Avalanche, the blockchain ranked eighth by total value locked (TVL), has introduced its most significant update yet with the Avalanche9000 upgrade, now live on the testnet.

This groundbreaking overhaul aims to revolutionize app development, reduce transaction fees, and make validator operations more affordable, setting the stage for its mainnet launch in late 2025.

Key Features of Avalanche9000

The upgrade includes two major proposals:

1. ACP-77: Introduces a framework allowing users to create their own low-cost, permissionless subnets, now rebranded as “L1s.” This innovation opens blockchain creation to a wider range of developers, from decentralized exchange builders to small businesses.
2. ACP-125: Lowers the minimum fees on Avalanche’s primary C-Chain by 96%, from 25 nAVAX to 1 nAVAX. This aligns Avalanche’s transaction costs with leading Ethereum layer-2 solutions like Polygon and Arbitrum.

Avalanche9000 also enhances interoperability with Interchain Messaging (ICM), enabling seamless connectivity between decentralized applications (dApps). Over 500 new L1s, ranging from gaming platforms to business solutions, are already in development.

Luigi D’Onorio DeMeo, COO of Ava Labs, highlighted the upgrade’s transformative nature: “Avalanche9000 enables a scale and flexibility previously impossible, redefining possibilities for blockchain developers and users.”

$40 Million Grant Program

To drive adoption, the Avalanche Foundation has launched the “Retro9000” initiative, a $40 million grant program supporting developers on the testnet. Retroactive rewards will be available upon the mainnet launch, alongside a $2 million referral fund to incentivize influencers and business developers to promote network growth.

Positioning for the Future

Avalanche9000 solidifies Avalanche’s mission to make blockchain development more accessible and cost-effective. With its testnet deployment and a 2025 mainnet launch on the horizon, Avalanche is poised to strengthen its position in the blockchain ecosystem, offering developers and users an innovative platform for decentralized applications.