The Celo Foundation is thrilled to announce the successful launch of the Dango Layer-2 testnet, marking a significant milestone in cLabs’ efforts to integrate Celo’s blockchain with Ethereum. This launch invites developers to start testing the updated code on this new fork of the Alfajores testnet. The Dango testnet, first proposed during EthCC 2023, allows developers to transition their projects to this updated blockchain iteration designed for fast and low-cost global payments. Built on Optimism’s OP Stack, Dango maintains the benefits of Celo’s Layer 1 while leveraging a highly scalable and interoperable blockchain framework.
Dango Layer-2: A New Era for Celo
The Dango Layer-2 testnet is a groundbreaking development for the Celo ecosystem. It preserves all historical data from the Alfajores testnet, including smart contracts, accounts, and balances. This ensures a seamless transition for developers and users alike. By building on Optimism’s OP Stack, Dango combines the robustness of Celo’s Layer 1 with a highly scalable and interoperable blockchain framework.
Key Features and Benefits
Dango Layer-2 offers several key features that make it a powerful tool for developers and users:
- Bridging of WETH and ERC-20 Tokens: This feature allows for seamless transfers between Ethereum and Celo, enhancing interoperability and user experience.
- 1-Block Finality: Ensures swift and secure transactions, making it ideal for global payments.
- CELO Token Duality: Allows interaction with CELO natively or via the ERC20 interface, providing flexibility for developers.
- Fee Abstraction: Permits multiple ERC-20 tokens as gas currencies, including Celo-native $USDT and $USDC, reducing transaction costs.
- SocialConnect: Enables sending money to phone numbers, email addresses, or other social identifiers, making crypto more accessible.
- Low Gas Fees: Ensures greater accessibility and adoption of crypto worldwide.
Strategic Support and Community Backing
Following strategic support from the Eigen Foundation and community backing, Dango uses EigenDA as a data availability layer to keep transaction fees minimal. The Layer-2 architecture aims to maintain low transaction costs and enhance throughput by 50%, decreasing block time from 5 seconds to 2 seconds. This makes Dango an attractive option for developers looking to build fast and cost-effective blockchain applications.
Infrastructure Upgrades and Next Steps for Celo Layer-2 Mainnet Launch
With the launch of Dango, infrastructure providers are now upgrading their Layer-2 node code. Once all key providers have updated to support the new design, Alfajores will be upgraded without creating a new fork. This allows developers to test their end-user dApps without impacting user-facing applications.
Anticipated Mainnet Launch
The successful completion of this milestone ahead of the summer 2024 schedule sets the stage for the anticipated Celo Layer-2 mainnet launch in early winter 2024. The Celo Foundation and cLabs remain committed to driving innovation and enhancing the blockchain ecosystem, ensuring a seamless transition and robust growth for developers and users alike.
The Future of Celo and Dango Layer-2
The launch of the Dango Layer-2 testnet is just the beginning. As the Celo Foundation and cLabs continue to innovate, the future looks bright for the Celo ecosystem. The integration with Ethereum and the use of Optimism’s OP Stack position Celo as a leader in the blockchain space, offering scalable and cost-effective solutions for global payments.
Developer Opportunities
Developers are encouraged to start testing their projects on the Dango Layer-2 testnet. This is an excellent opportunity to explore the new features and benefits of Dango, and to contribute to the growth and development of the Celo ecosystem.
Community Engagement
The Celo community plays a crucial role in the success of the Dango Layer-2 testnet. Community feedback and support are essential for identifying and addressing any issues, and for ensuring that the final mainnet launch is as smooth and successful as possible.
Conclusion
The launch of the Dango Layer-2 testnet marks a significant milestone for the Celo Foundation and the broader blockchain community. By leveraging Optimism’s OP Stack and maintaining the benefits of Celo’s Layer 1, Dango offers a highly scalable and interoperable blockchain framework that is ideal for fast and low-cost global payments. With the support of the Eigen Foundation and the Celo community, the future looks bright for the Celo ecosystem.
Developers and users alike are encouraged to explore the Dango Layer-2 testnet and to contribute to the ongoing growth and development of the Celo ecosystem. The anticipated mainnet launch in early winter 2024 promises to bring even more exciting opportunities and innovations to the world of blockchain.
Stay tuned for more updates and developments from the Celo Foundation and cLabs as they continue to drive innovation and enhance the blockchain ecosystem.
