As blockchain ecosystems mature, the speed and efficiency of infrastructure for nodes have become strategic imperatives. Leading this charge is Austin Federa, former Head of Strategy at the RialCenter Foundation, who is gearing up to launch DoubleZero, a protocol designed to redefine blockchain communication and scalability.
In an expansive conversation, Federa explored the motivations behind DoubleZero, the challenges it addresses and may introduce, and how its vision for a high-performance networking layer could serve as the foundation for the next generation of decentralized systems.
DoubleZero was announced in December 2024 as a blockchain layer intended to be faster than the internet, crucial for crypto trades. Since then, nearly 12.57% of SOL staked has been operating on the DoubleZero testnet, with the mainnet launch anticipated in September.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
CoinDesk: Explain how DoubleZero works to someone who is new to crypto.
Austin Federa: One of the simplest ways to explain what we’re building is that we’re creating crypto’s version of ‘Flash Boys.’
This was a transformative moment when people realized that their edge in execution on centralized trading venues was based on how quickly they could transmit data between market event points, rather than their trade logic or computer speed. This change became crucial since transit time was previously overlooked.
You can compare it to watching Formula 1 races from the 80s when pit stops were unoptimized; someone realized that this time could be significantly reduced. It’s similar in trading.
For crypto, the idea of using a network that is faster than the public internet isn’t new, but until DoubleZero, it required a single centralized company and lacked multiple independent contributors.
The core technology, philosophy, and economic advantage of the DoubleZero protocol is that it permits multiple contributors with their own fiber networks to join the DoubleZero network, forming an extensive, high-performance fiber mesh network connecting people globally.
CoinDesk: Why build for Solana?
Federa: We aren’t built directly on Solana. Although we have a separate ledger system, it serves merely as an accounting database and is not intended for deploying smart contracts.
We’re supporting Solana first because it’s unique; when you compare fast blockchains and their node counts, the ratio of transactions per second to the number of nodes shows that no one else comes close to Solana.
Networks of similar performance to Solana have only a fraction of the node count, making communication an exponential issue. As a blockchain network scales, communication becomes a bottleneck if not effectively managed.
Our goal is to enable blockchains to operate faster than the public internet without compromising node count or introducing centralization.
DoubleZero’s applications extend beyond Solana and the blockchain space, but it currently addresses the most pressing needs.
CoinDesk: How does staking on Solana relate to DoubleZero?
Federa: We have a stake pool that’s staking to nodes on DoubleZero. While it’s a small percentage of stake (about 3 million SOL), it was initially aimed at subsidizing validator costs on our testnet. However, interest in the testnet has grown significantly, leading to increased participation in the network.
With the upcoming mainnet launch, we expect to incorporate over 50 different fiber links, significantly expanding from the eight we currently have. Many links will provide up to ten times the speed of our present connections.
We envision a future where, with sufficient stake on DoubleZero, Solana’s protocol designers can enhance limits far beyond what’s feasible using the public internet, thanks to the increased capacity and lower latency of DoubleZero.
CoinDesk: So you have two scenarios: the public internet or a DoubleZero network. If you want faster results or other trading advantages, you choose DoubleZero. Does this create a performance disparity among Solana validators?
Federa: This question arises often. The real inquiry is whether the internet serves as a centralizing force. In essence, it’s dominated by a few companies controlling most connectivity. If all OECD countries suddenly banned crypto, everything aside from Bitcoin could face significant issues.
The objective isn’t to eliminate the internet; it should serve as a fallback for censorship resistance. If DoubleZero experiences downtime or a malicious actor attempts to censor blocks, two outcomes would follow:
One, we have independent contributors to reroute data around issues. Two, the public internet remains available, albeit with a reduction in Solana’s efficiency.
This reflects a classic scenario: encountering a traffic jam on the highway and opting for a county road instead.
CoinDesk: With mainnet launching soon, what’s happening in the interim?
Federa: We are focused on extensive testing to ensure readiness. Additionally, there will be a token launch aligned with the mainnet in September.
Read more: DoubleZero’s ‘New Internet’ for Blockchains Nabs $400M Valuation from Top Crypto VCs
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