- VeChain has launched the Galactica Testnet, introducing four major upgrades under the Renaissance roadmap.
- Developers can experiment with new features, preparing for the mainnet launch in Q2 2025.
VeChain has announced its 2025 roadmap with the launch of the Galactica Testnet, allowing developers to test new blockchain features. The upgrade follows a full-stakeholder vote and brings with it four key improvements designed to improve the performance of VeChainThor.
These mark the beginning of the VeChain Renaissance, a series of enhancements that will be aimed at developing the technological side as well as the economic structure of the blockchain.
— VeChain (@vechainofficial) March 31, 2025
Through this testnet, developers can test the new capabilities and be prepared for the eventual rollout on the mainnet later this year, the second quarter of 2025. The Galactica Testnet is a dedicated testing platform for users to test transactions and smart contracts in real-life settings before full deployment.
It also sets the stage for future enhancements under the banner of Hayabusa and Interstellar, the next steps on the VeChain roadmap. Of particular significance here is the fact that the Galactica Testnet is separate from the ordinary testnet.
This means that it will experience regular resets, making it imperative for developers with long-term ambitions to still make use of the default testnet for stability.
Four Key Upgrades Introduced
The Galactica Testnet brings with it four significant VeChain Improvement Proposals (VIPs) designed to improve the efficiency of transactions, contract usability, and Ethereum interoperability. These improvements represent the most significant changes since the VeChainThor mainnet went live in 2018.
The initial upgrade, VIP-251, brings a dynamic fee mechanism modeled after Ethereum’s EIP-1559. The mechanism uses a base fee per block that varies with the demand on the network.
Some of these fees get burned, reducing the total token supply but allowing users to pay priority fees for accelerated transactions. Developers can now test the impact of this mechanism on the expense of the network and the economic model of VeChainThor.
The second update, VIP-252, also refines transaction processing with a standardized structure. The modification enables the blockchain to better identify varying types of transactions, making it easier for the contract to execute with continued backward compatibility.
VIP-242 synchronizes VeChainThor’s Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) with the Shanghai upgrade of Ethereum. The upgrade boosts the interoperability with Ethereum-based tools, making it easy for developers to port their apps to VeChain. The upgrade also introduces the PUSH0 opcode, which boosts gas fees and the efficiency of processing transactions.
Finally, VIP-250 extends extension contracts with methods for getting total clauses and the current index of the clauses from transactions. The enhancement simplifies the process of executing contracts, reducing development time and increasing efficiency for interactions with smart contracts.
The efforts of this VIP by DataB4Dishonor focus on the importance of community-driven development in the process of developing VeChain.
VeChain Unveils Roadmap Through 2025
The Galactica Testnet release is the first step of a bigger transition for VeChain. From here, the project has outlined a roadmap for up to the end of 2025, with subsequent updates aimed at further encouraging the use of the blockchain.
The Galactica upgrade will be launched on the mainnet in the second quarter of 2025, with the addition of new Economic Node levels. The adjustment will be a part of the redefinition of VeChainThor’s token economy.
By the third quarter, the Hayabusa phase will be launched, and new tokenomics and staking processes will be introduced through another testnet release.
Finally, by the fourth quarter, the Hayabusa will be launched on the mainnet, with the revamped reward system and improved Node system.
VeChain’s Renaissance program will ready the blockchain for mainstream acceptance by future-proofing it, making it developer-friendly, and increasing efficiency.
With these advancements, the platform will be better equipped to bring on more builders and companies looking to harness the power of the blockchain for real-world applications.
Developers should test the new proposals on GitHub and engage with the testnet. In this way, developers assist with making these features seamlessly integrate on the mainnet, enabling VeChain to grow and further evolve.