Chainlink Automation 2.0 and Functions 1.0 are now live on Avalanche, providing verifiable, composable, and gas-efficient automation and off-chain compute, enabling Avalanche ecosystem devs to build new Web3 applications with greater flexibility and control. 1️⃣ Automation 2.0 allows developers to offload and automate any Solidity computation off-chain with a ~90% average reduction in gas costs. 2️⃣ Functions 1.0 allows developers to connect their smart contracts to any external data source and run custom computations in minutes. Explore these new features in detail: https://www.avax.network/blog/avalanche-is-advancing-off-chain-computation-services-for-developers


Chainlink Automation 2.0 and Chainlink Functions 1.0 are now live on Avalanche C-Chain unlocking advanced off-chain computation capabilities for the Avalanche ecosystem. These cutting-edge Chainlink services provide verifiable, composable, and gas-efficient automation and off-chain compute to enable Avalanche ecosystem developers to realize new types of Web3 applications with greater flexibility and control.
Chainlink Automation is a reliable, performant smart contract automation solution for developers wanting to outsource DevOps-related tasks in a decentralized and cost-efficient manner. 
Chainlink Functions is a Web3 serverless developer platform allowing developers to connect their smart contracts to any external data source and run custom computations in minutes.
Explore these new features in detail below. If you’d like to start building right away, explore the developer documentation for Automation and Functions.

Accessing Off-Chain Compute with Chainlink Automation and Functions 

The combination of Chainlink Automation 2.0 and Functions 1.0 changes Web3 app development involving off-chain computation. Automation provides a way to offload and automate any Solidity computation off-chain with a ~90% reduction on average in gas costs to Chainlink decentralized oracle networks, while Functions’ serverless developer platform unlocks the capability to perform custom Javascript computations on any data brought-in from the real-world.
Through a multitude of enhancements that provide stronger security guarantees and more configuration flexibility, Chainlink Automation and Functions enable advanced off-chain computation use cases that maintain the trust-minimization guarantees of the underlying blockchain. Additionally, Automation 2.0 unlocks new ways of creating connections between dApps, as smart contracts can now react to log events emitted on-chain. Adding log triggers to Automation enables smart contracts to use it as a powerful messaging bus, comparable to the pub/sub messaging bus utilized in Web2 to connect microservices. 

“Chainlink has established itself as the industry standard for integrating real-world data with Web3 decentralized applications and smart-contracts through Oracles,” said Gabriel Cardona, Developer Evangelist at Ava Labs. “Automation 2.0 and Functions 1.0 represent a leap forward, allowing developers to offload Solidity computation with substantial gas savings of approximately 90%. We remain excited to see all of the amazing and game-changing functionality which can be unlocked when leveraging the Avalanche network in concert with Chainlink services.”

Chainlink Functions 1.0 has seen significant interest from the developer community, with 2,500+ builders looking to leverage the enhanced mainnet release to unlock a multitude of novel use cases faster, easier, and with greater configuration flexibility. 
Advantages of Functions 1.0 on mainnet over Functions Beta include: 

• Seamless integration—Devs can seamlessly create, fund, and manage subscriptions using an NPM package or monitor, deploy, and interact with their Functions through an easy-to-use UI. Developers can also write and test Functions in their browser using the Chainlink Functions Playground.
• Cutting-edge security—Functions leverages a threshold encryption scheme to enhance API secrets’ security in a decentralized manner.
• Configurable limits—Developers can configure execution time, number of requests, payload size, and other parameters, giving them greater flexibility to architect their dApps to meet their user’s needs. ‍
• Access control—Devs can control who can call their Function, enabling them to gate initiation to their contract and allow any EOA to trigger the Functions request. 

Underpinned by the same industry-standard infrastructure as other battle-tested Chainlink services, Automation 2.0 and Functions 1.0 leverage the same pool of time-tested, provably reliable node operators that have enabled $8.5T+ in transaction value and maintained consistent uptime levels, even during record levels of network congestion and market volatility. This novel suite of compute-enabled Chainlink services enables developers to realize a multitude of next-generation Web3 use cases that are reliant on advanced off-chain computation.

“We’re excited to expand our suite of decentralized services available on Avalanche with Automation 2.0 and Functions 1.0, empowering Avalanche developers to build next-generation apps that rely on advanced off-chain computation,” stated Harry Papacharissiou, Developer Advocate Manager at Chainlink Labs. “Combining these secure Chainlink services with Avalanche’s flourishing developer ecosystem can help propel Web3 toward its next phase of adoption.

Neal Stephenson’s LAMINA1 to Reimagine the Open Metaverse with New Layer 1 Built on Avalanche

LAMINA1, the blockchain-based solution built to empower metaverse content creation and development, will be launching a highly performant Layer 1 blockchain on Avalanche. The platform, which has been in development since June 2022 will serve as the interface to an open internet; a seamlessly integrated suite of tools and protocols powered by L1 and built on the Avalanche consensus.
LAMINA1 was founded by a trio of visionaries: futurist and celebrated author Neal Stephenson (who coined the term “metaverse” in the novel Snowcrash), technologist and investor Peter Vessenes, and immersive entertainment executive Rebecca Barkin.

“We founded LAMINA1 because we would like to see the Metaverse develop in a way that’s open, decentralized, and welcoming for creators,” said Neal Stephenson. “In order to have a Metaverse that millions of people visit and use, we’ll need experiences there that people enjoy having. That starts with building creator support into the system from the ground up. We’ve found a partner that’s aligned with that vision and that has the engineering heft to realize it.”

Since its inception, LAMINA1 has been focused on enabling an interconnected world of rich, digital experiences where creators and individuals can enjoy privacy and prosperity as they move through it –– using blockchain as its underlying infrastructure. So far, nearly 50,000 people have participated in its Testnet and Betanet, laying the groundwork for current and upcoming features such as:

• Interoperable ecosystem built on Avalanche consensus
• Specialized subnets for Premium Creator Features: Identity, Assets, Storage
• Fluid digital identity unified across platforms
• Intuitive tools for creators of all kinds to build cross-platform experiences
• Game Engine/Web SDKs & Editor plug-ins for developers
• Consumer-grade user experience, interface, and design

Meanwhile, Avalanche has quickly gained traction for its blazing transaction speeds, customizability, and nearly infinitely-scalable architecture. The platform's Subnet model also provides unmatched composability and options for blockchain networks and builders. As such, Avalanche provides an ideal ‘Layer 0’ base for optimizing and scaling any blockchain, including the metaverse-specific infrastructure LAMINA1 is developing.
Over the next few months, teams at Ava Labs and LAMINA1 will bring a version of its creator-first platform to the Avalanche network and ecosystem. This integration will be custom-built for seamlessly onboarding metaverse creators and developers to create on-chain apps and Spaces, with the aim of expanding Avalanche’s existing creator ecosystem across indie gaming, music, film, fashion, art, and tastemaker experiences. Ava Labs will provide critical tech and other support to the LAMINA1 team as it continues to build on Avalanche.

"Since day one, Peter, Neal, and I have had tremendous respect for Avalanche and the team at Ava Labs –– not just their core technology, but their business acumen, their focus on building long term value, and their first-class developer support, which is a critical aspect of onboarding new content creators and keeping them,” said LAMINA1 Co-Founder & CEO Rebecca Barkin. “With our expertise in consumer design and content development, and their commitment to scale, speed, reliability at the Consensus layer, we’re aiming for great acceleration. Together, we can empower creators to lay down the stepping stones to an interconnected and open metaverse."
“The partnership between LAMINA1 and Ava Labs is a major step forward in building the open metaverse," said John Nahas, Vice President of Business Development, Ava Labs. "LAMINA1’s vision of a creator-first metaverse aligns perfectly with our commitment to providing developers and users with the tools and infrastructure they need to build the next generation of Web3 applications. We are excited to collaborate with LAMINA1 to bring this vision to life and to empower creators to build the metaverse they want to see.”                                                                                                                  

Keep up with what LAMINA1 is building on Avalanche by joining the LAMINA1 and Avalanche Discord communities. 
‍

About LAMINA1 

LAMINA1 is a blockchain optimized for the open metaverse, providing builders and creators a flexible framework for a better online future. The organization was founded in June 2022 by renowned author and futurist Neal Stephenson, who originated the term “metaverse” in his 1992 novel Snow Crash, technologist and investor Peter Vessenes, digital currency expert and founder of the first venture-backed Bitcoin company, and immersive entertainment executive Rebecca Barkin.
Its mission is to deliver the infrastructure, API, and tooling needed to empower a vibrant, global community of open metaverse creators — championing the development of a robust, performant and interoperable ecosystem that gives builders and consumers more agency and ownership in the next online era.

Blockticity Mints $275M in Hemp and Other Product Certifications on Avalanche, Disrupting a $4.5T Industry

Blockticity, a blockchain-based product certification system built on Avalanche, aims to help address the $4.5T worth of counterfeit goods flowing through the world’s economy each year. 1️⃣ Blockticity has already minted certifications on Avalanche for goods totaling over $275M. 2️⃣ This first minting covers hemp, psychedelic mushrooms, and kratom products for ACS Laboratory, one of the largest hemp and cannabis labs in the U.S. 3️⃣ Blockticity prints a QR code on the products following third-party testing. This code links to a Certificate of Analysis, minted as an Avalanche NFT.



Blockticity, a startup addressing the $4.5T of goods with fraudulent paperwork moving through the supply chain, has minted certifications for its first $275M in products on Avalanche. This first minting covers hemp, psychedelic mushrooms, and kratom for ACS Laboratory, the largest hemp and cannabis lab in the eastern U.S. Blockticity plans to use Avalanche to certify sugar, sneakers (on deck for Q4 2023), fruit, meat, and much more, bringing confidence to supply chains that can stretch across the globe. 
With its first minting, Blockticity launches its Certificate of Analysis (COA) as NFT verification system. 
How does this system work? After a third-party partner’s testing, Blockticity prints a QR code on products. This QR code links to a COA minted as an Avalanche NFT. Rendered inalterable by the natural properties of blockchain, this NFT cannot be edited by bad actors. When vendors down the supply chain, patients, or consumers scan the QR code and see the Avalanche NFT, they can know the certification is authentic – and be more confident in the product. 
To start, ACS Laboratory has used Blockticity to mint 36,750 COAs on Avalanche's C-Chain, representing a retail value of $275,625,000. Their NFTs point to separate verification that each of the 36,750 samples has been tested by a third-party lab (ACS), as required before sale in the U.S. 
The majority of ACS Laboratory’s next 120k scheduled OCAs are for cannabis. 
Fraud can be common in the certification industry. This problem is compounded by the lack of a robust track and trace system across many supply chains. Fraudsters can exploit laboratory COAs through QR code tampering, visual modifications, and data alterations. Blockticity's solution aims for COAs to have consistent, verifiable proof by anchoring them to Avalanche, empowering companies and consumers to trace COAs directly back to the original laboratory, adding a layer of protection. 
Industries beyond cannabis can benefit from COA NFTs. Blockticity plans to enter consumer electronics, apparel, agriculture, seafood, and other sectors, with some projects slated to debut in Q4. Authenticity obstacles are common across numerous supply chain sectors. One study found that 36% of seafood is mislabeled. The fast-growing cannabis sector faces fraud challenges. 
Blockticity chose Avalanche for its security, permissioned data availability, and the customizability and scaling potential of Avalanche Subnets. Though only on C-Chain at launch, Blockticity plans to migrate to its own Avalanche Subnet. 

"Blockticity's primary goal is to harness Web3 for tracking products across the global supply chain,” said Mike Coner, CEO of Blockticity. “We use Avalanche because it enables on-chain product authentication while safeguarding client metadata and offering a scalable solution for the worldwide economy. Avalanche propels us to heights we previously deemed unattainable."
“Product certification and traceability are two promising areas that have long been ripe for disruption by blockchain,” said John Nahas, VP of BD at Ava Labs. “Blockticity’s solution leverages the speed and security of Avalanche to unlock this promise. We’re thrilled that Blockticity has joined forces with ACS Laboratory to mint blockchain-backed certifications for hundreds of millions of dollars of consumer products.”
“We’re pleased to join forces with Blockticity once again, harnessing this avant-garde technology for our esteemed clients,” said Roger Brown, president of ACS Laboratory. “This technological leap allows any COA viewer to trace its origins and detect any discrepancies. This venture could pave the way for a comprehensive global tracking mechanism, reinforcing the credibility of certification processes, backed by the Avalanche blockchain.”

About Blockticity

Blockticity offers technology solutions aimed at mitigating fraud in the certification and authenticity realm. Its potential extends beyond hemp and cannabis, promising reliability for various industries vulnerable to deceit and counterfeiting. Discover more at https://blockticity.io/.

About ACS Laboratory

ACS Laboratory is an award-winning testing facility serving the cannabis, hemp, mushroom and kratom industries with consistent, precise results. The team has earned 82 Emerald Test Badges for accurate results, more than any other lab in the USA. Exceeding regulatory requirements, ACS is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited, DEA licensed, CLIA licensed and hemp-testing compliant in all 50 states (including Puerto Rico), and 17 countries. The facility is also a Florida Department of Health "Certified Marijuana Testing Laboratory." Beyond compliance, ACS is committed to innovation, continuously developing protocols to support clients as they expand into new product types and verticals. ACS Laboratory operates a 20,000 sq. ft. facility, making it the largest in the Eastern USA. Explore ACS' blog for the latest botanical science and laboratory testing information. Visit www.acslab.com for a complete list of testing services and capabilities. https://www.acslab.com/