Avail Launches Mainnet and Native Token

The team behind the modular blockchain Avail has announced the launch of the Avail AD mainnet and its native token, AVAIL.

Avail DA Mainnet & the AVAIL token are now live!

Today marks the launch of Avail DA, the first modular data availability layer using validity proofs + data availability sampling. Now, build blockchains that truly scale with demand.

The AVAIL token powers the network—pay fees,… pic.twitter.com/t3SNvRV8Sl

— Avail (@AvailProject) July 23, 2024

The protocol is positioned as a data availability layer for Optimism, Validium, and other zero-knowledge proof-based solutions that will operate on top of it. This technology will enable the off-chain placement and verification of data availability (DA), serving as a key component of the modular network structure concept.

According to the project’s statement, Avail DA is designed to optimize data availability and assist developers in creating more scalable, cost-effective, and composable chains.

This is only the first of three parts of the blockchain’s modular stack. The team is currently working on the Nexus interaction layer and the Fusion security layer.

“Data availability is a critically important component of blockchain infrastructure. Without guaranteed DA, network participants cannot easily and independently verify blocks, which can lead to fraud or censorship, as well as theft or freezing of funds,” the blog states. 

Traditionally, Ethereum’s L2 networks have relied on the base layer for DA. However, the rapid growth of second-layer solutions has led to congestion, reduced throughput, and increased gas prices, noted the Avail team. 

According to project representatives, rollups spend “millions each month” solely on data availability. These costs are directly passed on to users.

“Avail DA is the only data availability layer combining KZG commitments with data availability sampling. This is a significant milestone for the community, as it allows rollups to benefit from features and advantages similar to Danksharding in Ethereum today,” the developers emphasized. 

The AVAIL token is used for paying fees and staking. Avail employs the Nominated Proof-of-Stake (NPoS) consensus mechanism, which evenly distributes staked tokens among validators to reduce centralization.

In April, the blockchain team announced an airdrop for project users. 600 million AVAIL will be allocated for this purpose.

Back in 2023, Polygon’s Chief Product Officer Anurag Arjun left his position, acquiring the Avail project.