STEEM EVM Update: Bridge Module Upgrade & ICS Integration Roadmap

in Steem Dev2 days ago

Note: Upvoting and resteeming this post directly motivates me to continue building and improving the Steem Virtual Machine ecosystem. Your support is greatly appreciated!

The Steem Virtual Machine (SVM) continues to scale with impressive stability. Today, I am proud to announce that the network has officially crossed 150,000 blocks produced. Alongside this milestone, I have completed testing on a significant backend upgrade that will streamline bridging operations and improve the overall user experience.

Previous Updates


Upcoming Backend Upgrade

I have been rigorously testing a new update for the bridge and bank modules, which will be rolled out soon. This update addresses several key areas to ensure smoother asset transfers and cleaner state management.

Key Improvements:

  • Deposit Message Fix: Resolves the issue where invalid memos created unnecessary noise in the gas-exempt module.
  • Withdrawal State Change: Transitions the withdrawal process from a "pending" flag system to a more robust "withdrawal request" model. This provides better tracking and security for users moving assets off-chain.
  • Monitored Account Update: The bridge module will now strictly monitor the @svm.bank account for incoming deposits.
  • Binary Optimization: The node binary has been updated to ignore unrelated transfers, reducing processing overhead and improving validator efficiency.

Network Health & Statistics

The blockchain remains healthy and sound, with consistent block production and a growing number of active participants.

Current Network Stats:

  • Total Blocks Produced: 150,000+
  • Total Transactions: 698
  • Registered Addresses: 74
  • Average Daily Transactions: ~36
  • Active Validators: 10

Governance System Verified

The recent test proposal passed without any glitches, confirming that the on-chain governance system is fully intact and operational. This success paves the way for more complex community-driven decisions in the future.


Future Roadmap: ICS & Osmosis Bridging

Looking ahead, I am preparing to integrate the EVM precompile for Interchain Security (ICS). This is a major step toward true interoperability. Once implemented, it will allow for the permissionless bridging of assets from Osmosis Mainnet directly to the SVM.

This integration will unlock access to a wide variety of high-quality assets, including:

  • USDC (USD Coin)
  • EURC (Euro Coin)
  • cirBTC (Circle Bitcoin)

Bringing these stablecoins and wrapped assets to the SVM will significantly expand capital efficiency and provide users with more diverse options within the Sherpa Protocol ecosystem.


Community Testing & Validator Growth

I want to extend a special thank you to @happycapital and other early adopters who are actively testing the application and DeFi suite. Your feedback is invaluable in identifying edge cases and improving the UI.

Our current validator set continues to secure the network with excellent uptime:

  1. @blaze.apps
  2. @upex
  3. @cur8
  4. @blazed007
  5. @steem-agora.evm
  6. @xpilar.witness
  7. @yasu
  8. @dhaka.witness
  9. @happycapital
  10. @steem-space

💰 Genesis Reward: 5M SHERPA Pool

Don't forget, there is still a 5,000,000 SHERPA token reward pool for validators who join prior to August 1, 2026. With the network growing and new features like ICS on the horizon, now is the perfect time to set up a node.

Setup Instructions:
GitHub: SteemVirtualMachine-EVM Instructions


How to Connect & Participate

To start interacting with the SVM or setting up your wallet:


Community Engagement

As we approach the August 1st deadline:

  1. Test the DeFi Suite: Try out the latest features in the SVM App and report any findings.
  2. Run a Node: Join the expanding validator set and secure your share of the 5M SHERPA reward.
  3. Witness Support: Your vote supports the ongoing development and infrastructure costs of the SVM.

If you value proactive engineering, UX polish, and performance optimizations for the STEEM ecosystem, please consider supporting my witness: blaze.apps

Vote for blaze.apps Witness