- DogeOS has launched its public testnet, introducing EVM-compatible smart contracts to the Dogecoin network.
- DOGE will serve as the currency for transaction fees, allowing creators to develop gaming, trading, stablecoin, and DeFi applications on DogeOS.
DogeOS has rolled out its public Chikyū testnet, introducing an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM)-compatible smart contract layer to the Dogecoin ecosystem via a zero-knowledge rollup.
Debuting on September 30, the testnet provides a testing and development environment on top of Dogecoin while leaving the base Layer 1 network untouched. On DogeOS, DOGE functions as the native asset for covering transaction fees.
This release supplies Dogecoin creators with Ethereum-compatible smart contract capabilities. Builders can rely on familiar development tools such as Hardhat, Foundry, and Remix, with the Chikyū testnet currently running on chain ID 6281971.
DogeOS Brings DeFi and Other Applications to Dogecoin
DogeOS aims to enable use cases absent from Dogecoin’s native layer, such as decentralized exchanges, lending protocols, perpetual trading, stablecoins, prediction markets, and gaming. A handful of initiatives are already constructing applications on the testnet, including Barkswap, Superposition Finance, Derps, Split Markets, and USDoge.
The platform targets a capacity of roughly 300 transactions per second, outpacing Dogecoin’s Layer 1 rate of about 30 transactions per second. By utilizing a separate application layer, DogeOS enables smart contract operations to execute without altering the core Dogecoin network.
While the zero-knowledge rollup is built to settle its state onto Dogecoin, Dogecoin does not yet natively verify the zero-knowledge proofs. Instead, the testnet relies on a permissioned sequencer, validators, and a trusted execution environment, requiring valid proofs alongside TEE and validator signatures for bridge state transitions.
Previously, DogeOS put forward a Dogecoin Core upgrade proposal that would enable the base chain to natively verify ZK proofs, though that change has not yet been adopted.
Consequently, the near-term impact for DOGE centers on the application layer instead of the underlying blockchain. The digital asset can pay for smart contract fees, giving developers an EVM-compliant space to construct applications centered around Dogecoin.
No mainnet release date has been scheduled by DogeOS. The active public testnet is intended for developers to construct and evaluate applications prior to any future mainnet transition.
At the time of writing, CoinMarketCap data showed DOGE trading near $0.0976 on October 1, marking an increase of approximately 2.5% over the prior 24-hour period.
