It’s true, after years of your support, belief and what some would regard as pure stubbornness - we have today got to the announcement many thought might never come. The Network is live - and it’s yours.
I would forgive you entirely for wondering where the bangs, whistles, or even just the press for this historic moment are - they will come, just not quite yet.
We’re launching in a way many would not, in the way that is reflective of David and the integrity he has always shown and inspired in those around him. This early phase launch puts practicalities before pride, stability before sizzle and the future as something that’s not always defined by the present. Phrased another way (and as I shared in response to one of our beloved OGs a little earlier):
The launch of Autonomi is the beginning of the journey and not the end - I’m truly excited to see where the future takes us, and to witness the value people place on a network that’s designed perfectly for it!
*There have been some - okay many - conversations about the Network’s readiness to launch - but as a collective at MaidSafe, we hold the firm belief that the best place for Autonomi to be, is with you - out in the open, where together we can start to show what this endeavour was all about. As David puts it:
Today marks the beginning of something transformative. Sparked from a concept—and a journey—that began some years ago that all of our hard drives could combine to create a massive array of internet disks. But it’s become far more than that.
It’s a vision of what could be if we combined our collective resources and ingenuity, and created a new form of network: autonomous, decentralised, distributed, open and globally accessible. A communication layer baked into the core of the Internet, ready to store and serve all of humanity’s data (including yours) without the need for corporations, gatekeepers, or permission. Safe. Secure. Permanent.
Coupled with David’s and many of your beliefs in something better, there is a rather more calculating move being made. This ‘early phase launch’ is an important period for us to demonstrate to exchanges and partners the stability, security and unique nature of both Autonomi and its Network Token, ahead of the latter replacing the Network’s test token in late January.
We have a lot to do together between now and then, this link will provide you with the most up to date plan: Roadmap | Autonomi — Learn More which also highlights when we will share the update White Paper with you all (token holder happiness matters) and the plans for the ‘MileStone Updates’ ahead of Token Generation Event (TGE) that will happen in late January. Ahead of then we (as the update roadmap shows) be making updates and improvements - the introduction of our first application next week is something to look out for! (I have posted an internal demo in Discord - couldn’t figure out upload here!)
I will note again: that there will be one network token (highlander style), and that it will exchange 1:1 for OMNI $MAID, $EMAID, the Token Rewards earned during beta and now our Test Token (ANT). Native Token will follow its predecessor, the ERC standard Network Token (Native Token will be created by the burning of Network Token, so as not to knock out the economics that will be shared with you shortly - wc Nov, 18)
With that said and shared, I think it only right that the last words of this post go to your Network’s Founder, Architect and Visionary, David Irvine;
We are going to build a place where we can freely think, create, inspire, and build new futures. One that makes digital autonomy achievable for all. Where privacy is the default, not the exception.
To our amazing community, thank you. You’re the backbone of the network that was called impossible. Your tireless work and support has meant our vision can start to be truly realised. This is the beginning of something transformative, and it’s called, Autonomi.