TL;DR:

• Radix Labs is conducting a groundbreaking Hyperscale Alpha network (formerly Cassandra) test on the 18th of December 2024
• The test will demonstrate true systemic scalability, targeting a sustained 1 million complex transactions per second.
• This is as close to a real-world performance test as it gets—nodes operated by people like you around the world, handling complex transactions under intentionally imperfect conditions. No gimmicks, no disabled essential features—just raw, authentic testing.
• Community involvement is key: join the network, validate, and contribute.

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Introduction: What Makes Radix Hyperscale Alpha Special

Radix Labs is preparing for a monumental throughput test of the Hyperscale Alpha research network. Unlike typical "TPS Tests" that offer flashy numbers but fail to reflect real-world scenarios, the Hyperscale Alpha test will showcase true systemic scalability under genuine conditions. 

This is a proof point for Radix's approach to scaling decentralized networks of value and supporting complex smart contract execution without compromising performance at the “internet scale” required for a universal asset layer.

The test aims to process at least 1 million complex transactions per second using a globally distributed validator set involving community participation over a sustained period of time. 

If you'd like the full deep dive, it is recommended that you read the entire blog series from Radix Labs that provides more details on Cassandra and the Hyperscale network. This will be coming out tomorrow (December 12th 2024.) 

Radix Labs Hyperscale Alpha Test: A Vision for Internet-Scale DeFi

All systems, from pizza kitchens to blockchains, balance capacity and demand. Scaling isn’t just about raw throughput; it's about ensuring that a system functions smoothly, efficiently, and at a reasonable cost under real-world loads.

With Hyperscale Alpha, Radix Labs is challenging the usual notion of blockchain scalability by focusing on what really matters: decentralization, throughput, responsiveness, and security, all scaling together. 

Too often, blockchain "scaling" tests have been a showcase of corner-cutting: a few validators on high-end hardware in centralized data centers processing simplified transactions that don’t reflect what users will actually do.

In this test, expect the exact opposite: everything required in a live setting will be enabled during testing. From complex smart contract operations to global validator distribution, this test will put Hyperscale Alpha under conditions as close to real-world as possible.

What Makes the Radix Labs Test Different

Here's why the Hyperscale Alpha test is unlike any other performance test in blockchain history:

1. All Features Enabled: No gimmicks. The Hyperscale Alpha network will be running with all the complex operations required for real-world functionality. That means security features like signature verification stay turned on, and throughput will be tested with various complex transaction types.
   
   
2. Global Validator Set: The test network will be fully distributed, with validators across multiple continents, reflecting Radix’s commitment to decentralization.
   
   
3. Atomic Composability at Scale: Radix's platform is uniquely designed to support cross-shard atomic composability without sacrificing scalability. The Hyperscale Alpha test demonstrates Radix's ability to execute DeFi transactions that require multiple actions, like swapping, in a single, instant transaction—something other scalable networks struggle to achieve due to reliance on side-chains or non-atomic operations.
   
   
4. Community Involvement: Unlike other projects that control every aspect of their "high-performance" tests, the Radix Community and any other third party are invited to run validators. This ensures hardware diversity and network conditions that reflect true, deployed environments. Your participation will make this test authentic.
5. 1 Million+ Complex Transactions Per Second: This is the goal. Not with simplified "mock transactions" but with genuine workloads: smart contracts, transactions, and rogue operations thrown in to ensure that Radix can handle anything thrown at it.
   
   
6. Open Source Verification: Radix Labs believes in setting a high standard for transparency. The Hyperscale Alpha test code and results will be open-source, allowing anyone to verify the test parameters and performance outcomes. This openness reinforces the commitment to building trust with the community and setting a precedent for honest blockchain performance testing.
   
   

Why Hyperscale Matters

The world doesn’t need another flashy TPS number designed for marketing slides—it needs blockchains that scale with real users and real economic activity.  The Hyperscale Alpha test is Radix's proof that it is prepared to be the universal asset layer for a DeFi-driven world.

Systemically scaling is important because every part of the system must improve to handle increased loads. Just like a pizza kitchen, there's no use in hiring 100 delivery drivers if there is only one chef in the kitchen - speeding up one part of the process is irrelevant if the others lag behind. For blockchains, if throughput increases but the network becomes more centralized or responsiveness drops, it’s not real scalability. With Hyperscale Alpha, Radix Labs will show how everything scales together.

Get Involved

This test isn't just for Radix Labs - it's for you. If you want to see how the Radix Labs Hyperscale Alpha network performs under real-world conditions, consider joining the network as a validator or an observer. By participating, you’ll contribute to a global experiment in blockchain scalability and help ensure that the future of decentralized finance is built on solid foundations.

To get involved directly with the test, please join the Radix Hyperscale Alpha telegram channel to get more information: https://t.me/cassandraplayground 

To learn more about Radix Hyperscale Alpha, check out the full blog series dropping tomorrow, December 12th.

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