After a final application is selected, a shard will begin onboarding to start the launch process for their blockchain. Pocket Network will provide a detailed task list that breaks down the project into manageable steps aligned to each shard member role. This launch playbook also helps the shard stay in sync with Pocket Network core team members who will be involved in certain launch tasks. Generally the integration, welcome-list, and launch of a new blockchain takes anywhere from 15-45 days depending on shard member engagement and the technical difficulty of the chain.

Launch Steps

  1. Pre-Launch Coordination
    1. Preliminary Technical Evaluation: As part of the application process we will require a minimum of 1 existing RPC endpoint to be able to perform health checks. If the blockchain your shard is integrating is non-EVM, we will need an RPC URL with auth provided to us as a means of checking the health and height of blocks.
    2. Coordinate With Chains Marketing Team: After an application is approved and a shard begins onboarding, the Marketing member should begin coordinating with the chains marketing team as soon as possible to align on launch activities.
  2. Chain Approval
    1. Provide Technical Documentation: The DevOps shard member will be expected to provide API documentation and chain information such as HTTP methods and JSON body formats.
    2. Provide a Growth Budget Proposal: The Marketing and Business Development members should work together to create a proposal that outlines their paid marketing activities. This will be reviewed by and with the Pocket Network internal marketing team. Upon approval the shard will receive their launch budget of up to 30k POKT.
    3. Discuss Final Chain Integration Needs With Pocket Product Team: After the above tasks have been completed, the shard members should notify Jessica Daugherty or Fred Teumer to discuss any technical specifications and align on a targeted WL and launch date.
  3. Chain Sync
    1. Internal and External Chain Playbook: The chain integration will begin with technical tasks for DevOps from both the Pocket Network team and the DevOps shard member. The shard member will initialize the blockchain, sync the nodes and get their altruists stood up while the internal team provides settlers, generates a Pocket ChainID, and adds nodes to Node Nanny.
    2. Create Marketing Campaign With Chains Marketing Team: The Marketing shard member will work with the chains marketing team, and the Pocket Network internal marketing team where needed, to finalize a calendar of marketing activities that includes their paid marketing strategies. This timeline will be added to the Pocket Network calendar. This will help determine the launch date for your shard.
    3. Announce WL to Node Runners: After a launch and WL date are set, the Pocket Network team will announce to the node runner community that this blockchain will be coming online at the date provided by the shard.
  4. Testing, Approval and Promotion
    1. Chain Testing: The chain is tested to ensure that we are comfortable with the capacity. If approved, the chain will be WL’d on the agreed upon date.
    2. Outline Business Development Opportunities: The Business Development member should create an outbound lead list to share with Pocket Network and their shard that outlines their path to 25mn daily relays.
    3. Campaign Launch: If testing is successful, once the chain is WL’d the Marketing shard member will begin the marketing activities as agreed on during the campaign creation and budget proposal steps.
  5. Service Confirmation and Expansion
    1. Onboard Users: The first users should be given endpoints and the shard should confirm that relays are being sent to the new relay ChainID
    2. Post-Launch Boost: The Marketing shard member should continue coordinating with the chain’s marketing team on any post-launch promotional activities and next strategic steps.
    3. Post-Launch AMA: Marketing shard members should be anticipating the coordination of an AMA post launch. This AMA can include speakers from the chain team, developers, or community
  6. Sunsetting Launch
    1. Retire Settler: Once a shard has reached a definition of MVN (Minimum Viable Network), the settlers can be retired. Please refer to the Maintenance Playbook for more information about MVN.
    2. Support: Once an MVN is achieved, shards will begin supporting their blockchains and continuing with growth activities as desired by the participants. In addition to the support the shard provides, each shard will be given a support board to coordinate with Pocket Network on resolving any issues. Please refer to the Maintenance Playbook for more information about Post-Launch Support.