The IOTA ShimmerEVM network experienced a temporary setback on Sunday as users of the recently launched testnet reported an error accessing the protocol. According to the ShimmerEVM Network, the issue was due to heavy congestion, which is currently pushing the chain limits. The exact visitor count that caused the congestion was not disclosed, but the team believes this setback is helping them strategize and find ways to improve performance in the long run.
While the team is working continuously to resolve the issues, the community has rallied in support. The ShimmerEVM, an IOTA spinoff, is being developed to introduce smart contracts to IOTA. With the rapid evolution of today’s blockchain ecosystem, more primary non-smart contract-focused layer-1 protocols are feeling the need to join the smart-contract bandwagon.
The ShimmerEVM was created to bridge this gap, and the testnet is considered crucial for testing and stretching the limits of the protocol before mainnet launch. As one IOTA community member, @iota_penguine, aptly points out, facing these challenges during the testnet phase is preferable to encountering them once the mainnet goes live.
With the ShimmerEVM testnet campaign still in progress, the protocol and the broader IOTA ecosystem seem to be falling behind other core protocols like EOS and Filecoin, which recently ventured into smart-contract support. For instance, the Filecoin Virtual Machine (FVM) went live in March after months of development, with support from Binance exchange at the time.
Additionally, EOS pivoted into the smart-contract scene when it launched its WebAssembly (WASM) protocol. With several high-profile protocols already featuring smart contract compatibility, ShimmerEVM seems to be late to the game. However, solid protocol development and utility can potentially help ShimmerEVM compete with its current peers.
Supporters of smart contracts on IOTA’s platform may see these current testnet issues as a necessary process in refining the protocol. While critics may argue that the ShimmerEVM network is lagging, others believe this thorough approach to development will ensure a robust and competitive platform once released.
In conclusion, the testnet issues of ShimmerEVM present both pros and cons—an opportunity for improving the protocol before launch, and an indication of the late arrival of IOTA to the smart contract game. As the development team resolves current challenges, the future of ShimmerEVM and its place in the competitive smart contract market remains to be seen.
Source: Coingape
