Although the current network is fully functional, Hedera expects to add additional features and services in the future. Technology development is subject to uncertainties. Timeframes are subject to change and none of the improvements, enhancements or tools are guaranteed to be added as planned, but current expectations are set out below.
2020 Roadmap:
- Additional Wallet Integrations. Hedera will continue providing education and assistance for integrations by additional hardware and software wallets that will support Hedera's hbar cryptocurrency.
- State Proofs. Hedera expects the platform to be able to allow users to request state proofs by querying the network for a record. When a client requests an aspect of the state of network accounts, nodes would be able to construct and return a small file carrying cryptographic material and signatures to prove the returned data is the true consensus state.
- Mirror Node Beta. As noted in response to "Are there additional services or features that have been developed since the network was launched (other than the core services)?", Hedera's Mirror Node software is currently available as an alpha version. It is expected to enter its beta version in 2020 and to become available for developers to download and configure for use with the Hedera network.
- Reconfiguration. The Hedera testnets and mainnet (beta) are expected to become capable of allowing nodes to join and rejoin the network automatically, without impacting overall network availability.
- Open Source. The hashgraph platform is available as open source (Apache License 2.0); the source code is now available for anyone to read, recompile, and verify that it is correct. In addition, all of the Hedera services and developer tools have been open-sourced.
Other Planned Developments:
- Additional Permissioned Nodes. At present, only Hedera and Council members host network nodes, to ensure the security and stability of the network. Eventually, Hedera intends to expand eligibility for node hosting to additional trusted organizations who are not Council members.
- Permissionless Nodes. At an appropriate time after implementing proof-of-stake proxy-staking mechanisms, described below, Hedera intends to allow anyone to be able to run a node.
- Hbar Staking and Proxy Staking. As Hedera is currently a public network with permissioned nodes run by Hedera and Council members, there is little risk of node hosts colluding to corrupt the ledger. To enable Hedera’s path to permissionless nodes (i.e., when anyone can host a network node), Hedera intends to implement the staking and proxy-staking of hbars to nodes, so that nodes will contribute to consensus based on the number of coins that are staked or proxy-staked to them. Whereas nodes may receive substantial compensation for staking in order to incentivize them to do all the effort of being a node, users who proxy-stake hbars will receive very small payments (a small fraction of a percentage point), which are shared with the nodes. Unlike other staking models, Hedera’s proxy staking creates no risk of the loss of hbars nor any loss of liquidity, as there is no “bonding” or “slashing” of proxy-staked coins. The compensation for proxy-staking is meant only to encourage users (or the builders of their wallet software) to make the very small effort to choose a reliable node to which to proxy-stake. Users who proxy-stake their hbars will receive proxy-staking payments, but the amount of those payments will be de minimis. (For more information on proxy-staking, see https://www.hedera.com/blog/proxy-staking-on-hedera.)
For more information on Hedera’s path to further decentralization, see the webinar available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTNNYeSks-s&feature=youtu.be