In a recently released video titled “Hydra’s next steps,” Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson explained the roadmap for Hydra’s scaling solution and detailed how private companies will soon lead new developments in the ecosystem. The announcement comes just before the official conclusion of the Hydra Doom program, which will be marked by a tournament in Las Vegas on January 20.
Next Steps for Cardano’s Hydra
According to Hoskinson, Hydra Doom started last year to demonstrate Hydra’s abilities under extreme conditions. He explained the reason for using a classic video game as a testing ground: “We chose a video game because video games are universally understood and video games have historically pushed what computers can do.”
By turning the entire framework into a mission and allowing for competitive multiplayer, the Hydra Doom setup tested Hydra’s performance and durability in a “Byzantine environment.” Hoskinson noted that this area “stress tested” Hydra both in terms of hardware requirements and game theory behavior for players who had strong motivations to cheat.
“The Hydra Doom program has been incredibly successful. It brought together many partners and inspired many people to invest in Hydra’s ecosystem.”
The Hydra Doom Tournament, which ends on January 20 in Las Vegas, will award a winner determined by a ritual-based tournament. While Hoskinson expressed sadness at seeing the move come to an end, he expressed excitement for the next phase of Hydra’s growth.
As Hydra Doom draws to a close, Hydra’s development enters what Hoskinson describes as “the next phase of its evolution.” He emphasized that companies like Anastasia and Sunday Labs are already building their own infrastructure for Hydra, especially with regard to Midgard and the Gummy Worm protocol:
“We will invite them to the IO innovation team and give them at least three to six months of R&D prototyping so that things like the Midgard and Gummy Worm systems, respectively developed by Anastasia and Church, can start working their way into production. Cardano applications.”
Hoskinson cited additional areas of research and implementation for Hydra, including “head-to-head communication, the introduction of zero technology in Hydra heads, [and] The protocol of the tail of Hydra.” He emphasized that Cardano’s method of scaling is iterative, pointing out that each year will bring improvements, rather than a single “magic” one.
The Hydra solution, which Hoskinson described as a “hidden gem,” is already in use. Input Output (IO), the software development company behind Cardano, has found the technology to be essential in reducing costs on projects like Midnight and Glacier Drop. Meanwhile, external projects continue to explore Hydra’s potential for gaming, micro-payments, decentralized exchanges (DEXs), and financial (DeFi) applications:
“The hope is to make these things integrated into the DEX and DeFi experience, the micropayment experience, and the games.” Hoskinson also elaborated on the synergy between Hydra and other future scaling methods: “It’s a complementary solution for scaling things like ZK Fold, things like Partner Chains, things like Ouroboros Leios.”
He also outlined a long-term plan to integrate proof of identity and cross-chain technology into Hydra, which aligns with Cardano’s broader goal of pursuing “all of the above scaling menu.”
Thinking about the future, Hoskinson reiterated that Hydra is still important to the evolution of Cardano as the blockchain project enters a new era: “If we look at the next three to five to ten years, we will see ourselves going that way as a parallel solution for scaling. on what has already been achieved with Cardano as of today and what will be achieved as we enter the age of Leos and the age of zero information and peer chains. “
Although the end of the Hydra Doom tournament will mean the end of the current phase, its legacy seems poised to influence Cardano’s road to promotion for years to come. Hoskinson expressed optimism about the actual, real-world integration on the mainnet, saying that while these are “early days,” they mark an important step in revealing the true power of Hydra.
“Hydra Doom has revealed its abilities. So it’s sad to see that come to an end…but I’m excited to see the next generation where we take it to the next level and show it with real life applications on the Cardano blockchain on the mainnet.”
At press time, ADA traded at $0.91.
Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com