Blockchains Beyond the Public Internet | Austin Federa
Blockchains Beyond the Public Internet | Austin Federa
116 days agoLightspeedBlockworks
Podcast1 hr 9 min
Listen to Episode
Note: AI-generated summary based on third-party content. Not financial advice. Read more.
Quick Insights

Double Zero (2Z) is a high-conviction infrastructure investment providing a private network layer for scaling blockchains like Solana. The 2Z token's value is directly linked to network adoption, as usage fees are used to buy and burn tokens, reducing the total supply. For a mission-driven investment, consider staking SOL for DZSOL to earn yield while directly funding the network's physical expansion. The success of this infrastructure is a significant bullish catalyst for Solana (SOL), as it helps solve historical network stability and performance issues. Monitor for future partnerships with other chains like Monad, Sui, and Aptos as a key indicator of growth for the 2Z token.

Detailed Analysis

Double Zero (2Z)

  • Double Zero is a DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure) project building a private, high-performance network layer for blockchains. It acts as a parallel internet to overcome the speed and reliability limitations of the public internet.
  • The project was born out of the need for high-performance blockchains like Solana to scale further. For example, testnets have shown 1 million transactions per second (TPS) is possible on private fiber, a feat unachievable on the public internet.
  • The network already has significant adoption, with 40% of Solana's stake weight and 50% of its validators currently using the service.
  • It offers not just higher speeds (beating the public internet by 20-80% on various routes) but also more consistent performance with less "jitter" (variance in latency). This is critical for traders and applications that need reliability, especially during volatile market events.
  • The network enables advanced technologies like multicast, which allows data to be sent once and replicated by the network to all recipients. In a test with Jito, this technology reduced bandwidth usage by 99.96%, freeing up capacity for larger blocks and more transactions.
  • The project is blockchain-agnostic, with the guest mentioning interest from various L2s, Sui, Aptos, and Monad.

Takeaways

  • Double Zero (2Z) is an infrastructure investment. Its success is tied to the broader growth and scaling needs of high-performance blockchains.
  • The tokenomics are designed around network usage. Validators pay fees (e.g., 5% of block rewards on Solana) which are converted to the 2Z token. A portion of these fees (10% currently, planned to rise to ~50%) is burned, creating a direct link between network activity and a reduction in token supply.
  • The project's value proposition is that as blockchains get faster and more demanding, they will be forced to move off the public internet for core operations, making a neutral, third-party network like Double Zero essential.
  • Investors should monitor the network's adoption rate, particularly its expansion beyond Solana to other L1s and L2s, as a key indicator of growth.

Solana (SOL)

  • The discussion frames Solana as a network that is so successful and high-demand that it is pushing the limits of what the public internet can handle, making a solution like Double Zero a necessity, not a luxury.
  • The integration of Double Zero is a direct effort to improve Solana's network stability and performance, especially during periods of extreme congestion that have caused issues in the past. It provides a more robust foundation for the network to operate on.
  • Future Solana upgrades like Alpenglow and Multiple Concurrent Producers (MCP) are expected to heavily leverage Double Zero's capabilities. The guest argues this could make Solana's decentralized market structure faster and more efficient for trading than centralized venues like the New York Stock Exchange.
  • The guest positions Solana as a leader in the space, suggesting that the scaling challenges it faces today are the same ones other fast blockchains will face in the next couple of years.

Takeaways

  • The development and adoption of Double Zero can be seen as a significant bullish catalyst for Solana. It provides a clear, tangible solution to some of the network's historical scaling and stability concerns.
  • For SOL investors, the success of Double Zero helps de-risk Solana's ambitious technical roadmap and strengthens its case as an enterprise-grade blockchain capable of handling massive transaction volume.
  • The long-term vision presented is one where Solana, powered by this enhanced network layer, could "run laps around TradFi" by turning decentralization into a performance advantage.

Jito (JTO)

  • Jito is mentioned as a prime example of the economic activity on Solana. The fact that users pay "huge tips" to Jito for transaction priority demonstrates a strong, real-world demand for optimized blockspace on the network.
  • The project is highlighted as a technical innovator, having worked with Double Zero to implement a multicast solution for its Shredstream product, resulting in a 99.96% reduction in bandwidth consumption.

Takeaways

  • Jito is a key protocol in the Solana ecosystem that directly profits from network activity and demand for priority transactions (MEV).
  • Its collaboration with Double Zero shows it is on the cutting edge of solving Solana's scaling challenges, positioning it as a core piece of infrastructure for the ecosystem.

Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) on Solana

  • The podcast highlights that Double Zero's LST, DZSOL (facilitated by Sanctum), has quickly become one of the largest LSTs on Solana by total value locked.
  • Unlike other LSTs that aim to maximize yield (APY) for stakers, DZSOL has a different purpose. The commission earned from the LST is used to fund the expansion of the Double Zero network, such as paying for new fiber optic cable lines in underserved regions.

Takeaways

  • For investors, holding DZSOL is presented as a "mission-driven" investment. It allows SOL holders to earn staking rewards while directly contributing their capital to the buildout of critical infrastructure for the Solana ecosystem.
  • Investors seeking the absolute highest staking yield should look at other LSTs. However, those who are long-term bullish on Solana's scaling and the Double Zero vision can use DZSOL to align their investment with that specific outcome.

Other Blockchains (Sui, Aptos, Monad, Near)

  • The guest explicitly states that the need for a high-performance network layer is not unique to Solana.
  • Monad and various Ethereum L2s are mentioned as projects that are also "pushing the performance envelope" and will likely encounter the same internet bottlenecks.
  • There is a specific mention of an Aptos-based storage network planning to build entirely on Double Zero.
  • Near Protocol (NEAR) is praised for its cross-chain technology, which Double Zero may use to allow users to pay network fees in any token, simplifying the payment process.

Takeaways

  • The investment thesis for Double Zero extends beyond Solana. Its potential market includes the entire ecosystem of high-throughput L1s and L2s.
  • Announcements of new partnerships between Double Zero and chains like Monad, Sui, Aptos, or major L2s would be strong validation of its multi-chain strategy and a positive signal for the 2Z token.
Ask about this postAnswers are grounded in this post's content.
Episode Description
Gm! This episode we’re joined by Austin Federa to discuss DoubleZero’s 2025 progress, its private fiber network, performance gains beyond the public internet, validator and stake incentivization, and more.Enjoy! -- Follow Lightspeed: ⁠https://twitter.com/Lightspeedpodhq⁠ Follow DoubleZero: https://x.com/doublezero Follow Austin Federa: https://x.com/Austin_Federa Follow Danny: https://x.com/defi_kay_ Join the Lightspeed Telegram: ⁠https://t.me/+QUl_ZOj2nMJlZTEx⁠ -- Sablier is the leading onchain token distribution protocol — now on Solana. Trusted by top crypto teams, Sablier automates airdrops and vesting onchain, securely and transparently.  Start in seconds at sablier.com -- Get top market insights and the latest in crypto news. Subscribe to Blockworks Daily Newsletter: https://blockworks.co/newsletter/ -- Timestamps: (0:00) Introduction (2:16) DoubleZero 2025 Highlights (7:23) Beyond the Public Internet (22:51) Network Performance (24:52) Sablier Ad (25:21) Stake Incentivization Program (33:51) Validator Incentives (40:34) Sablier Ad (41:03) Value Flow (52:59) Liquid Staking (56:12) Future Outlook (1:08:29) Closing Comments -- Disclaimers: Lightspeed was kickstarted by a grant from the Solana Foundation. Nothing said on Lightspeed is a recommendation to buy or sell securities or tokens. This podcast is for informational purposes only, and any views expressed by anyone on the show are solely our opinions, not financial advice. Danny, and our guests may hold positions in the companies, funds, or projects discussed.
About Lightspeed
Lightspeed

Lightspeed

By Blockworks

Lightspeed is a podcast for those interested in how crypto can solve real problems and create products users love. It's a callback to the garage days of Silicon Valley, where builders pushed the limits of hardware and software to build world-changing products. We interview the projects and founders that will make this same impact today.