Improbable Unveils Somnia Blockchain, Claims 400K TPS

Improbable, a gaming technology startup, has announced Somnia. Its own layer 1 blockchain designed to handle over 400,000 transactions per second (TPS). The EVM-compatible blockchain is set to launch in devnet in the coming weeks and aims to drive mass consumer applications across gaming, social platforms, and decentralized finance (DeFi).

Cracking the Blockchain Scalability Problem

According to Improbable CEO Herman Narula, Somnia represents a breakthrough in blockchain scalability. Narula attributes Somnia’s performance to ICEdb. A technology developed by Improbable that enables ultra-fast read/write times and advanced compression algorithms. ICEdb is claimed to improve data transfer efficiency by 10-20x compared to other blockchains. Effectively minimizing bandwidth requirements.

Testing and Development

Initial testing with 100 validators showed Somnia can process hundreds of thousands of EVM transactions per second on non-sharded data by leveraging compression strategies and a custom data ingestion layer. The technology aims to be resilient enough for real-time, large-scale applications, according to Paul Thomas, founder of the Virtual Society Foundation (VSF). An independent organization started by Improbable and funded by metaverse ecosystem MSquared.

“Somnia’s unprecedented blockchain capabilities are paving the way for real-time, mass-consumer applications,” Thomas said, highlighting the potential use of Somnia in high-demand settings.

Focus on Gaming, Metaverse, and Beyond

Given Improbable’s roots in the gaming sector. It’s fitting that Somnia’s primary focus is gaming and metaverse applications. Its mission aims to support a network of virtual experiences and enable decentralized companies without dependence on a single large platform.

Although gaming will be Somnia’s initial focus, its developers believe the blockchain has the potential for wider use cases. “We are not even 100% certain of what can be built with the technology we are creating,” Somnia’s developers noted.

About Improbable

Known for its partnership with Yuga Labs in powering the Otherside metaverse project for Bored Ape Yacht Club. Improbable has been a prominent player in both gaming and crypto. The Softbank-backed company achieved unicorn status after a $502 million Series B funding round in 2017. Following a $262 million funding round and reaching a $3.4 billion valuation in 2022. Improbable posted its first profit in 2023 after a restructuring phase.

With Somnia, Improbable aims to bring high-speed, scalable blockchain technology to both established and emerging digital spaces, hoping to foster decentralized innovation across a range of sectors.