4 Min Read 
This post was updated on August 7th, 2024
Dash has released the first iteration of Evolution Platform on July 29th, 2024. The Dash network has been innovative since its inception, being at the forefront of concepts such as masternodes, crypto-governance, and a network based proposal system.
The Evolution Platform
The Dash development community will be rolling out the Genesis release of the Evolution platform which is described as a technology stack for applications built on the Dash network. The platform includes a new blockchain for data transactions, an API, storage called Drive, a software development kit (SDK), the DashPay payments app, and the Dash Platform Name Service (DPNS)
The Platform chain is an enshrined sidechain running a heavily-modified version of Cosmos Tendermint consensus called Tenderdash. The chain features same-block execution and uses credits, Dash that is bridged from the main chain, to pay for data transactions.
The decentralized API (DAPI) will ease access to resources on the Dash network by allowing anyone to access the Dash network in a trust-minimized fashion without having to run a node. Many developers are unfamiliar with blockchains and this tool will abstract away some of the complexities of interacting with the Dash blockchain. Drive, the storage component of the platform, is a multi-layered, indexed decentralized data storage solution. This allows app developers to store data in a decentralized way that can be easily and instantly queried and accessed. This data is notably indexed and able to be easily called up when needed, solving a notable pain point in decentralized storage. The SDK helps developers get started on the platform by streamlining their use of DAPI and Drive.
The first application of the platform is a naming service known as the Dash Platform Name Service (DPNS). The naming service is the first use case of the Dash platform that takes advantage of the capabilities of DAPI, Drive, and the SDK. This service is similar to the Foundation for Interwallet Operability (FIO), the Ethereum Name Service (ENS) and Unstoppable Domains, for those who are familiar. The Dash name service transforms addresses, which are usually a bunch of random numbers and letters, into a human readable username that assets can be sent to and from. And not only can the username be applied to DASH, but users can attach other cryptocurrencies to the username as well, and to other decentralized application uses beyond payments, including social media, encrypted messaging, maps, and more.
The Evolution platform’s Genesis was released on July 29th, with activation a few weeks later after the whole network has upgraded.
Evolving to Get Mass-Market Adoption
The Evolution upgrade aims to address some of the key issues with the mass adoption of cryptocurrencies for payments, something that has eluded the industry in its 15-year existence so far.
Most cryptocurrencies were created to expand on Bitcoin’s original design, and Dash in particular focused on making it ideal for money and payments. The first function was building a privacy-enhancing function into the protocol, followed by instant permanent settlement. After all, who would wait around for minutes for their payment to be finalized, or expose their balance and history to the cashier?
Quickly though, Dash’s founder Evan Duffield saw that this wasn’t enough for mass adoption. In 2015 at Bitcoin Wednesday in Amsterdam, he laid out the vision for a project called Dash Evolution to add in features like usernames, contact lists, invoicing, and more, all at the actual blockchain level. This vision would ultimately take years to implement after many false starts, though in the meantime Dash focused on enhanced security, incentivized infrastructure, decentralized governance, and other improvements.
Now, Evolution has finally been released, but it’s only the first step in fixing the lingering barriers keeping the average person from living off of decentralized digital cash. On a technical level they also need a stable unit of account (such as a stablecoin), recurring or automated payments, intuitive backup and recovery options, automated accounting tools, integrated messaging, and much more, all decentralized. On an ecosystem level, users need their digital cash to be widely accepted, they need to know where to spend it, and merchants need all the tools necessary to not only integrate crypto payments seamlessly but also drive customers to them. Much, if not all, of the above can be built on Dash in due time.
For now, Dash is honing in on what it’s best at: a fast, secure, efficient digital cash with one of the best user experiences in the whole of crypto. The end goal is also to extend these intuitive social payments features for wallets that support other cryptocurrencies as well.
