Sentinel Hub Software Upgrade Proposal

# Sentinel Hub Software Upgrade Proposal – Version 12 ## Title **Sentinel Hub Upgrade to v12 - Protocol Modernization and Feature Expansion** ## Author Sentinel Core Development Team --- ## Abstract This proposal aims to upgrade the Sentinel Hub software from **version 11** to **version 12**, introducing significant protocol, module, and dependency upgrades. The upgrade enhances scalability, usability, and interoperability, while streamlining economic and operational mechanisms through the introduction of new modules and pricing models. --- ## Motivation The Sentinel Hub v11 release has served as a stable foundation for decentralized VPN operations and related services. However, evolving new economic requirements necessitate a major upgrade. The proposed **v12 upgrade** introduces key protocol upgrades, new modules, and refined mechanisms that will improve performance, developer experience, and economic flexibility for providers and users. --- ## Key Changes and Enhancements ### 1. Core Protocol and Dependency Upgrades - **Cosmos SDK:** Upgraded to **v0.47**. - **CometBFT:** Upgraded to **v0.37**. - **Cosmos IBC:** Upgraded to **v7**. - **CosmWasm:** Upgraded to **v0.46**. --- ### 2. Economic and Subscription Model Overhaul #### 2.1 Introduction of Lease Module - Decouples **time-based node purchases** from the Subscription module. - The **Lease module** manages provider-specific node leasing, allowing flexible, time-bound node access. - The **Subscription module** now focuses purely on managing **subscription plans and renewals**, simplifying responsibilities and improving maintainability. #### 2.2 Node Session Model Improvements - **Node-based sessions** no longer require an active subscription. - Users can create sessions directly using a **per-session locking mechanism**, enabling pay-per-use models and microtransactions. #### 2.3 Multiple Concurrent Sessions - Allows multiple **active sessions per (account, node)** pair simultaneously, supporting parallel connections and improved scalability for multi-client use cases. --- ### 3. Pricing and Oracle Improvements #### 3.1 USD-Based Node Pricing - Node pricing now supports **USD denomination**, improving economic clarity and cross-chain integration. - Enables real-world pricing consistency and aligns with oracle-based data feeds. #### 3.2 New Oracle Module - Introduces a **dedicated Oracle module** for automated price updates. - Prices for oracle assets are fetched from **Osmosis DEX pools** via the **IBC Async ICQ module**, ensuring reliable and decentralized price data. - Provides dynamic updates to node and subscription plan pricing based on real-time market data. --- ### 4. Automation Enhancements - **Automated Lease Renewal:** Leases can auto-renew upon expiration if the account has sufficient balance and met renewal requirments. - **Automated Subscription Renewal:** Simplifies recurring user subscriptions with automatic renewals to maintain continuous service. --- ### 5. New Provider and Subscription Features #### 5.1 Private Subscription Plans - Providers can now define **private subscription plans**, assignable directly to specific user addresses. - Enables customized offerings, enterprise partnerships, and exclusive plans. #### 5.2 Improved Provider Flexibility - Providers gain greater control over node pricing, lease duration, and private plan management through expanded parameters in the Lease and Subscription modules. --- ### 6. Governance and Foundation Account Migration - **Sentinel Foundation account** will be migrated to a **temporary account** during the upgrade. - Post-upgrade, it will be **split into multiple managed accounts** for better treasury transparency and operational distribution. - The **genesis vesting schedule** will be applied, preserving all prior tokenomics and allocation guarantees. --- ### 7. Performance and Consensus Enhancements - **Reduced block time** from **5 seconds to 3 seconds**, increasing network throughput and responsiveness. - Optimized transaction handling and block propagation to maintain stability at higher block frequencies. --- ## Upgrade Plan ### Upgrade Name `v12_0_0` ### Upgrade Height `23997755` ### Downtime Expectation Estimated **15–30 minutes** for upgrade processing and verification. --- ## Expected Benefits - Enhanced interoperability with the Cosmos ecosystem and IBC-based projects. - More flexible and transparent economic models for providers and users. - Improved automation, reducing management overhead. - Sustainable token and governance management through foundation account restructuring. - Increased network throughput and reduced latency. --- ## Security and Compatibility - All migrations will follow audited and validated procedures. - Backward compatibility for core account and balance data ensured. --- ## Conclusion The **Sentinel Hub v12 upgrade** represents a major leap toward a more scalable, flexible, and economically sustainable decentralized VPN ecosystem. By modernizing its underlying protocol stack and introducing automation, leasing, and oracle-driven pricing, Sentinel positions itself as a robust infrastructure layer for decentralized bandwidth services and beyond.