Executive Summary

DoubleZero is redefining blockchain infrastructure by building a high-performance, decentralized network optimized for distributed systems. Unlike traditional blockchains reliant on the public internet’s limitations, DoubleZero’s N1 protocol leverages dedicated fiber-optic cables and permissionless bandwidth contributions to slash latency and boost throughput. It is initially targeting Solana’s validators but is designed for blockchain-agnostic scalability. 

DoubleZero’s vision addresses a critical bottleneck, network connectivity, enabling validators and RPC providers to achieve unparalleled efficiency without sacrificing decentralization. With a live testnet across seven cities and a mainnet planned for late 2025, the project is gaining traction among validators and infrastructure operators. 

About the Project

Vision: 

DoubleZero envisions a decentralized, high-performance internet tailored for blockchains and distributed systems, serving as the backbone for Web3’s future. Rather than building another Layer 1 or 2, it aims to create the world’s first N1 (Network Layer 1), a permissionless network that maximizes speed and fairness without compromising decentralization. 

DoubleZero seeks to power systems like Solana, and eventually others, by reengineering connectivity, enabling millions of transactions per second. Its long-term goal is to redefine global infrastructure, supporting not just crypto but gaming, AI, and enterprise applications, fostering a scalable, equitable digital economy. 

Problem:

Blockchain performance is bottlenecked by the public internet, which is designed for general use, not distributed systems. Validators and RPC providers face high latency, jitter, and spam (~70% of traffic), wasting compute resources on filtering rather than consensus. For example, Solana’s ambition for one million TPS is constrained by unpredictable routing and shared bandwidth. Centralized private networks exist but sacrifice decentralization, leaving blockchains vulnerable to inefficiencies and unequal data access.  

Solutions:

DoubleZero’s N1 protocol builds a decentralized network of fiber-optic cables and hardware, contributed permissionlessly by operators worldwide. Its dual-ring architecture—the outer ring filters spam with FPGAs and the inner ring optimizes validator data flow—slashes latency and boosts throughput. Leveraging underutilized fiber and rewarding contributors with $2Z tokens ensures fairness via multicast technology. Initially focused on Solana, its blockchain-agnostic design scales to other chains, offering a robust, decentralized alternative to public internet constraints. 

Market Analysis

DoubleZero’s N1 protocol operates in the blockchain infrastructure and decentralized physical infrastructure network (DePIN) market, a sector critical to scaling Web3’s performance. Both of these sectors are expanding rapidly due to demand for high-performance networks. The total Layer 1 sector is valued at about $500B, excluding Bitcoin, and the total DePIN sector is valued at about $16B, as per CoinGecko.

DoubleZero’s focus on validator and RPC optimization taps Solana’s $2.5B validator economy, with potential to scale across chains like Ethereum. Rising Web3 adoption signals robust demand for low-latency infrastructure, positioning DoubleZero for significant market share. 

Competition: 

DoubleZero’s N1 protocol has limited competitors, as most solutions rely on the public Internet or centralized clouds. Layer 1 blockchains like Solana and Aptos optimize consensus but not physical connectivity. DePIN projects like Helium (IoT) or Filecoin (storage) address different niches, lacking DoubleZero’s latency focus. Emerging protocols like Walrus, a Solana-based storage layer, target data, not networking. Centralized providers like Cloudflare offer RPC services but sacrifice decentralization, a gap DoubleZero fills with permissionless hardware. So DoubleZero’s unique positioning in validator optimization gives it a first-mover advantage. 

Features

• Dual-Ring Architecture: Separates spam filtering (outer ring) from consensus processing (inner ring) using FPGA-powered nodes, reducing latency by tackling ~70% spam traffic, enabling Solana validators to target millions of TPS. 

• Permissionless Bandwidth Contribution: Allows global operators to contribute fiber-optic cables and hardware, rewarded with $2Z tokens, fostering a decentralized network unlike centralized RPC providers.

• Multicast Technology: Distributes data uniformly to validators, ensuring fairness by preventing large players from monopolizing access, a leap over the public internet’s uneven routing. 

• Blockchain-Agnostic Design: Built for Solana but extendible to chains like Ethereum and Aptos, broadening market reach and future-proofing scalability.

• Real-Time Monitoring Dashboard: Tracks node performance metrics for operators, enhancing trust and reliability through transparent analytics, critical for network uptime. 

Token

$2Z is the native utility token of the N1 protocol, with a total supply of 10 billion. The token is designed to align contributors and operators and power a high-performance ecosystem. New tokens are minted via inflation, and existing tokens are burned for integrity purposes. $2Z tokens enable payments and value exchange, along with maintaining efficiency and security of the network.

Utility: 

• Revenue: Users pay $2Z tokens for connectivity services. 

• Rewards: Network contributors who provide the underlying connectivity services receive the collected revenue and $2Z tokens as rewards. In addition, some of these collected tokens are burned for integrity purposes. 

• Staking: The system has some overhead tasks, like maintaining records of routes, verifying the performance of links, and computing the division of records. Controllers perform these tasks using the stake delegated to them from token holders. The protocol mints $2Z tokens to reward these entities. 

Traction

The DoubleZero protocol is live on testnet in seven cities, and the mainnet is planned for late 2025. The Solana Firedancer client was tested running over the DoubleZero network, achieving a throughput of one mission transaction per second. DoubeZero has an ongoing token sale (1.5% of the supply) for validators of  Solana, Sui, Aptos, Avalanche, and Celestia networks, with over 1000 indications of interest, as per CoinList. 

Team

The DoubleZero team combines deep expertise in blockchain, networking, and decentralized systems, instilling confidence in its ability to execute the ambitious vision of the N1 protocol. Leading the project is Austin Federa, CEO and Co-founder, a former Solana Foundation strategist who shaped its validator ecosystem. His insights into blockchain scalability drive DoubleZero’s focus on low-latency networking. Andrew McConnell is the CTO and has prior experience in Web3 network architecture. David McIntyre is the COO and has previously worked at Solana Foundation as a Director. This blend of Solana pioneers, networking experts, and crypto veterans equips DoubleZero to deliver a decentralized, high-performance network. 

Investors

The project raised $28M in a March 2025 token sale, valued at $400M. Multicoin Capital and DragonFly Capital led the round. Multicoin, known for backing Solana and Helius, brings expertise in scaling high-performance blockchains, aligning with DoubleZero’s latency goals. Additional investors include Foundation Capital, Reciprocal Ventures, Anagram, Borderless Capital, Superscript, Frictionless, and others. 

Conclusion

DoubleZero represents a groundbreaking approach to addressing one of the most critical bottlenecks in blockchain performance: network connectivity. By introducing the world’s first N1 protocol, DoubleZero redefines decentralized infrastructure with its high-performance, permissionless network built on dedicated fiber-optic cables and advanced hardware. 

Its dual-ring architecture, multicast technology, and blockchain-agnostic design position it as a transformative solution. It initially optimizes Solana’s validator ecosystem while laying the foundation for broader applications across Ethereum, Aptos, and beyond. The project’s ability to slash latency, filter spam, and ensure equitable data access tackles the inefficiencies of the public internet, offering a decentralized alternative to centralized providers like Cloudflare. Beyond crypto, its scalable, low-latency network has the potential to power gaming, AI, and enterprise applications.