The Aleo community has united around a common vision: creating a more secure internet where privacy is the default, powered by a zero-knowledge (ZK) network. Since 2020, this journey has led to significant milestones, including the largest setup ceremony in blockchain history, multiple testnets, and community-driven incentives that have solidified Aleo’s architecture and cultivated a thriving ecosystem.
With over 500,000 active Discord members, 10,000+ deployed programs, and 300+ Ambassadors, the Aleo community has been instrumental in advancing zero-knowledge technology and shaping the network’s journey to mainnet. This article details the key contributions of the community, from testnets to incentive programs and competitions, that have driven Aleo’s progress.
The Beginning: Testnet 1 and Developer Preview (2020)
Aleo’s journey started in December 2019 when it was founded by Howard Wu, Michael Beller, Collin Chin, and Raymond Chu with a goal to build the first platform for fully private applications using zero-knowledge cryptography. In June 2020, Aleo released its developer preview, along with Aleo Studio and the Leo v1 programming language.
In August 2020, Aleo launched its first testnet, implementing the ZEXE research paper. This marked the beginning of building private applications on Aleo and set the foundation for future progress.
Aleo’s Record-Breaking Setup Ceremony (August 2021)
One of Aleo’s most notable achievements is its Setup Ceremony — a massive multiparty computation (MPC) event that secured the network’s zkSNARK cryptography. Inspired by Zcash’s Powers of Tau, over 2,200 participants globally contributed to the ceremony, which laid the foundation for Aleo’s decentralized private compute (DPC) functionality.
This event was crucial in ensuring the security of Aleo’s Universal, Inner, and Outer setups, preparing the network for large-scale deployment.
Testnet 2: Scaling and Refining Consensus (2021–2022)
Testnet 2 launched in 2021, pushing Aleo’s technical capabilities with 10,000 nodes producing millions of zero-knowledge proofs. During this phase, Aleo addressed key consensus challenges, including the transition from Nakamoto Consensus to ASERT, a significant improvement for network security and scalability.
More than 15 million Aleo Credits were awarded to miners, provers, and contributors who enhanced the network by contributing to code, utilizing GPUs, and testing performance.
In January 2022, Aleo launched the Testnet 2 Incentives Program, rewarding top miners, developers, and pool testers for their contributions.
Testnet 3: Advancing Consensus and Developer Engagement (2022–2023)
Building on its previous successes, Testnet 3 introduced the AleoBFT consensus algorithm, which combined proof-of-stake with a work-based compensation scheme for provers. This version also featured “Deploy & Execute,” allowing developers to deploy zero-knowledge programs and users to interact with them.
Aleo ran two major incentive programs during Testnet 3:
- Prover Incentives Program (January 2023): Over 44,000 provers from 94 countries joined the network, reaching a peak of 750 million proofs per second.
- Deploy Incentives Program (August 2023): Over 1,000 submissions and 130 unique GitHub repositories were created, with top projects receiving 6 million Aleo Credits.
Prover Incentives II and Testnet Beta (July 2024)
In July 2024, Aleo launched its Prover Incentives II Program on Testnet Beta. This program aimed to validate the coinbase reward mechanism and puzzle design. Provers were rewarded with 1 million Aleo Credits over two weeks, ensuring the network’s infrastructure was ready for the mainnet launch.
Community Engagement and Ecosystem Expansion
Beyond technical milestones, Aleo has nurtured a passionate community through various initiatives:
- Aleo Ambassador Program: Launched in 2022, this program now includes over 415 members who create educational content and advocate for Aleo. Post-mainnet, Ambassadors will take a more active role in governance.
- ZPrize Competition: Launched in 2022 with over $7 million in prizes, ZPrize encouraged innovations in zero-knowledge technology, resulting in breakthroughs across cryptographic algorithms.
- zkML Initiative: In May 2023, Aleo introduced its Zero-Knowledge Machine Learning (zkML) program, merging machine learning with zero-knowledge cryptography.
- Enigma Event Series: Launched in December 2023, this series brings top ZK developers together for workshops and competitions.
Preparing for Mainnet (2024)
As Aleo gears up for its mainnet launch in 2024, it has taken critical steps to secure the network. Aleo partnered with Trail of Bits, NCC Group, and zkSecurity for comprehensive audits of its snarkOS and snarkVM. These audits, along with additional security measures, are vital for a smooth mainnet transition.
In December 2023, Aleo established the Aleo Network Foundation to oversee its future as a decentralized, open-source platform. The foundation will focus on developer education, grants, and product incubation.
Looking Ahead: The Road to Mainnet and Beyond
The Aleo community’s contributions have been extraordinary, playing a key role in the network’s progression toward mainnet. As Aleo moves into its next phase, the community remains central to its mission of building a secure, private, and decentralized internet.
With ongoing testnets, incentive programs, and competitions, Aleo continues to lead the way in the zero-knowledge space. The future holds exciting opportunities for developers, miners, provers, and Ambassadors to help shape the next chapter of Aleo’s journey.
