Sia - The Sia Foundation Roadmap

The Sia Foundation Roadmap

This Sia roadmap provides mid to high level insight into core Sia development. It will be updated once a quarter at minimum, and will show an outline of what we’re currently working on, why we’re working on it, and what we have in mind after that’s done.

Our primary development goal for 2024 is to launch the “v2” hardfork. “v2” is our codename for a massive overhaul to Sia’s consensus mechanisms. It will modernize Sia’s core consensus code and provide a number of usability, performance, and quality-of-life improvements to the network.

After the hardfork, we will be working on reducing onboarding friction for users, developers, and enterprises including:

Light worker agents for renterd to increase horizontal scalability for enterprises, but also enable users to download and upload objects from all of their devices.
Simple SDKs for developers to interact with the Sia network directly.
A mobile and web app that lets all users take advantage of the cost savings, privacy, accessibility, and performance advantages of decentralized storage without the hassle of buying crypto or managing storage contracts.

Project Board

“v2” hardfork

“v2” is an umbrella term that refers to an upcoming radical overhaul of Sia’s consensus code. The primary change is the transition from a large, unwieldy database of UTXOs to a compact cryptographic accumulator, bringing myriad benefits to performance, scalability, and functionality. This is a big deal: it requires changing the block and transaction formats, which have been untouched since Sia’s mainnet launch back in 2014. As such, we are taking this opportunity to clean up a few other warts in Sia’s consensus code, giving the project a solid foundation for many years to come. For a more technical dive on how Utreexo works, check out Luke’s blog post here and MIT Bitcoin talk here.

Highlights

UTreexo
- Near instant syncing
- Reduced blockchain size
Improved UTXO spend policies
- “Composable” unlock conditions
- HTLC support for atomic swaps
Storage contract changes
- Early contract termination
- Collateral efficient renewals

Milestones

August 2024

Reset Anagami testnet - Complete

November 2024

Upgrade Zen testnet

December 2024

Release v2.0 ready software
Announce activation dates

RHP4

RHP4, short for renter-host protocol 4, is the next iteration of the protocol hosts and renters use to communicate. Our goal for RHP4 is to increase the parallelism of data uploads, reduce protocol overhead, and improve download performance. A new protocol is required to enable some exciting new features to be available after the Utreexo hardfork, such as early contract termination, capacity reservation, and contract renewal fund rollover. RHP4 will also enable storage consumers to download and upload data directly in the browser without installing additional software.

Highlights

Improved upload and download performance
Concurrent uploads
Decentralized uploads and downloads in a browser without downloading software

Milestones

October 2024

Implement RHP4 client in coreutils - In Progress

December 2024

Release Sia SDK beta - In Progress

renterd

The new Sia renter, replacing the current siad renter module. Drawing on what we’ve learned from siad, skyd, and us, we designed renterd from the ground up to be modular and horizontally scalable. Although the average user likely won’t notice, a renterd deployment is actually a set of interconnected services. As such, it can distribute workloads in parallel across multiple machines, and can be configured to store its metadata in any SQL backend. This flexibilty makes renterd easier to integrate with other Sia ecosystem software, such as Sia Satellite and S5, and addresses the scalability barriers that have historically hampered enterprise solutions.

Milestones

August 2024

Price pinning for gouging settings - Complete

October 2024

Add support for RHP4 - In Progress

November 2024

Release hardfork ready v2.0.0 alpha

December 2024

Release hardfork ready v2.0.0

hostd

The new Sia host, replacing the current siad host module. The host module has been chronically neglected for years, and suffers from poor upload performance, data integrity issues, and a general lack of user-friendliness. hostd is our greenfield reimagining of the Sia hosting experience, bringing a sorely-needed refresh to our host community. Aside from addressing performance bottlenecks, hostd also -offers superior metrics and monitoring tools, which will allow users to make informed decisions about storage allocations, contract parameters, pricing, and quality of service.

Milestones

October 2024

Add support for RHP4 - In Progress
Release hardfork ready v2.0.0 alpha

December 2024

Release hardfork ready v2.0.0

walletd

The new Sia wallet, replacing the current siad wallet module. walletd aims to be the go-to option for average holders, lite wallet developers, exchanges and miners that need a secure place to store their SC. Accordingly, it supports both hot and cold setups, including multi-sig schemes and hardware wallet integration. Like renterd and hostd, walletd comes packaged with a sleek, yet powerful UI, which can be securely accessed from any device.

Note: you do not need walletd to be a renter or a host; renterd and hostd include their own built-in hot wallets.

Milestones

September 2024

Improve support for exchanges - Complete

December 2024

Release hardfork ready v1.0.0

explored

The new Sia explorer, replacing and going far beyond the current siad explorer capabilities. explored will serve as both a standalone blockchain explorer with a web interface, and as a library providing powerful indexing and searching capabilities to third-party explorers (e.g. SiaStats) and “lite-client” systems like narwal. explored will be developed and launched alongside the Utreexo overhaul, making it one of the world’s first Utreexo-native block explorers.

Milestones

October 2024

Beta release

December 2024

Release hardfork ready v1.0.0

Document version date: Oct 24, 2024

Activity

Feb 21, 2025

SiaFoundation/walletd

#207 chore: prepare release 2.0.0

This PR was created automatically. Merging it will finalize the changelog for 2.0.0

Breaking Changes

Add Merkle Proof Basis to UTXO API Responses

Changes the response to include the Merkle proof basis for the following endpoints:

[GET] /addresses/:address/outputs/siacoin
[GET] /addresses/:address/outputs/siafund
[GET] /wallets/:id/outputs/siacoin
[GET] /wallets/:id/outputs/siafund

{
    "basis": {
        "height": 1,
        "id": "f362385eea61f81627f283a31af9faf6417fbb88d53b794639a34e18515996e9"
    },
    "outputs": [
        {
            "id": "ed556177482e70822a5dcad9343efb51998425884788415349bef8eba7e063ae",
            "stateElement": {
            "leafIndex": 3,
            "merkleProof": [
                "01048fc792904f156844a5524671304d3a020861da144afa4acc6553db63c1fd",
                "33efdfaf9bb212842292ab6f298c454e1b3d412aa7beb7efdccdfccf09f5b4ee",
                "102345919e408540d240460b0d84aa2f6da9a3d8f74765fd7c6daae6e46dd7f3"
            ]
            },
            "siacoinOutput": {
                "value": "500000000000000000000000",
                "address": "fbfc3d034b1eb45f63e0087571ec1f3028a9a2f8c180381d47713e6112467d91f474059476f2"
            },
            "maturityHeight": 0
        }
    ]
}

Simplified response of consensus updates endpoint

The response of /api/consensus/updates/:index has been simplified to make it easier for developers to index chain state.

{
	"applied": [
		{
			"update": {
				"siacoinElements": [
					{
						"siacoinElement": {
							"id": "35b81e41f594d7faeb88bd8eaac2eaa68ce99fe1c8fe5f0cba8fafa65ab3a70e",
							"stateElement": {
								"leafIndex": 0,
								"merkleProof": [
									"88052fa2d1e22e4a5542fed9686cdad3fbeccbc60d15d4fd36a7691d61add1e1"
								]
							},
							"siacoinOutput": {
								"value": "1000000000000000000000000000000000000",
								"address": "3d7f707d05f2e0ec7ccc9220ed7c8af3bc560fbee84d068c2cc28151d617899e1ee8bc069946"
							},
							"maturityHeight": 0
						},
						"created": true,
						"spent": false
					}
				],
				"siafundElementDiffs": [
					{
						"siafundElement": {
							"id": "69ad26a0fbd1a6985d2053246650bb3ba5f3491d818748b6c8562db1ddb2c45b",
							"stateElement": {
								"leafIndex": 1,
								"merkleProof": [
									"837482a39d5bf66f07bae3b89191e4375b82c9f341ce6a17e22e14e0333ab9f6"
								]
							},
							"siafundOutput": {
								"value": 10000,
								"address": "053b2def3cbdd078c19d62ce2b4f0b1a3c5e0ffbeeff01280efb1f8969b2f5bb4fdc680f0807"
							},
							"claimStart": "0"
						},
						"created": true,
						"spent": false
					}
				],
				"fileContractElementDiffs": null,
				"v2FileContractElementDiffs": null,
				"attestationElements": null,
				"chainIndexElement": {
					"id": "e23d2ee56fc5c79618ead2f8f36c1b72c6f3ec5e0f751c05e08bd6665a6ec22a",
					"stateElement": {
						"leafIndex": 2
					},
					"chainIndex": {
						"height": 0,
						"id": "e23d2ee56fc5c79618ead2f8f36c1b72c6f3ec5e0f751c05e08bd6665a6ec22a"
					}
				},
				"updatedLeaves": {},
				"treeGrowth": {},
				"oldNumLeaves": 0,
				"numLeaves": 3
			},
			"state": {
				"index": {
					"height": 0,
					"id": "e23d2ee56fc5c79618ead2f8f36c1b72c6f3ec5e0f751c05e08bd6665a6ec22a"
				},
				"prevTimestamps": [
					"2023-01-13T00:53:20-08:00",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z"
				],
				"depth": "ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff",
				"childTarget": "0000000100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
				"siafundTaxRevenue": "0",
				"oakTime": 0,
				"oakTarget": "00000000ffffffff00000000ffffffff00000000ffffffff00000000ffffffff",
				"foundationSubsidyAddress": "053b2def3cbdd078c19d62ce2b4f0b1a3c5e0ffbeeff01280efb1f8969b2f5bb4fdc680f0807",
				"foundationManagementAddress": "000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000089eb0d6a8a69",
				"totalWork": "1",
				"difficulty": "4294967295",
				"oakWork": "4294967297",
				"elements": {
					"numLeaves": 3,
					"trees": [
						"e1c3af98d77463b767d973f8a563947d949d06428ff145db30143a2811d10014",
						"134b1f08aec0c7fbc50203a514277d197947e3da3ab1854749bf093b56402912"
					]
				},
				"attestations": 0
			},
			"block": {
				"parentID": "0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
				"nonce": 0,
				"timestamp": "2023-01-13T00:53:20-08:00",
				"minerPayouts": [],
				"transactions": [
					{
						"id": "268ef8627241b3eb505cea69b21379c4b91c21dfc4b3f3f58c66316249058cfd",
						"siacoinOutputs": [
							{
								"value": "1000000000000000000000000000000000000",
								"address": "3d7f707d05f2e0ec7ccc9220ed7c8af3bc560fbee84d068c2cc28151d617899e1ee8bc069946"
							}
						],
						"siafundOutputs": [
							{
								"value": 10000,
								"address": "053b2def3cbdd078c19d62ce2b4f0b1a3c5e0ffbeeff01280efb1f8969b2f5bb4fdc680f0807"
							}
						]
					}
				]
			}
		},
		{
			"update": {
				"siacoinElements": [
					{
						"siacoinElement": {
							"id": "ca02d6807c92f61af94e626604615fbcdb471f38fcd8f3add6c6e6e0485ce090",
							"stateElement": {
								"leafIndex": 3,
								"merkleProof": [
									"e1c3af98d77463b767d973f8a563947d949d06428ff145db30143a2811d10014",
									"134b1f08aec0c7fbc50203a514277d197947e3da3ab1854749bf093b56402912"
								]
							},
							"siacoinOutput": {
								"value": "300000000000000000000000000000",
								"address": "c5e1ca930f193cfe4c72eaed8d3bbae627f67d6c8e32c406fe692b1c00b554f4731fddf2c752"
							},
							"maturityHeight": 145
						},
						"created": true,
						"spent": false
					}
				],
				"siafundElementDiffs": null,
				"fileContractElementDiffs": null,
				"v2FileContractElementDiffs": null,
				"attestationElements": null,
				"chainIndexElement": {
					"id": "0000000028e731f0bb5d48662283bec83cca9427581b948d1036deb2b42c3006",
					"stateElement": {
						"leafIndex": 4
					},
					"chainIndex": {
						"height": 1,
						"id": "0000000028e731f0bb5d48662283bec83cca9427581b948d1036deb2b42c3006"
					}
				},
				"updatedLeaves": {},
				"treeGrowth": {
					"0": [
						"190d98a7d8ff464e57f89dc916b155455ecf927f4c74b9edf5e80c103f052bfa",
						"134b1f08aec0c7fbc50203a514277d197947e3da3ab1854749bf093b56402912"
					],
					"1": [
						"2b082bec52801c1e61e5b0d0c1f5fc3925bd24e16d2f490afeb70374828586f1"
					]
				},
				"oldNumLeaves": 3,
				"numLeaves": 5
			},
			"state": {
				"index": {
					"height": 1,
					"id": "0000000028e731f0bb5d48662283bec83cca9427581b948d1036deb2b42c3006"
				},
				"prevTimestamps": [
					"2023-01-13T08:18:19-08:00",
					"2023-01-13T00:53:20-08:00",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z",
					"0001-01-01T00:00:00Z"
				],
				"depth": "00000000ffffffff00000000ffffffff00000000ffffffff00000000ffffffff",
				"childTarget": "0000000100000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000",
				"siafundTaxRevenue": "0",
				"oakTime": 26699000000000,
				"oakTarget": "000000008052201448053c59f99803e7a8165929036cd574d91425423191387c",
				"foundationSubsidyAddress": "053b2def3cbdd078c19d62ce2b4f0b1a3c5e0ffbeeff01280efb1f8969b2f5bb4fdc680f0807",
				"foundationManagementAddress": "000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000089eb0d6a8a69",
				"totalWork": "4294967297",
				"difficulty": "4294967295",
				"oakWork": "8568459756",
				"elements": {
					"numLeaves": 5,
					"trees": [
						"589fb425faa23be357492394813dc575505899d42d0b23a7162e1c68f7eeb227",
						"750cc671d80aef6ee5c73344ba4e74eccda77d9f0cf51ed6237952b1d84bc336"
					]
				},
				"attestations": 0
			},
			"block": {
				"parentID": "e23d2ee56fc5c79618ead2f8f36c1b72c6f3ec5e0f751c05e08bd6665a6ec22a",
				"nonce": 10689346,
				"timestamp": "2023-01-13T08:18:19-08:00",
				"minerPayouts": [
					{
						"value": "300000000000000000000000000000",
						"address": "c5e1ca930f193cfe4c72eaed8d3bbae627f67d6c8e32c406fe692b1c00b554f4731fddf2c752"
					}
				],
				"transactions": [
					{
						"id": "1148417ad8fa6546646da6922618358210bc7a668ef7cb25f6a8a3605851bc7b",
						"arbitraryData": [
							"Tm9uU2lhAAAAAAAAAAAAAClvJjNhfcbxtEfP2yfbBM4="
						]
					}
				]
			}
		}
	],
	"reverted": null
}

Support V2 Hardfork

The V2 hardfork is scheduled to modernize Sia's consensus protocol, which has been untouched since Sia's mainnet launch back in 2014, and improve accessibility of the storage network. To ensure a smooth transition from V1, it will be executed in two phases. Additional documentation on upgrading will be released in the near future.

V2 Highlights

Drastically reduces blockchain size on disk
Improves UTXO spend policies - including HTLC support for Atomic Swaps
More efficient contract renewals - reducing lock up requirements for hosts and renters
Improved transfer speeds - enables hot storage

Phase 1 - Allow Height

Activation Height: 52600 (June 6th, 2025)
New Features: V2 transactions, contracts, and RHP4
V1 Support: Both V1 and V2 will be supported during this phase
Purpose: This period gives time for integrators to transition from V1 to V2
Requirements: Users will need to update to support the hardfork before this block height

Phase 2 - Require Height

Activation Height: 530000 (July 6th, 2025)
New Features: The consensus database can be trimmed to only store the Merkle proofs
V1 Support: V1 will be disabled, including RHP2 and RHP3. Only V2 transactions will be accepted
Requirements: Developers will need to update their apps to support V2 transactions and RHP4 before this block height

Use standard locations for application data

Uses standard locations for application data instead of the current directory. This brings walletd in line with other system services and makes it easier to manage application data.

Linux, FreeBSD, OpenBSD

Configuration: /etc/walletd/walletd.yml
Data directory: /var/lib/walletd

macOS

Configuration: ~/Library/Application Support/walletd.yml
Data directory: ~/Library/Application Support/walletd

Windows

Configuration: %APPDATA%\SiaFoundation\walletd.yml
Data directory: %APPDATA%\SiaFoundation\walletd

Docker

Configuration: /data/walletd.yml
Data directory: /data

Features

Add basis to wallet fund endpoints
Log startup errors to stderr

Add transaction construction API

Adds two new endpoints to construct transactions. This combines and simplifies the existing fund flow for simple send transactions.

See API docs for request and response bodies

Fixes

Added a test for migrations to ensure consistency between database schemas

Feb 20, 2025

SiaFoundation/web

#940 feat(explorer): server-side currency data

Adds initial server-rendering support for currency values with user-specific exchange rates.

Feb 20, 2025

SiaFoundation/web

#939 feat: app router swr fallback data

User currency preference stored in local storage can now initialize and server-render with an optional fallback data value.
User currency preference now sets a cookie.
Added fallback to NextAppSsrAppRouter.

Feb 20, 2025

SiaFoundation/walletd

#239 Fix readme

Closes https://github.com/SiaFoundation/walletd/issues/236 Closes https://github.com/SiaFoundation/walletd/issues/237

README didn't match the actual output anymore. Added the MacOS example.

Feb 20, 2025

SiaFoundation/web

#945 chore: test github integration

Feb 20, 2025

SiaFoundation/web

#943 feat(explorer): rework countryCode call for reworked explored host type

Feb 20, 2025

SiaFoundation/web

#942 feat(explored-types): rework location data to match new explored implementation

Feb 20, 2025

SiaFoundation/core

#278 rhp4: Use MaxAccountBatchSize for encoding sizes

reasonableObjectSize is not enough for these batch types

Feb 19, 2025

SiaFoundation/core

#277 RPCReplenish use reasonable object size

Feb 19, 2025

SiaFoundation/core

#276 Add RHP4 RPC replenish types

Adds an RPC to RHP4 that enables renters to set a target balance for all accounts instead of first fetching the current balances then funding the accounts with the difference. This is primarily to speed up account funding and reduce round trips when managing a large number of accounts.

View full activity feed →

Network

510,892 block height

86,110 online hosts

456 active hosts

Storage

7.96 PB total storage

2.29 PB used storage

427 M total registry

3 M used registry

Development

20,996 commits

71 contributors

470 forks

43 releases