Blockchain transaction privacy layer Namada has announced the upcoming launch of its first incentivized testnet, which will take the novel shape of a massively multiplayer role-playing game or MMORPG. The testnet marks the final stage of testing ahead of Namada’s mainnet launch, due to take place early next year, 

Namada has created a Layer-1 infrastructure network that utilizes the Anoma Layer-0 protocol to satisfy blockchain’s requirements for transparency and openness while enabling transaction privacy. It does this by performing “shielded actions” to cryptographically obscure the details of any single transaction, while ensuring the outcome is recorded on the blockchain in a provable way. It gives users a secure way to transact privately, without compromising network security. 

The best thing about Namada is that it’s natively multichain, enabling assets to be transferred across networks through a trustless, two-way Ethereum bridge or IBC-compatible chain. In this way, digital assets can be transferred privately across chains with low latency and minimal fees. 

The project uses the same zero-knowledge proof technology that was popularized by early privacy-focused cryptocurrencies like Zcash. With ZK-proofs, Namada can verify any transaction without revealing the wallet addresses involved or the amount of funds sent. It’s an extremely promising project that raised $25 million in its most recent funding round. 

With its gamified testnet, known as a “Shielded Expedition”, participants can join either as a validator (known as a “pilot”) or user (known as a “crew member”). Pilots and crew members are tasked with competing to mine asteroids faster than one another, as a way of verifying Namada’s transactions. They’re restricted only by the sybil-resistance mechanisms employed by the network, its CometBFT consensus algorithms and the laws of physics, Namada said. By joining forces with other pilots and crew members, users can mine asteroids more quickly. 

While some of the asteroids are easy to mine, those that are located in the furthest reaches of the shielded universe are much more difficult to mine. Pilots and crew members will be ranked by the total number of ROIDs or points they can amass, and the winners will be entitled to a share of a rewards pool containing 30 million $NAM tokens, which is 3% of the total supply. 

Namada is inviting would-be participants to apply for its incentivized testament now. The pre-genesis registration period lasts from now until Jan 2, 2024, and once it closes the project’s team will select 100 registrants to take part as pilots. All others will participate as crew members. The actual genesis will occur on Jan. 15, with the testnet to run for between 14 and 21 days. 

By taking part in the Shielded Expedition, users will be able to familiarize themselves with the features and functionality of Namada’s protocol while supporting private, asset-agnostic asset transfers across chains. By capturing as many asteroids as they can and ranking highly on the leaderboard, participants will help to facilitate network transactions and earn substantial rewards that are “reserved for the most capable pilots and crew members”, Namada said.