Session Token TGE Update: What's Changing, And What It Means For Oxen Node Operators

Session Token is planned to launch between February 5, 2025 to March 20, 2025 to ensure migration readiness and ecosystem sustainability.  

Some Oxen service node operators and contributors have voiced a preference both for an earlier TGE date and clarity on a fixed timeline. This sentiment is entirely reasonable, considering their long-term commitment to Session and ongoing participation in the Oxen Service Node Bonus Program. In addition, the past timeline adjustments, from Q2 2024 to 2024, and now to February-March 2025, have left Oxen stakeholders feeling uncertain and frustrated.

While the goal has always been to provide clear timelines to stakeholders, the evolving requirements of the network migration now mean that flexibility is necessary to ensure both stability and sustainability for the Session ecosystem both at and after TGE. As a result, setting an earlier TGE date or a fixed date (beyond the given timeframe) is not feasible at this time.

A full overview of the strategy driving this choice and the benefits it offers to Oxen’s network operators and the Session ecosystem as a whole can be found here.

This blog will focus on information relevant to the Oxen Service Node Bonus program, and some important advice for operators as the countdown to Oxen’s network migration begins.

What does this mean for the Oxen Service Node Bonus Program?

Oxen network operators and contributors are the beating heart of the Session ecosystem. Once an adjusted timeline became the best option for a successful launch, considerations were immediately made to ensure that this would not negatively impact participants of the Service Node Bonus Program.

To ensure that early participants in the Oxen Service Node Bonus program retain their advantage, daily points will be adjusted from 800 points per day to 700 points per day per active node. This adjustment supports the planned February-March 2025 TGE timeline, helping to sustain the benefits for those who joined the program early.

How can I prepare for the network migration?

With TGE approaching, this is an optimal time to start running or staking to testnet nodes, and Oxen stakers are highly encouraged to start participating in the Session Testnet Incentive Program if they have not already done so in order to earn points while they familiarise themselves with the new, upgraded staking interface.

All operators who are registered for the Oxen Service Node Bonus Program are automatically eligible to participate in the private Session Testnet, where points can be earned for running and staking to testnet nodes, with participants rewarded with Session Tokens at TGE.

The bulk of mainnet features are now available on testnet, including multicontributor nodes, and a number of additional participant incentives are available, including a points bonus for running multicontributor nodes, and bonus test SENT tokens for successful referrals as part of the recently launched referral program.

In addition to benefiting from the incentive program through rewards at TGE, it will provide an opportunity to familiarise yourself with the new staking portal and understand its differences to Oxen’s staking process. You’ll find that the process is now much sleeker, easier and faster—a key part of why the network is migrating to an EVM-compatible chain.

Joining testnet will be a key opportunity to learn how to set up and effectively use Arbitrum RPC providers, which will also be a requirement for an upcoming mandatory service node upgrade ahead of the hardforks that will usher in mainnet. Oxen stakers will also be able to provide UX feedback to help optimise the new web-based Staking Portal and ensure that the staking experience is intuitive and convenient based on their needs.

In short, participating in testnet is the best way for Oxen stakers to prepare for the upcoming TGE and mainnet, and help ensure stability for the Session Network during the transition and the over 1 million people that rely on it.

Here are key resources to help you to get started:

About the Testnet Incentive Program:

https://token.getsession.org/testnet-incentive-program

Test SENT Faucet:

https://stake.getsession.org/faucet

Session Testnet Node docs:

https://docs.getsession.org/class-is-in-session/session-stagenet-node-setup

Access testnet support in the Session Token Discord:

https://discord.gg/sessiontoken