Theta: Mainnet 2.0 and the 2020 Roadmap, Bitmovio to integrate Theta mainnet in Q4, Replay of the live AMA with Tim and Wes, Live Network Stats with 845 Pre-Guardian Nodes and 8 Enterprise Validators
Biweekly update 13th September — 27th September
The Theta blockchain mainnet was successfully launched in March 2019 and has now been in operation for 6 months. While it’s a major milestone to launch a new blockchain from scratch, it was only the first step. To take the Theta blockchain to the next level, the team thinks they must give the Theta community the tools to innovate and build upon their foundation. The community needs to govern the Theta blockchain with Guardian Nodes in addition to the Enterprise Validator Nodes, create new Theta use cases with full smart contract support, and have a robust block explorer with real-time analytics to monitor the blockchain. Altogether, these community-focused updates make up Theta vision for the next phase of its growth — Theta Mainnet 2.0.
Theta vision encompasses three main components that are to be powered by Theta edge nodes, run by the community: data delivery, data storage and data encoding. For performing each of these three services, users earn TFUEL as a reward, incentivizing them to support and grow the Theta Network.
There’s a lot that needs to be built to realize Theta vision. Take look at Theta updated high-level project roadmap through 2020 in our report below. The most significant change from the previous Theta roadmap is extending the launch date of Guardian Nodes. In Q4, they will release the full Guardian Node software for use on Theta testnet, and a small group of users will be able to run these nodes that will fully participate in Theta’s Multi-BFT consensus.
Moreover, Bitmovio, a gamified video entertainment platform featuring a wide range of premium video content, will soon become the next platform to adopt the Theta streaming protocol. Bitmovio video content will incorporate a Theta-enabled video player, allowing Bitmovio users to stream video, share it with nearby peers, and earn TFUEL for their contributions. To enable their users to stream on the Theta Network, Bitmovio will purchase TFUEL tokens to be earned by Theta relayers. The integration of Theta mainnet with the Bitmovio video platform is projected to be completed in Q4 of this year.
Dear Theta fans, as the team moves toward the release of Theta Mainnet 2.0 in Q1 2020, they’ll be increasing their global marketing with a series of Theta meetups, blockchain conferences, and other initiatives to raise awareness. The “Road to Theta Mainnet 2.0” campaign will showcase innovative features of the Theta blockchain and how it will achieve mass user adoption to the broader community, so stay tuned for more details this fall!
Development
GitHub metrics:
THETA has 8 public repositories and 15 private repositories. Overall, the Project has frequent commits to the collection of repositories.
Developer activity (from Coinlib.io):
Announcing Theta Mainnet 2.0:
Why is the team creating the Theta blockchain?
The team’s long-term vision for the Theta Network is a decentralized end-to-end protocol for processing and delivering data, not just video but all types of data. Decentralized data delivery, at the edge, powered by you. That vision encompasses three main components that are to be powered by Theta edge nodes, run by the community:
Data Delivery — Initially focused on video delivery, and implemented on SLIVER.tv and multiple other video platforms coming soon. But the scope of decentralized data delivery goes beyond video into file updates, game patches, OS and app updates, web content, and any other form of data delivery.
Data Storage — As Theta expands from livestreaming applications to Video-on-Demand (VoD), app updates, and game patches, it becomes necessary to have a decentralized solution to data storage. Theta nodes can cache the most in-demand live and static content and files to ensure they are able to contribute to the network and earn TFUEL.
Data Encoding — By allowing Theta nodes to perform ingest/encoding of raw video and data as close to the source as possible, particularly for live events (professional sports, concerts, conferences, for example), the Theta Network will truly become an end-to-end solution for video and data. Building out this functionality is a natural extension for the Theta team, based on the team’s experience encoding live VR events in 2016 for SamsungVR, Intel IEM, ESL, and others.
For performing each of these three services (or all three at once), users earn TFUEL as a reward, incentivizing them to support and grow the Theta Network. If you are one of the 2,690 users running the PGN / Beta Edge Cacher client now, you are part of the very beginning of this edge network encompassing end-to-end data transfer. Contributing your excess bandwidth to SLIVER.tv is just the beginning!
Live Network Statistics:
September 27th, 2019
You can now see the distribution of Pre-Guardian Nodes, Edge Cachers, and Enterprise Validator Nodes in real-time at thetatoken.org ! Scroll down to “Live Network Stats”, which will update each time you refresh the page.
Pre-Guardian Nodes / Edge Cachers: 845
Enterprise Validator Nodes: 8
For information on Theta Guardian Nodes and how to join, see the announcement blog.
Theta CEO Mitch Liu is serving as a judge for the Klaytn Horizon blockchain app competition, with a $1,000,000 prize pool for developers building apps on Klaytn. Interested devs should submit their applications by September 30th:
Social encounters
These weeks events:
September 17th: Theta AMA: Theta Network AMA: Timothy Li (Theta Head of Platform) + Wes Levitt (Theta Head of Strategy)
Replay of the live AMA with Tim and Wes of Theta Network, originally broadcast on September 17th, 2019.
Upcoming events:
No updates.
Roadmap
An updated Theta Roadmap:
Q4 2019
- Guardian Node selection and launch on testnet
- Edge Cacher beta client improvements
- Concurrent Video-on-Demand (VoD) support on SLIVER.tv
- Theta Explorer upgrades — analytics, visualizations, staking information
Q1 2020
- Theta Mainnet 2.0 goes live with Multi-BFT consensus mechanism and growing number of enterprise validator nodes
- Guardian Nodes launch on Theta Mainnet 2.0
- Release of specialized smart contract support
- Theta streaming protocol supports full Video-on-Demand (VoD)
Q2 2020
- Beta launch of decentralized data storage
- Beta launch of decentralized file delivery of any content type, such as game patches, applications, OS updates
- Beta launch of Theta protocol adapted to Smart TVs and IoT devices
H2 2020
- Release of generalized Turing-complete smart contract support
- Beta launch of decentralized encoding protocol
- Production release of the end-to-end Universal Edge Cacher
The most significant change from the previous Theta roadmap is extending the launch date of Guardian Nodes, which they know the Theta community is eager to run, but the process for the first users to get onboarded will happen shortly. In Q4, they will release the full Guardian Node software for use on Theta testnet, and a small group of users (likely starting with 100 nodes, with a second batch of 100 to follow a few weeks later) will be able to run these nodes that will fully participate in Theta’s Multi-BFT consensus. These Guardian Nodes on testnet will generate Theta Fuel (TFUEL) at the normal rate they will on mainnet (initially, new TFUEL generation at 5% annual of total supply). For any TFUEL a user earns by running a Guardian Node on the testnet, they will get the same amount of actual TFUEL on the Theta mainnet, even during this testing period before Guardian Nodes move to mainnet. It is extremely valuable to have real users testing the Guardian Nodes, both to test the software and evaluate user behavior. To do that the right way, users need to have real economic incentives!
The final criteria for selection of the first 100 Guardian Nodes to participate on testnet will be released shortly. The most likely process will be to start with all the PGN participants who meet the hardware requirements to run a Guardian Node and have staked the minimum 100K THETA. Then, both the number of THETA staked and uptime history will be weighted to get to a final ranking of the top 100. The team is still fine tuning that formula to ensure it is as fair as possible and will share that soon. Note — since the PGN has only been released for Windows, they will reserve a portion of the spaces for Mac/Linux users out there! Also, remember that just because you are selected in the first 100 doesn’t mean it’s permanent; you do still need to be a responsible and consistent Guardian Node, and if you are included in the first 100 and run the node unreliably or maliciously on the testnet, your node will be removed from the Guardian Node set and another user will get the chance to step up.
Check out the latest updates on TFUEL integration with SLIVER.tv at the TFUEL streaming roadmap — this will continue to be updated as new features are completed and added to the roadmap.
SLIVER.tv Roadmap:
Partnerships and team members
Bitmovio video platform to integrate Theta mainnet in Q4, purchase initial TFUEL supply:
Bitmovio, a gamified video entertainment platform featuring a wide range of premium video content, will soon become the next platform to adopt the Theta streaming protocol. Bitmovio video content will incorporate a Theta-enabled video player, allowing Bitmovio users to stream video, share it with nearby peers, and earn TFUEL for their contributions. To enable their users to stream on the Theta Network, Bitmovio will purchase TFUEL tokens to be earned by Theta relayers. The integration of Theta mainnet with the Bitmovio video platform is projected to be completed in Q4 of this year. Once Bitmovio’s integration with Theta mainnet is complete, select Bitmovio content will also be streamed on featured SLIVER.tv channels including special live events.
Bitmovio is a new video entertainment marketplace enabled by blockchain technologies and in-platform virtual goods. The platform offers viewers a gamified user experience, including real-time chat, on-screen bullet chat, tipping, gifting, micro-transactions, per-channel subscriptions and reward-based advertising that create an engaging and connected global community. Bitmovio’s streaming platform features video and movies from a wide array of genres, including sci-fi, fantasy, horror, paranormal, and more. Franchises and shows featured include the World Poker Tour, Brandy and Ray J, Gotti’s Way, and Celebrity Paranormal. BitMovio licenses content from industry leading studios including Endemol Shine Group, 1200 Productions, Elation Media, Fourth Media, Invictus Entertainment Group, Magic Square Films, Small Basket Studios, and Gunpowder & Sky.
“With the integration of Theta mainnet into Bitmovio’s platform, this marks a major step for the Theta project for several reasons,” said Mitch Liu, CEO of Theta Labs. “This is the first of many 3rd party video platforms to complete integration of the Theta protocol, and it expands Theta usage beyond SLIVER.tv esports content into short film, feature-length movies, and other mediums. More importantly, it’s the first time we’ve publicly shared that a partner is in the process of acquiring TFUEL to operate the Theta protocol on their video platform, showing the viability of the Theta economic model.”
“We’ve been hard at work developing the Bitmovio platform and securing content licenses from a premium group of Hollywood studios, independent content producers and native YouTube streamers,” said Simon Zhu, CEO and co-founder of Bitmovio. “Now that we are live on desktop and mobile with a diverse library of video content, we are thrilled to add Theta to our technology stack, allowing BitMovio to achieve even greater user engagement, monetization and video delivery efficiency similar to SLIVER.tv.”
Rumors
Twitter:
Reddit:
Help Understand Theta Pre Guardian Node Beta Edge Cacher.
Other:
SLIVER.tv x THETA Network Official Office Tour:
Be aware of scammers! Admins of Official Theta Telegram chat will never DM you or ask for private info / keys / seed phrases!
Social media metrics
Social media activity:
Social media dynamics:
Theta community continues to grow. There is a slight increase in the number of subscribers of Theta social media channels these weeks.
Official Telegram group — Discussions on price, possible partnerships, etc.
Facebook — 15–25 likes per publication, 1–5 shares.
Twitter — Average number of retweets is 35–40 for one post.
Bitcointalk.org — since November 23rd, 2017.
There is a slight growth in Theta community over time. The graph above shows the dynamics of changes in the number of Theta Reddit subscribers, Twitter followers and Facebook likes. The information is taken from Coingecko.com.
