Pharos Network Launches AtlanticOcean Testnet, Expands Global RWA Access with Enhanced Performance

Executive Summary

Pharos Network has officially launched its AtlanticOcean testnet, a programmable open financial Layer-1 blockchain. This initiative aims to expand global access to Real World Assets (RWA) by providing a robust infrastructure with significant technical advancements in scalability, speed, and modularity, signaling increased development and future liquidity within the RWA sector.

The Event in Detail

The Pharos Network introduced its AtlanticOcean testnet, marking a strategic move to position itself as a global bridge for the on-chain transfer of Real World Assets. This testnet is designed to enable institutions, developers, and partners to simulate and rigorously test cross-border RWA transactions before the planned mainnet launch.

Since its initial testnet launch in May, Pharos Network has demonstrated substantial performance, processing nearly 3 billion transactions across 23 million blocks with an average block time of 0.5 seconds. The network also established a worldwide validator set and achieved full compatibility with Ethereum's Dencun SPEC for reliable block replay.

The AtlanticOcean testnet incorporates several key upgrades. These include a mainnet-aligned Proof-of-Stake (PoS) token economic model with a 1 billion total supply, as well as user-friendly staking and validator voting mechanisms. Architecturally, the network has been refactored into a modular design that effectively decouples consensus, execution, node, and storage layers. Consensus and execution have been optimized through pipeline-based enhancements and hybrid parallel execution, combining DAG-based and Block-STM V1 approaches. Storage capabilities are enhanced by a cache-first redesign with PharosDB, an optimized storage model. These advancements collectively aim to support more composable and complex testing scenarios for developers and enterprise partners.

Pharos Network has also formed strategic alliances and integrations with entities such as Morpho Labs, Bitverse, and Euclid. Wallet and tooling integrations include OKX Wallet, Bitget Wallet, Hemera Explorer, and Goldsky, which further validate the network's readiness for large-scale, real-world testing and developer adoption. The AtlanticOcean testnet will undergo staged activations, with the original testnet co-existing for a period to facilitate gradual migration for ecosystem partners. The project anticipates a mainnet launch in Q1 2026.

Market Implications

The launch of the AtlanticOcean testnet by Pharos Network carries significant implications for the broader Web3 ecosystem and the burgeoning RWA market. By providing a dedicated, high-performance Layer-1 blockchain specifically engineered for RWA tokenization, Pharos aims to address critical scalability and interoperability challenges that have historically limited institutional engagement with digital assets. The network's reported capabilities of 50,000 transactions per second (TPS), 2 Gigagas throughput, and DP 5 (a measure of parallel execution efficiency) position it as a potential catalyst for increased institutional adoption of on-chain real-world assets. The ability to facilitate cross-border liquidity flows for tokenized assets could unlock substantial capital previously siloed in traditional financial systems, driving new investment and operational efficiencies in areas like real estate, credit, and commodities.

Expert Commentary

Wish Wu, Co-founder and CEO of Pharos Network, commented on the significance of the launch: "Based on what we have built now, we validated the foundation of Pharos, excellent performance, fair access, and scalable execution. AtlanticOcean builds on that success. From here, Pharos goes global. We push the limits of scale, memory, and speed before real assets flow on-chain. We focus on the digital rails for liquidity to move freely between institutions, protocols, and people worldwide." This statement underscores the project's ambition to establish a foundational infrastructure for global RWA finance.

Broader Context

The strategic focus of Pharos Network on Real World Assets aligns with a growing trend in the blockchain industry to bridge traditional finance with decentralized applications. The network's modular architecture and advanced technical specifications, including a Dual VM environment (EVM + WASM) and an adaptive asynchronous BFT consensus protocol, differentiate it within the competitive Layer-1 landscape. While other Layer-1 solutions support RWA initiatives, Pharos Network's explicit design for high-performance, complex RWA scenarios, coupled with its reported 80% reduction in storage overhead compared to Ethereum's trie model, positions it as a specialized solution. Backed by investment institutions such as Hack VC and Faction VC, Pharos Network's development trajectory suggests a long-term commitment to becoming a key infrastructure provider in the expanding RWA market, potentially influencing future corporate adoption trends and investor sentiment towards on-chain real-world assets globally.