What is Somnia Network?

In recent years, the blockchain industry has faced significant challenges in scaling to support mass adoption, particularly for complex applications like metaverses and immersive gaming. Traditional blockchains have struggled with low transaction speeds, high fees, and limited interoperability, hindering the development of truly seamless virtual experiences.

Today, there are several solutions to the scalability problem, and one such solution is Somnia network

What is Somnia?

Somnia is a Layer 1 network and set of omnichain protocols designed to connect and power the metaverse. It's an EVM-compatible blockchain optimized for high-performance applications, capable of processing over 400,000 transactions per second (TPS) with sub-second finality. Somnia network aims to create a unified virtual society that can support experiences for millions of users simultaneously.

The History of Somnia: Who created it?

Somnia was launched in 2024 by the Virtual Society Foundation (VSF), an independent organization initiated by Improbable, a British technology company known for its SpatialOS computing platform. The project leverages Improbable's expertise in distributed systems and gaming to address blockchain scalability issues. Somnia's development is led by founder Paul Thomas, with support from Improbable's leadership, including CEO Herman Narula and COO Peter Lipka.

Somnia network: What is it for?

Of course, Somnia network has a range of use cases, such as;

Powering the Metaverse

Somnia's primary purpose is to serve as the technological backbone for an inclusive virtual society. It provides a high-performance infrastructure for building and connecting metaverse experiences, games, and social platforms.

Enabling a New Creator Economy

The platform is designed to foster a decentralized creator economy, allowing users to easily share, remix, and monetize digital assets across different applications within the Somnia ecosystem.

Enhancing Blockchain Interoperability

Somnia's omnichain protocols facilitate seamless communication between otherwise isolated blockchain ecosystems, enabling the transfer of assets and data across various chains.

How does Somnia work?

Somnia utilizes several innovative technologies to achieve its high performance and scalability:

MultiStream Consensus

Somnia employs a novel consensus mechanism called MultiStream, which decouples data production from the consensus process. This approach allows for independent block production by validators, significantly enhancing overall efficiency.

Compiled Bytecode

The platform compiles EVM bytecode into highly optimized native code, achieving execution speeds close to hand-written C++ contracts.

ICEdb

Somnia's custom-built database, ICEdb, enables ultra-fast read/write times of 70-100 nanoseconds, contributing to the network's high throughput.

Benefits of Somnia Network

Unparalleled Speed and Scalability

With its ability to process 400,000 TPS and sub-second finality, Somnia offers unmatched performance for blockchain applications.

Low Transaction Fees

Somnia's efficient architecture allows for sub-cent transaction fees, even during high-traffic periods.

EVM Compatibility

Developers can easily port existing Ethereum-based applications to Somnia's network, leveraging familiar tools and frameworks.

Enhanced Interoperability

Somnia's omnichain protocols enable seamless asset and data transfer across different blockchain networks.

Somnia network's Use Cases

Immersive Metaverse Experiences

Somnia can power large-scale virtual worlds with thousands of simultaneous users, enabling truly immersive metaverse experiences.

On-Chain Gaming

The network's high performance allows for the development of performant onchain games with real-time interactions and complex game logic.

Decentralized Social Media

Somnia enables the creation of web3 social networks, giving users unprecedented control over their data and digital presence.

High-Performance DeFi

Somnia network's speed and low fees make it ideal for building advanced decentralized finance applications, including high-frequency trading and complex financial instruments.

How to build on Somnia with thirdweb

thirdweb allows you to build on all EVM networks, including Somnia. If you're building an app on Somnia, get started with thirdweb to unlock:

• Connect: Easily integrate wallet connections and user authentication.
• Contracts: Deploy and interact with smart contracts effortlessly.
• Engine: Leverage backend infrastructure for your dApps.
• Nebula: Host and manage decentralized content.

Ready to start building on Somnia? Head over to thirdweb's Somnia network page.