The Avalanche Foundation has announced Retro9000, a new grant program aimed at incentivizing developers to build on Avalanche, a leading blockchain platform. With up to $40 million in retroactive funding available, Retro9000 is a core component of Avalanche9000, the largest upgrade to the Avalanche ecosystem to date. The program rewards developers who test and launch foundational tools and infrastructure on the Avalanche network, specifically targeting Layer 1 (L1) blockchains.

New $40 Million Grant Program 

More About Retro9000

The Retro9000 initiative provides developers with the resources they need to overcome the economic and technical barriers often encountered in the blockchain landscape. Developers will receive rewards for their innovations, particularly those that contribute to the Avalanche L1 ecosystem and critical developer tooling. Projects are ranked on a public leaderboard, with community votes playing a role in determining grant allocations.

According to Luigi D'Onorio DeMeo, Chief Operating Officer at Ava Labs, “Avalanche9000 is the culmination of years of development work to build a platform that can support fast, scalable, and connected L1s.” Retro9000 aims to engage early-stage developers by offering incentives to build, test, and launch projects on Avalanche9000, the upgraded testnet. This initiative encourages transparency, urging developers to build publicly, gather community support, and earn rewards.

Retro9000 Website Screenshot 1

Lowering Barriers for L1 Blockchain Development

Avalanche9000 introduces several technical improvements aimed at reducing the costs and complexity of deploying L1 blockchains. One of the major features of this upgrade is the removal of the requirement for L1 validators to validate the Primary Network. This change significantly lowers the financial barriers to deploying and maintaining an L1 blockchain on Avalanche.

Martin Eckardt, Director of Developer Relations at Ava Labs, explained the importance of this development: "L1 validators will no longer have to stake high amounts of AVAX for entry, giving thousands of projects access to a custom, interoperable blockchain built on a battle-tested tech stack at a low cost."

Gaming on Avalanch

This change is expected to accelerate blockchain development and make it more accessible to a wider range of developers and projects. Other features of Avalanche9000 include the Etna Upgrade, ACP-77, and enhanced network interoperability via Interchain Messaging (ICM).

These updates aim to create an environment where L1 blockchains can communicate more easily, share resources, and drive network effects across the ecosystem. In addition to Retro9000’s financial incentives, the upgrade also offers new tooling, community support, and access to the Core browser hub, all designed to enhance the development experience on Avalanche.

Retro9000 Website Screenshot 2

Community and Developer Support

The Retro9000 program places a strong emphasis on community involvement. Developers are encouraged to engage with the broader Avalanche community, leveraging community support to inform their projects and maximize their chances of earning grants.

The leaderboard-driven approach allows community members to vote on projects, ensuring that the most impactful and innovative solutions receive recognition and funding. The Avalanche Foundation continues to support the growth of its ecosystem through initiatives like Retro9000 and Avalanche9000.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to establish Avalanche as a premier blockchain platform for developers looking to build scalable and interoperable solutions. You can learn more about Avalanche9000 during the upcoming Avalanche Summit LATAM in Argentina (October 16 to 18) or via the website here.