Today marks a pivotal moment for the Avalanche ecosystem with the introduction of Everest, the Mainnet Release Candidate. This fully-featured version of the Avalanche network serves as the final testing phase before the official mainnet launch, bringing developers and users closer to a decentralized future powered by speed, scalability, and innovation.
Key Features of Everest
Everest incorporates critical upgrades and new functionalities designed to enhance usability, security, and performance:
- Smart Contract Enhancements: Upgraded Avalanche Virtual Machine (AVM) enables seamless AVAX transfers across all default subnet chains, including the X-Chain (asset chain) and C-Chain (EVM-compatible chain).
- NFT Support: Full functionality for creating, trading, and storing NFTs within Avalanche wallets.
- Networking Improvements: Adaptive timeouts optimize network liveness during delays, while advanced DDoS protection boosts resilience.
- Bech32 Addresses: User-friendly address formatting reduces errors and improves readability.
- Transaction Fees: Implemented to sustain network activity and prevent spam.
- UTXO Model for Platform Chain: Transition from an account-based system to UTXO enables pruning for efficiency.
- Monitoring & Testing: Enhanced end-to-end testing suites and real-time network/database metrics.
- Memo Field: Added to transactions for better fund routing in shared wallets (e.g., exchanges).
👉 Explore Avalanche’s C-Chain compatibility with Ethereum tools like MetaMask and Truffle Suite—no code changes needed!
Why Everest Matters
Everest demonstrates Avalanche’s readiness to redefine DeFi with:
- Sub-second transaction finality.
- EVM compatibility, allowing Ethereum dApps to deploy effortlessly.
- Scalable infrastructure for high-throughput applications.
“Everest embodies Avalanche’s vision: a decentralized future with faster, cheaper, and more inclusive financial systems.”
— Kevin Sekniqi, Ava Labs
How to Participate
Follow these steps to join the Everest testnet:
- Install Avalanche and run a node.
- Create wallets and fund them via the Avalanche faucet.
- Stake AVAX or become a validator to secure the network.
👉 Detailed guide for joining Everest
FAQ
What is Everest?
Everest is Avalanche’s mainnet release candidate, a feature-complete testnet preceding the official launch.
Will my AVAX balances appear on Everest?
No. Everest is a test environment; token distributions (e.g., sales, grants) will reflect on the mainnet.
How does Avalanche compare to Ethereum?
Avalanche offers EVM compatibility with faster transactions (~4,500 TPS) and lower fees, ideal for scaling DeFi.
Can I stake on Everest?
Yes! Testnet participants can stake AVAX and validate transactions to simulate mainnet conditions.
Everest bridges the gap to Avalanche’s mainnet, showcasing its potential to power the next wave of decentralized applications. Stay tuned for updates as we finalize the genesis state and prepare for launch!
### SEO Keywords:
- Avalanche Mainnet
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### Notes:
- Removed promotional links (e.g., Medium tutorial) and retained only the approved OKX anchor text.