Celebrating 10 Years of Tezos: A Journey from Vision to Reality

The Beginning: A Visionary Whitepaper

It all started in 2014. Blockchain was still an untamed frontier, Bitcoin ruled the crypto world, and many were still figuring out how this new technology could truly evolve. Enter Tezos, introduced by “L. M. Goodman” (Arthur Breitman), with a bold idea that would forever change the game—a self-amending Proof of Stake blockchain that could upgrade without forks. This meant Tezos could adapt, grow, and thrive without the community-splitting issues that had plagued other projects.

Security, scalability, and formal verification were all at the core of Tezos’ DNA, with an on-chain governance model that allowed for continuous improvement. Back then, it was a radical vision. Today, it’s a reality.

The Early Days: Challenges and Triumphs

Let’s not forget the journey wasn’t without its bumps. The early days brought internal challenges and mainnet delays, but the community’s belief in the project never wavered. During that time, the now iconic meme, “when lunch,” was born out of a typo for “launch” and quickly spread through the community as they eagerly awaited the mainnet.

In 2018, Tezos launched its mainnet, marking the beginning of a new era. The on-chain governance system worked as envisioned, and the project’s unique features—like liquid staking—were well received. The Tezos we see today wouldn’t have been possible without the resilience of the community during those crucial early months.

A Decade of Innovation

Fast forward to today, and the journey has been nothing short of spectacular. Tezos’ self-amending feature has proven its worth, with 16 protocol upgrades (and counting) having been deployed without a single fork. From reducing block times to implementing advanced features and even changing its consensus algorithm, Tezos has set a high bar for blockchain adaptability.

And let’s not forget—every single upgrade has been voted on by the community, thanks to the on-chain governance system that Tezos pioneered. The very mechanism that was once just a concept in the whitepaper has now become a model for decentralized decision-making.

The Heart and Soul of Tezos: Its Community

More than any technical feature, what truly defines Tezos is its community. Over the past decade, the Tezos ecosystem has grown into a global movement, driven by developers, bakers, artists, and enthusiasts. This network of passionate individuals has been the beating heart of Tezos, contributing code, running nodes, and expanding the ecosystem in ways we couldn’t have imagined.

Meetups, collaborations, and community-driven projects have continued to shape Tezos’ identity. The bond within this community is unlike any other, and it’s this collective energy that keeps pushing Tezos forward.

Looking Ahead: The Next Decade

As we celebrate this ten-year milestone, it’s impossible not to look ahead at what’s next. With the Tezos roadmap continuing to unfold, and the path toward Tezos X becoming clearer, the next decade promises to be even more exciting.

From further protocol upgrades to new dApps, collaborations, and a thriving ecosystem, the future is as bright as ever. Tezos continues to lead with its focus on security, upgradability, and decentralized governance, and there’s no doubt that we’re only scratching the surface of what this blockchain can achieve.

Here’s to the Next Ten Years!

Tezos, happy anniversary. Here’s to ten years of game-changing ideas, community resilience, and continuous innovation. And most importantly, here’s to the future—a future that promises to be just as revolutionary as the past decade.

Thank you to every visionary, builder, and community member who has made Tezos what it is today. We can’t wait to see what the next ten years will bring!

Also if you want to hear directly from Arthur Breitman himself, be sure to check out our special 10 Years of Tezos Anniversary X Space here: Listen Now.

It’s #Staketember—Are You Staking on Tezos Yet?

Welcome to #Staketember, Tezos community! If you’re not staking your tez yet, now is the perfect time to get started. Staking on Tezos is not only an easy way to support the network, but it also benefits you with potential rewards.

Why Stake on Tezos?

When you stake your tez, you’re doing more than just locking up tokens—you’re actively contributing to the strength and stability of the Tezos blockchain. Here’s how staking helps:

🔐 Securing and Stabilizing the Network: Your staked tez plays a vital role in ensuring the security and resilience of the network, making it more difficult for malicious actors to disrupt the blockchain.

🌐 Promoting Decentralization: Staking helps distribute network control across a wider group of participants, reducing the concentration of power and promoting a more decentralized system.

🤝 Incentivizing Good Behavior: By staking, you’re aligning your incentives with the health of the network, which encourages participants to act responsibly and maintain the integrity of the blockchain.

What’s in it for You?

Staking isn’t just about helping the ecosystem—you’ll also be helping yourself by earning rewards! When you stake, you can potentially earn up to 2x rewards on your staked tez, depending on the staking method you choose.

Ready to Get Started?

Getting started with staking is easy, and we’ve got a step-by-step guide to help you. If you’re ready to begin earning rewards, watch this helpful video that walks you through the process: Watch Now

Let’s make this #Staketember the best one yet—start staking today and contribute to the future of Tezos!

This Week in the Tezos Ecosystem

Tezos Foundation August 2024 Grant Roundup

The Tezos ecosystem thrives on innovation, creativity, and the support of its ever-growing community. Each month, the Tezos Foundation empowers groundbreaking projects that are pushing the boundaries of Web3 through its strategic grant program. These grants not only fuel advancements in key sectors like gaming, DeFi, and the arts, but also play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Tezos.

In this edition of the Tezos Foundation Grant Roundup, we’re excited to highlight some of the most transformative projects that received support in August 2024. Let’s dive into how these initiatives are driving growth and innovation across the Tezos network.

Explorus

Developed by Functori, Explorus is a game-changing tool designed specifically for core developers who want in-depth insights into Tezos’ consensus mechanisms and advanced features like optimistic rollups. This powerful platform equips developers with the knowledge needed to harness these cutting-edge technologies effectively, fostering innovation within the Tezos ecosystem. Functori, known for its blockchain consulting and R&D expertise, continues to advance blockchain technology with projects like Explorus, further solidifying Tezos' position at the forefront of Web3 development.

The Graph

The Graph, a decentralized protocol for indexing and querying blockchain data, has become an essential tool for blockchain analysis. With its integration into Etherlink, users can now create subgraphs via the Subgraph Studio to organize and analyze Etherlink data efficiently. This integration allows developers to seamlessly index, query, and analyze a vast range of blockchain activities, opening up new possibilities for how blockchain data can be utilized and understood within the Tezos ecosystem.

The projects featured in this August grant roundup are just a snapshot of the transformative work being done within the Tezos ecosystem. As the network continues to expand and evolve, we can expect even more innovative projects to emerge, each one contributing to the ongoing growth and strength of the Tezos community.

Xalts Onboards Tezos: Driving the Tokenization of Real-World Assets

In a significant step toward expanding the use of blockchain in the enterprise world, Xalts has announced its collaboration with the Tezos Foundation to onboard the Tezos blockchain for its RWA Cloud platform. Xalts, known for its plug-and-play solutions for enterprise developers, will now offer Tezos as a robust option for institutions looking to tokenize real-world assets (RWAs) and build scalable blockchain applications.

What Does This Partnership Mean?

Xalts and Tezos will work together to promote the adoption of blockchain technology by providing out-of-the-box solutions for developers across industries. Whether it’s financial services, governments, or large institutions, Xalts will now enable these players to easily build blockchain applications, tokenize assets, and implement smart contracts for various use cases.

This partnership comes at a time when many global regulators, such as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, have launched tokenization use cases to drive innovation in their financial sectors.

RWA Cloud and Etherlink: A Seamless Integration

Xalts’ RWA Cloud platform, a core product for large-scale blockchain development, will now integrate Etherlink, the non-custodial EVM Layer 2 solution powered by Tezos. Etherlink’s smart roll-up technology offers high-speed execution and low transaction costs, making it an ideal choice for institutions looking to scale their operations on the blockchain.

RWA Cloud helps enterprises overcome the complexity of blockchain adoption by simplifying processes like issuance, servicing, and asset transfers. With Etherlink as the backbone, these organizations will be able to manage complex governance, workflows, and user permissions on-chain and off-chain, ensuring smooth implementation of blockchain-based solutions.

A Solution for Every Industry

Xalts and Tezos aim to accelerate blockchain adoption across industries by offering easy-to-use tools for various use cases, including:

• Tokenization of Funds, Securities, and Trade Finance Assets

• Digital Currencies and Central Bank Digital Currencies (CDBCs)

• Regulatory Solutions for Governments

These solutions will enable enterprises to develop blockchain applications quickly and at a low cost, using Xalts’ RWA Cloud on Etherlink.

This collaboration between Xalts and Tezos represents a significant opportunity for enterprises to embrace blockchain technology with minimal friction. By simplifying the development of blockchain applications and ensuring high security through Tezos’ smart-rollups, the partnership aims to bring faster and more accessible blockchain solutions to developers, governments, and institutions worldwide.

As Ashutosh Goel, CEO of Xalts, put it: “This partnership will make the development of blockchain and smart contract solutions much more accessible and accelerate enterprise use cases.”

With Tezos continuing to prioritize institutional-grade security and scalability, and the innovative tools offered by Xalts, this collaboration is set to push the boundaries of blockchain adoption even further.

🔴 Now Streaming: Fortifying Startups with TZ APAC

This week, we’re joined by Imran Haqeem, Deputy Head of Lab Strategy at TZ APAC, to explore how Fortify Labs is helping startups become commercially viable businesses through high levels of support and an extended accelerator period.

🌟 Our special guest is Imran Haqeem, sharing insights from TZ APAC’s innovative Fortify Labs program.

🔍 In this episode, we'll explore:

What is Fortify Labs? - Learn about the startup studio focused on providing extensive support and expertise, turning startups into sustainable businesses over an eight-month accelerator period.

Imran's Insight: - Imran highlights the importance of founder market fit, being mission-driven, and having the right kind of persistence to succeed.

Web3 Trends in APAC: - Discover the latest trends in the APAC Web3 market, including a growing focus on gaming and user-centered applications.

Success Stories & Future Initiatives: - Hear about the success of Questflow and OCV Labs, and get a sneak peek into upcoming projects like Tezos Realms and the next cohort of Fortify Labs.

🖥 Stream: YouTube | X

Events

Calling All Tezos Artists: Your Chance to Shine at Subjective NYC!

Attention, Tezos Art Community! Are you ready to make your mark in one of the biggest cultural hubs in the world? From September 27-29, your art could be featured at Subjective NYC, an exciting event showcasing the best of Tezos-based creativity. This is your opportunity to have your work displayed in the heart of New York City, thanks to the generous support of Tezos Commons.

How to Apply:

1. Share your best unminted artwork on X using the hashtag #vwsubjective.

2. Retweet the original event post to help spread the word.

3. Make sure you follow the event organizer (unless your DMs are already open) to stay updated.

Winning pieces will be minted on objkt.com before the event, so this is your chance to get your art in front of a new audience and be a part of the thriving Tezos art community.

Let’s show NYC the creative power of the Tezos ecosystem. Don’t miss this opportunity to showcase your work on a global stage!

🗽 Submit today and be part of something unforgettable!