Introducing the ZkCloud Deluge Testnet
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We are excited to announce the upcoming launch of Deluge, our testnet designed to test decentralized block building and validator onboarding for the ZkCloud Layer-1 mainnet.
What is Deluge?
In December 2024 we launched Firestarter, the first production-ready and universal proving network for ZK. Firestarter is an end-to-end implementation of ZkCloud with one key difference: it operates in a permissioned manner with Gevulot managing all validator nodes.
On our path to a fully permissionless mainnet, we’re launching Deluge, a test network for decentralized block building and validator onboarding. We invite node operators and others interested in joining our testnet to run validator nodes.
Deluge is a Cosmos-based L1 that utilizes the CometBFT consensus engine, incorporating standard Cosmos modules for all blockchain functions. The network has a targeted 1-second block time with 60 active validators at any given time.
Why join as a validator?
Joining Deluge as a validator node comes with multiple benefits, especially if you are also interested in running a validator node on the ZkCloud mainnet.
Secure a delegation on mainnet: validators who successfully operate nodes on Deluge can become eligible for a token delegation from the Gevulot Foundation on the ZkCloud mainnet. This baseline capital stake offers significant advantages when ZkCloud launches:
Easier entry into the validator set.
Reduced competition for delegations from token holders.
Higher likelihood of securing a position among the top 60 validators participating in block building.
Priority for provers: Validators who also operate prover nodes will be prioritized for delegation, further enhancing their role in the network.
Delegation program
The Foundation has allocated 12% (120 million tokens) of the $PROOF token’s total supply (1 billion tokens) for the validator delegation program on ZkCloud mainnet:
Individual allocation: 2M tokens per validator.
Program scope: Supporting up to 60 validators.
More details will be shared on the delegation process and the eligibility criteria for mainnet delegation.
Run a validator
We invite everyone interested in running a validator node on our testnet to submit their interest in this form by 9 February 2025. Up to 60 teams will receive testnet token delegation and be onboarded to Deluge's active validator set.
Below are the hardware and uptime requirements for validators:
CPU: 16 physical cores
Memory: 64GB RAM
Storage: 4TB NVMe
Uptime: 99.9%
Detailed instructions for setting up a validator node will be made available shortly. These will include a step-by-step guide to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
Stay tuned!
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About Us:
ZkCloud, built by Gevulot, is the first universal proving infrastructure for ZK. Generate ZK proofs for any proof system at a fraction of the cost. Fast, cheap, and decentralized.
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