Union’s public testnet is officially live, marking a significant milestone in modular interoperability. As validators in their testnet, we at Stakecito are proud to support Union and help shape the future of decentralized finance and cross-chain communication.
But first, what is Union even?
Union is a hyper-efficient zero-knowledge infrastructure layer designed for general message passing, cross-chain asset transfers, NFTs, and DeFi. It leverages advanced Zero-Knowledge Cryptography and BLS signatures to create the fastest and most secure inter-blockchain communication protocol (IBC) available today. Union operates without dependencies on trusted third parties, oracles, multi-signatures, or MPC (multi-party computation), ensuring a truly decentralized and reliable ecosystem.
Core Values of Union
Union is built around four core values to ensure its scalability and efficiency:
Fast: Bridging transactions are generated and settled quickly.
Secure: Transactions follow fork-choice rules to maintain security.
Future-proof: The core technology is designed to be robust for the next decade.
Easy to use: A high-level API makes it accessible for developers from any ecosystem.
Who is Union Built For?
Union is designed for those who care deeply about decentralization and reliability, and who believe that finance should be accessible to everyone. Whether you are a developer, a trader, or a blockchain enthusiast, Union offers a robust and scalable solution for inter-chain communication and asset transfer.
How to Access the Union Testnet
To get started with the Union testnet, follow these steps:
Visit app.union.build: This is the main portal for accessing the Union testnet.
Connect Your Wallets: You will need to connect both a Cosmos wallet (such as Keplr) and an Ethereum wallet (such as MetaMask or Leap) to bridge assets between the Union testnet and Ethereum.
For Keplr Users: After connecting, click on the hamburger menu (three horizontal lines) on the top left of the extension. Then click on "Manage Chain Visibility" and add Union to your wallet.
Get Testnet UNO Tokens: Use the built-in faucet to obtain testnet UNO tokens, which are used for transactions on the Union network. Note that UNO is only the testnet token ticker; the actual ticker will be revealed at a later time.
Transfer UNO to Sepolia: Use the Transfer function to move your UNO tokens from the Union testnet to the Ethereum Sepolia testnet. This initial step is crucial for testing cross-chain functionality.
Explore the Union Data on the Explorer: Check out the Union Explorer to view transactions and other data related to your activity on the testnet.
Transfer UNO Back to Union Testnet: To bring your UNO tokens back from Ethereum Sepolia to the Union testnet, you’ll need Sepolia ETH for transaction fees. You can get Sepolia ETH from the QuickNode Sepolia Faucet.
Why Participate in the Union Testnet?
By participating in the Union testnet, users play a critical role in battle-testing the network. This involves verifying that Union’s ZK circuits operate successfully in production environments, ensuring the network’s robustness and reliability ahead of the mainnet launch. Community feedback and engagement are invaluable in shaping the future of Union.
Additional Incentives
The Union team has launched quests on Galxe that users can complete to claim their OAT (On-chain Achievement Tokens). These quests provide an engaging way to explore the Union ecosystem and earn rewards.
Union’s Vision and Mission
Union aims to connect every blockchain across the modular multi-chain landscape in a secure, decentralized, and cost-efficient manner using ZK-powered consensus verification. The public testnet launch is a significant leap towards realizing Union’s vision of creating a sovereign interoperability layer that is permissionlessly accessible to every L1, appchain, rollup, and future blockchain.
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About Stakecito Labs
At Stakecito Labs, we've honed our craft as validators. Our reputation as the third-largest validator by delegation count within the Cosmos ecosystem speaks to our unwavering dedication and the trust placed in us by over 270,000 delegators worldwide.
Our validation services are not just about maintaining Cosmos blockchain networks though; we validate networks outside of Cosmos as well (NEAR, Aleph Zero, etc.).
Our core mission is centered on demystifying blockchain technology to ensure it's accessible for everyone, from newcomers to seasoned investors. To begin staking, visit our homepage.
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