Key Points
Somnia, a blockchain that is compatible with Ethereum, has unveiled its Shannon Testnet.
This is part of the company’s efforts towards achieving mainnet readiness.
The testnet is named after Claude Shannon, a pioneer in the field of information theory.
Shannon Testnet’s Performance and Features
The Shannon Testnet comes after the DevNet benchmarks that exceeded 1 million transactions per second (TPS).
This offers a scalable platform for developers to build real-world applications.
The testnet introduces multiple third-party validators and staking protocols.
This enhances decentralization and security.
During DevNet testing, the Shannon Testnet processed over 3.6 million transactions.
These were across more than 300,000 unique addresses.
The testnet also offers sub-second finality and sub-cent transaction fees.
Paul Thomas, the founder of Somnia, described the Shannon Testnet as a proving ground for a fully on-chain future.
He highlighted its ability to handle millions of users at internet scale.
The launch of the testnet allows developers to stress-test applications under real-world conditions.
Somnia’s website details the testnet’s rollout.
This is supported by infrastructure partners for seamless app deployment.
The company claims that its MultiStream Consensus enables parallel transaction execution without any slowdowns.
This makes the Shannon Testnet a key testing ground for congestion resistance.
Somnia’s tech stack includes accelerated sequential execution and IceDB.
IceDB is a high-speed database with nanosecond-level read/write speeds.
Thomas noted that these features aim to support reactive apps, on-chain gaming, scalable DeFi, and metaverse platforms.
The launch of the Shannon Testnet aligns with a trend of blockchain testnets gearing up for 2025 mainnets.
Ethereum’s Spectra Devnet5, which was launched in January 2025, is targeting a March mainnet debut.
This is with sharding upgrades for scalability.
Meanwhile, Hyperliquid’s HyperEVM testnet, which has been live since late 2024, is focusing on DeFi innovation.
This is with rapid transaction processing, which is fueling 2025 hype.
