A groundbreaking layer-1 blockchain that prioritizes privacy and accessibility in mining has officially launched with the introduction of Tari mainnet.
Headed by a team of former Monero developers, Tari’s mainnet release follows the successful testnet debut in September 2024, positioning it among established layer-1 networks like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. However, the creators of Tari view it as a unique player in the space.
“Our perspective is that existing chains lack crucial elements necessary for them to thrive as the basis for a new global financial system,” stated Tari contributor Naveen Jain in an interview with Decrypt, highlighting the challenging onboarding processes and pervasive surveillance seen in other networks.
(Disclosure: Tari contributor Naveen Jain is an investor in DASTAN, Decrypt’s parent company.)
Tari aims to address these shortcomings by offering what the developers claim is the simplest onboarding experience in the crypto space, requiring just three steps to become a user on the platform. Additionally, by default, the network ensures confidentiality by concealing transaction details and user addresses on-chain.
“By maintaining the confidentiality of transactions and balances, users are protected,” Jain explained. “No external party can monitor, profile, or track their financial activities. Ensuring user safety is integral to delivering a top-tier user experience.”
“For developers, operating on a platform with default confidentiality allows for better control over their user base,” he added. “For end users, it’s about security and autonomy.”
While blockchain transparency is often praised, it can also expose users to risks if their account balances are easily accessible, potentially attracting malicious actors. Jain pointed out the increasing physical attacks on digital asset holders, as documented by Jameson Lopp, co-founder and CTO of Bitcoin security firm Casa, with 21 incidents reported this year alone, including one recent incident.
“Surveillance-oriented blockchains create a scenario where anyone can view your financial status and entire transaction history,” Jain emphasized. “Why should users engage with a system that compromises their safety and deviates from their expectations of financial systems in the traditional world?”
Since its testnet launch, Tari claims to have attracted over 700,000 participants in its Tari airdrop program and nearly 100,000 testnet miners using the Tari Universe application, available on Mac and Windows. The app enables users to participate in and visualize the proof-of-work mining process.
From day one, users can mine via Tari Universe, send or receive the network’s native XTM token, and earn rewards through network referrals. Looking ahead, the Tari ecosystem plans to support a diverse range of decentralized protocols and applications.
“With the expanding Tari miner community and the upcoming release of the native Tari layer-2 and app store, we anticipate that developers will opt for Tari over other chains for building innovative applications,” Jain shared with Decrypt.
“The objective of the Tari network is to reward users who contribute to network security, rather than bots, ‘KOLs,’ or airdrop hunters,” he affirmed. “Furthermore, the network aims to empower users to lead anonymous and fulfilling lives. We reject the notion that the future financial landscape must resemble a dystopian fiction.”
Edited by Andrew Hayward
