# NEM Announcement NEM [launched on March 31st, 2015](https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=654845.msg10924930#msg10924930), seeking to improve on the imperfections found in other chains at the time. It was one of the first non-turing complete chains to feature user-defined tokens (called [mosaics](https://rb2nem.github.io/nem-dev-guide/09-mosaics/)), [namespaces](https://nemproject.github.io/nem-docs/pages/Concepts/namespaces/docs.en.html), [multisignature accounts](https://nemproject.github.io/nem-docs/pages/Concepts/address-components/docs.en.html#multisig-accounts), and a P2P reputation system based on [EigenTrust++](https://nemproject.github.io/nem-docs/pages/Whitepapers/2012XinxinFanEigenTrustAttackResilientTrustManagement.pdf). Its most notable contribution, however, remains the [proof-of-importance consensus mechanism](https://smithandcrown.com/glossary/proof-of-importance/) which sought to reward on-chain activity and deter the concentration of wealth commonly associated with proof-of-stake. From 2016 onwards, NEM marched towards Japan and became a viral phenomenon: it saw enterprise adoption under [Tech Bureau](https://techbureau.jp/); became an alternative payment option at [local restaurants](https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/02/26/business/trailblazing-nagoya-restaurant-that-accepts-xem-cryptocurrency-moves-to-tokyo/) and [global hotels](https://cointelegraph.com/news/travel-platform-travala-expands-payment-options-with-xem); inspired [art exhibits](https://coinpost.jp/?p=115089) and [community-run cafe's](https://nemcafe.jp/nemcafe_report/) and even [donation drives](https://311-support.nemtus.com/en/sakura-weaving/). Today, it remains a heavily-traded project with a global, loyal userbase that believes in the founding principles of the project: decentralization, financial freedom, and equality of opportunity. Six years later, we're finally bringing NEM out of BETA, and open-sourcing the project. ## The Road Forward NEM is currently going through its seventh hardfork: the [Harlock](https://hackmd.io/@syndicate/governance) update. Harlock is intended for NEM nodes to signal explicit support and desire for the merge of the NEM blockchain into Symbol as a 'subChain', a type of transaction-specific sidechain. --- ### Navigating the NEM Project The following repositories make up the NEM blockchain: [**nis**](https://github.com/NemProject/nis): The NEM Infrastructure Server. Contains the core components for the NEM blockchain, including observers and validators, [P2P time synchronization](https://nemproject.github.io/nem-docs/pages/Concepts/time-sync/docs.en.html), proof-of-stake and proof-of-importance, and data models. Refer to the [readme](https://github.com/NemProject/nis/blob/dev/README.md) for a package overview. [**nem.core**](https://github.com/NemProject/nem.core): Contains the core cryptographic libraries, serialization, transaction and state models for NEM. Refer to the [readme](https://github.com/NemProject/nem.core/blob/dev/README.md) for a package overview. [**nem-deploy**](https://github.com/NemProject/nem.deploy): Contains logging, file handling and bootstrapping functionality for nodes. Refer to the [readme](https://github.com/NemProject/nem.deploy/blob/dev/README.md) for a package overview. [**nem.peer**](https://github.com/NemProject/nem.peer): Contains the EigenTrust and EigenTrust++ algorithm implementation, HTTP connection handling and peer services. Refer to the [readme](https://github.com/NemProject/nem.peer/blob/dev/README.md) for a package overview. [**nis-client**](https://github.com/NemProject/nis-client): The wrapper that quickly builds the NIS client. Refer to the [readme](https://github.com/NemProject/nis-client/blob/dev/README.md) for a package overview and build instructions. [**nem-docker**](https://github.com/NemProject/nem-docker): Docker file to launch NIS and set up a NEM node. Refer to the [readme](https://github.com/NemProject/nem-docker/blob/main/README.md) for a package overview and build instructions. --- ##### Future Development * We will be integrating NEM with [Rosetta](https://github.com/coinbase/rosetta-specifications), an open-source specification utilized for working with blockchain networks, most notably [utilized by Coinbase](https://blog.coinbase.com/introducing-rosetta-build-once-integrate-your-blockchain-everywhere-9b97d284f5b9). * Should the Harlock hardfork pass, NEM will be integrated as a subChain of Symbol. Expect to see more unification across our products (explorer, SDK, ) as a result! * NEM is currently considered in 'feature freeze' by the core team, but it is open to all community contributions. ##### Previous Hardforks | BlockHeight | Changes | | ----------: | :----------------------------------------------------------------------- | | 199,800 | Multisig Aggregate Transansaction v1 > v2, Longer Messages in TransferTX | | 440,000 | Namespaces & Mosaics | | 875,000 | Network Fee Modification | | 1,025,000 | Remote Accounts & Max Message Size | | 1,110,000 | Mosaic Definition Change | | 1,250,000 | Network Fee Modification | ###### tags: `Releases - NEM`, `Announcements`
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