# High-level Roadmap

Similar to Aleph Zero: https://alephzero.org/roadmap/
Should be a graphic ideally for easy embedding on social and on the roadmap site.

## Previously...

- IOTA Chrysalis: a new IOTA base layer
- A complete rewrite of the node software and core protocol assumptions for much improved stability, throughput and functionality.
- IOTA Firefly: the user friendly wallet
- A user friendly crypto wallet custom built for IOTA as a native application on both mobile and desktop with security taken seriously.
- IOTA 2.0 Devnet
- A breeding ground for IOTA 2.0 including coordicide. A fully functional and constantly evolving testnet meant for experimentation running on the GoShimmer node software.
- IOTA Smart Contracts - Proof of concept
- Allowing anyone to start a own smart contract chain anchoring it to the IOTA tangle and using the IOTA tangle to connect those chains together. Deployed and running on the IOTA 2.0 Devnet validating smart contracts before supporting them on the IOTA mainnet.

## In progress (ETA on testnet: May 2022)

- Support for anchoring smart contract chains
- Second layer smart contract chains can run in parallel using the IOTA tangle as the shared settlement layer. With this smart contracts can come to the mainnet and no longer rely on the experimental GoShimmer testnet.
- Native asset support as part of the protocol
- Custom tokens are first class citizens with IOTA from this release onward, you can transfer them in the same way as a normal IOTA token, without any fees.
- NFTs on Layer 1
- An NFT is a first class citizen as well from this release onward. Mint and transfer your NFTs on Layer 1 in an environmental friendly way and use them on either the IOTA tangle itself or delegated to a smart contract chain.
- Byte-cost based dust protection
- A complete overhaul of the dust protection system means you can now store data permanently on the IOTA Tangle as long as you are willing to pay a deposit for the storage you are using. No longer using the storage? You'll get your deposit back!
- Plugin based node software
- The node software for IOTA (Bee and Hornet) received a complete overhaul keeping just the core functionality as part of the node itself delegating other, non-essential tasks like indexation to so called INX plugins that can be used by both nodes and can be written in a language of choice allowing more flexibility in node setup, a lighter core and less duplicate implementation effort for additional node functionality.

## The next release

- Shimmer network launch
- The staging network for IOTA, this will be where all the new stuff ends up before going to mainnet after a initial review on a testnet.
- IOTA validator support
- Replacing the coordinator with a set of fixed validators increasing the reliability to a point where downtime of the network should be a thing of the past.
- IOTA Seamless network upgrades
- Allowing you to upgrade your nodes in a seamless way resulting in zero-downtime protocol upgrades.
- The first components of Coordicide
- The implementation of coordicide will happen in steps on top of the trusted and battle-tested Hornet/Bee node software. The first steps for this will be specified in this phase and implemented into the existing node software.
- Public Smart Contract chains
- We'll roll out a public smart contract chain on both Shimmer and the main IOTA network to get started with Smart contracts on top of IOTA without having to run your own chain.

## After that...

- Full coordicide rollout
- Part by part coordicide will be implemented and tested until we no longer rely on the coordinator for the protection of the network.
- Assembly
- Secure smart contract chains on top of IOTA with dynamic validation.
- Scaling/Sharding
- Scaling on layer 2 (Tangle Trees) and Layer 1 (sharding)
- ZK-rollup validation on the tangle
- Validation of zero knowledge proofs on the IOTA tangle allow second layer solutions to trustlessly use IOTA's security to anchor their chains into IOTA.