Ship or Die 2025: Rebuilding the Internet

In a groundbreaking announcement, Austin Federa, co-founder of DoubleZero Foundation, unveils an ambitious project to rebuild the internet from the ground up, specifically optimized for high-performance distributed systems and blockchain technology. This revolutionary approach promises to shatter current limitations and unlock unprecedented potential for blockchain scalability and performance.

Summary

Austin Federa introduces DoubleZero Foundation's visionary project to create a new internet infrastructure designed specifically for high-performance distributed systems. This "N1" network layer aims to provide a physical alternative to the public internet, offering superior performance for blockchain technologies and other distributed systems.

The current internet infrastructure, not originally designed for blockchain or high-performance systems, suffers from high latency variability (jitter) which significantly impacts the performance of distributed systems. DoubleZero's solution promises to deliver consistent, low-latency performance, potentially revolutionizing the capabilities of blockchain networks.

Federa emphasizes that this new infrastructure is essential for blockchain systems to compete with traditional finance and centralized Web2 systems. By providing a dedicated, high-performance network, DoubleZero aims to enable blockchain technologies to reach their full potential, supporting millions of transactions per second and opening up new use cases previously thought impossible.

The project draws inspiration from private networks used by tech giants and financial firms, but aims to make this technology accessible to the broader blockchain ecosystem. With a testnet already running and a full launch planned for fall 2025, DoubleZero is set to make waves in the blockchain world, starting with full support for Solana.

Key Points:

New Physical Internet Infrastructure

DoubleZero is building a completely new physical internet infrastructure, including underwater fiber cables and overland connections. This is not a software overlay or an L1/L2 blockchain solution, but a fundamental reimagining of the internet's physical layer. The goal is to create a network optimized for high-performance distributed systems, including blockchain technologies.

This new infrastructure, dubbed an "N1" (Network 1), will serve as an alternative to the public internet for critical operations like consensus mechanisms, state propagation, transaction fulfillment, RPCs, and validator communications. By bypassing the limitations of the public internet, this new network aims to dramatically improve the performance and capabilities of blockchain systems.

Addressing Internet Limitations

Federa explains that the current internet was not built with high-performance or blockchain requirements in mind. He presents data showing the high variability in ping times (latency) on the public internet, a phenomenon known as jitter. This lack of determinism in network performance significantly impacts the efficiency of distributed systems.

In contrast, DoubleZero's test network demonstrates extremely consistent performance, with minimal jitter. This consistency is crucial for high-performance systems, as it allows for more predictable and efficient operations. By providing a more stable and reliable network infrastructure, DoubleZero aims to unlock the full potential of blockchain technologies.

Industry Precedent and Necessity

The concept of private, high-performance networks is not new. Federa points out that many major tech companies and financial firms already use private fiber networks for their critical operations. Companies like Google, Meta, and Jump Trading have invested heavily in private infrastructure to gain performance advantages.

DoubleZero aims to bring this same level of high-performance networking to the blockchain industry. Federa argues that this step is not optional but essential for blockchain systems to compete with traditional finance and centralized web services. The goal is to enable blockchain networks to handle millions of transactions per second, matching or exceeding the capabilities of centralized systems.

Collaborative Approach and Future Vision

Unlike private networks built by individual companies, DoubleZero's approach involves multiple independent network contributors. This collaborative model aims to create a more robust, censorship-resistant, and verifiable network while still achieving the high performance of private infrastructure.

Federa emphasizes that the ambition in crypto should be much larger. He envisions not just one network capable of a million transactions per second, but multiple networks each handling 500,000 TPS or more. This abundance mindset, he argues, is key to enabling entirely new use cases and innovations in the blockchain space.

Competitive Advantage and US-Based Innovation

DoubleZero's infrastructure aims to level the playing field for blockchain companies competing against Big Tech. By providing an alternative to building on centralized cloud services and internet infrastructure, DoubleZero hopes to foster more innovation and competition in the tech industry.

The project also emphasizes bringing crypto innovation back to the United States. DoubleZero has worked with CoinList to conduct the first regulated token offering in the US since 2019, demonstrating a commitment to operating within regulatory frameworks while pushing the boundaries of technology.

Facts + Figures

• DoubleZero is building a new physical internet infrastructure including underwater and overland fiber cables
• The project is dubbed an "N1" (Network 1), distinct from L1 or L2 blockchain solutions
• Current internet infrastructure suffers from high latency variability (jitter), which impacts blockchain performance
• DoubleZero's test network demonstrates extremely consistent performance with minimal jitter
• Major tech companies like Google, Meta, and financial firms already use private fiber networks for critical operations
• The project aims to enable blockchain networks to handle millions of transactions per second
• DoubleZero's network will involve multiple independent network contributors for increased robustness and censorship resistance
• The testnet is already running, with a full launch planned for fall 2025
• DoubleZero will launch with full support for Solana
• The project worked with CoinList to conduct the first regulated token offering in the US since 2019

Top quotes

1. "We are building a high performance new internet optimized for distributed systems."
2. "The internet was not built for high performance, and it certainly was not built for blockchain."
3. "High-performance networking at this point is not optional. It is absolutely essential if we're going to see blockchain systems compete with tradfi systems and centralized web2 systems."
4. "There's nothing in the history of technology that has ever taught us that enough is enough."
5. "This is our Mars mission. Bring high-performance networking to crypto."
6. "The ambition of crypto today is too small."
7. "Competition is back on the menu. If you're competing with Big Tech today, you're building on their servers. You're building on their rails. You're using their internet pipes. It's not a level playing field."

Questions Answered

What is DoubleZero Foundation building?

DoubleZero Foundation is building a new high-performance internet infrastructure optimized for distributed systems and blockchain technology. This includes physical fiber cables under the ocean and across land, creating a purpose-built network for high-performance distributed systems. The goal is to provide an alternative physical pathway for critical blockchain operations like consensus, state propagation, and transaction fulfillment.

Why is a new internet infrastructure necessary for blockchain?

A new internet infrastructure is necessary because the current internet was not built for high-performance systems or blockchain technology. The public internet suffers from high latency variability (jitter), which significantly impacts the performance of distributed systems. By creating a dedicated, low-latency network, DoubleZero aims to unlock the full potential of blockchain technologies, enabling them to compete with traditional finance and centralized web services.

How does DoubleZero's network differ from existing blockchain solutions?

DoubleZero's network is not an L1 or L2 blockchain solution, but rather a new physical network layer they call an "N1". Unlike blockchain protocols, you can't deploy smart contracts to it or get servers from DoubleZero. Instead, it provides an alternative physical pathway for blockchain systems to communicate, bypassing the limitations of the public internet.

What performance improvements does DoubleZero's network offer?

DoubleZero's test network demonstrates extremely consistent performance with minimal latency variability (jitter). This consistency is crucial for high-performance systems as it allows for more predictable and efficient operations. While specific numbers weren't provided, the goal is to enable blockchain networks to handle millions of transactions per second, far exceeding current capabilities.

When will DoubleZero's network be available?

DoubleZero's testnet is already up and running. The full launch of the network is planned for fall 2025, with initial support for the Solana blockchain.

How does DoubleZero's approach differ from private networks used by tech giants?

While tech giants and financial firms often use private networks for performance advantages, these networks don't benefit other companies or the broader ecosystem. DoubleZero's approach involves multiple independent network contributors, creating a more robust, censorship-resistant, and verifiable network while still achieving high performance. This collaborative model aims to bring the benefits of high-performance networking to the entire blockchain industry.

What impact could DoubleZero's network have on blockchain adoption and innovation?

DoubleZero's network could potentially revolutionize blockchain adoption and innovation by dramatically increasing the performance and scalability of blockchain systems. By enabling millions of transactions per second and reducing latency, it could unlock entirely new use cases for blockchain technology. This could level the playing field for blockchain companies competing against established tech giants and potentially accelerate the adoption of blockchain technology across various industries.