Facebook’s Libra developer update depicts continued growth on its live testnet

In a recent update, Libra Association developer Michael Engle revealed the project’s testnet is seeing continued improvement, logging more than 51,000 transactions since mid-September, and its (currently private) “Pre-mainnet” staging environment features seven deployed nodes, with fourteen more in-process. Engle also said the testnet now supports 34 projects created by community contributors, though over 30 of these projects are either wallets, clients, or block explorers.

Why it matters:

• The update shows Libra is continuing to progress in development despite being under regulatory cross-fire from multiple jurisdictions. Based on the evidence provided in the update, any delays to mainnet launch will not result from technical complexities but from a legal impasse or lack of node operator interest.
• Community engagement is promising with 34 projects added in just seven weeks. Now, Libra needs to onboard more partner nodes on its Pre-mainnet, which at seven deployed nodes is 93 nodes short of its live mainnet goal.