XDC 2.0 Mainnet Release: Key Features and Enhancements

Introduction

The blockchain ecosystem is set to experience a significant upgrade with the launch of XDC 2.0 on October 2, 2024, at block number 80370000. This mainnet release introduces several enhancements aimed at improving the network's efficiency, security, and user experience. One of the key highlights of this upgrade is the XDPOS Consensus Upgrade 2.0, which promises to revolutionize the way transactions are processed and validated.

Main Feature Introduced

The main feature of XDC 2.0 is the XDPOS Consensus Upgrade 2.0. This upgrade aims to enhance the consensus mechanism, ensuring more secure and faster transaction validations. The new consensus model incorporates advanced algorithms to increase the efficiency of the network while maintaining its decentralized nature. This upgrade is crucial for accommodating the growing number of transactions and users on the platform.

Increase in Transaction Fees

With the XDC 2.0 upgrade, there will be a 50x increase in transaction fees starting from block number 80370000. While an increase in fees might initially raise concerns, it is essential to highlight that this change comes with significant benefits for the network and its users.

Before the Upgrade

• Actual Transaction Cost/Fee: 0.0002265948 XDC ($0.00000637)

After the Upgrade

• Actual Transaction Cost/Fee: 0.0044273125 XDC ($0.00012928)

Positive Impact on Masternode Owners
The increased transaction fees mean higher rewards for masternode owners. This incentivizes more participants to become masternodes, thereby enhancing the network's decentralization and security. Higher rewards will attract more validators, leading to a more robust and resilient blockchain network.

Maintaining Affordable Transaction Fees
Despite the increase, transaction fees on the XDPOS network will remain competitively low compared to other blockchain platforms. The upgrade ensures that users continue to enjoy affordable transaction costs while benefiting from a more secure and efficient network.

Disabling XDCx

Another significant change in this upgrade is the disabling of XDCx, effective from block number 80370000. This move aims to streamline the network operations and eliminate complexities associated with XDCx. By disabling XDCx, the network can focus on enhancing core functionalities and ensuring a smoother user experience.

Patch Implementations

• The XDC 2.0 upgrade includes the implementation of several important patches:
• EIP-2718: Standardizes transaction types, making it easier to add new transaction types in the future.
• EIP-2930: Introduces access lists to improve transaction execution efficiency.
• EIP-2929: Increases gas costs for certain operations to mitigate denial-of-service attacks.

New Methods and Features

• The upgrade also brings new methods and features to the network:
• debug_traceCall: Allows detailed tracing of transactions for debugging purposes.
• eth_getBlockReceipts: Retrieves all receipts for a given block.
• eth_GetTransactionAndReceiptProof: Provides proof of a transaction and its receipt, enhancing transparency and trust in the network.

What's Changed

Several technical improvements and fixes have been made to the network, including:

• Adding missing checks in the consensus mechanism to ensure network integrity.
• Enhancing logging capabilities with deep copy functionality.
• Implementing workflows for EC2 RPC nodes for better scalability.
• Fixing various bugs and improving parameter handling for smoother operations.
• Renaming and updating functions to improve clarity and functionality.
• Enabling the 0x address scheme by default, with an option to enable the xdc prefix flag.
• Adding new block location fields to receipts for better traceability.

Steps to upgrade the XDC Mainnet Node: Choose Method 1 or Method 2

Method 1: Upgrade via Script

• Navigate to the mainnet directory:

cd XinFin-Node/mainnet

• Run the upgrade script:

bash upgrade.sh

Method 2: Manual Upgrade Command

• Navigate to the mainnet directory:

cd XinFin-Node/mainnet

• Pull the latest changes from the repository:

git pull

• Stop the current Docker containers:

sudo docker-compose -f docker-compose.yml down

• Pull the latest Docker image:

sudo docker pull xinfinorg/xdposchain:v2.0.0

• Start the Docker containers with the updated image:

sudo docker-compose -f docker-compose.yml up -d

• To verify that your node is running XDC v2.0.0, execute the following command:

sudo bash xdc-attach.sh

Conclusion

The XDC 2.0 mainnet release marks a significant milestone for the blockchain network. With its advanced consensus upgrade, increased rewards for masternode owners, and various technical improvements, XDC 2.0 is set to enhance the overall performance, security, and user experience. While transaction fees are increasing, they remain competitively low, ensuring that the network continues to be accessible and affordable for all users. The future of XDPOS looks promising as it continues to innovate and lead in the blockchain space.