IOTA developers launch Nectar testnet

The non-profit IOTA Foundation announced the launch of Nectar, a developer-oriented testnet. It will serve as a prototype for a fully decentralised, censorship-resistant and feeless Tangle protocol.

Core modules implemented. Final checks complete. Network ready for launch.

3.. 2.. 1.. Liftoff 🚀

The IOTA 2.0 DevNet (Nectar) is live!

Experience the future of a fully decentralized, scalable, and feeless #IOTA network today. https://t.co/UzUseVuI02 pic.twitter.com/jsSr7CF1jP

— IOTA (@iota) June 2, 2021

The launch of the testnet marked the second preparatory phase in the move to IOTA 2.0 in late 2021. The first took place in March 2021 with the activation of the Chrysalis upgrade.

Nectar represents the next iteration of the Pollen testnet, launched in June 2020. It features a modular architecture: updates and bug fixes can be implemented in its isolated components.

In the new testnet, developers abandoned the centralized Coordinator that allowed controlling the testnet. Its role will be taken over by the node-cooperation system and Mana token rewards. The latter incentivise conscientious work with higher reputation scores, easier access to transaction throughput, and additional weight in decision-making.

In Nectar, developers gained the ability to create tokenised assets, NFTs and utility tokens.

“The Nectar testnet for IOTA 2.0 marks an important milestone on the path to full decentralisation. It is proof that users can have a free, scalable, secure and fully decentralised blockchain. We will continue to prepare for the implementation of the Coordicide protocol”, — said Dominik Schiener [Dominik Schiener], co-founder and chair of the IOTA Foundation.

In February 2020, unknown attackers targeted the project’s desktop wallet. Losses amounted to about $2.4 million. The network came back online a month after the incident.

In November 2020, IOTA experienced a technical fault, which required restarting the blockchain.

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