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Key Takeaways

Somnia is an EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain designed for real-time, mass-consumer applications, such as gaming and decentralized social platforms.

Somnia introduces four key innovations: faster smart contract execution, a custom database (IceDB), MultiStream consensus, and advanced data compression.

SOMI is the network’s native token. It’s used to pay for transactions, secure the network through staking, and let users participate in governance decisions.

What Is Somnia?

Somnia is a Layer 1 blockchain designed to support real-time, large-scale applications, including gaming, social platforms, and metaverse environments. The network was developed to overcome the performance limits of existing blockchains, and in testing, the project reported achieving over 1 million transactions per second (TPS) across 100 distributed nodes. 

Somnia is fully compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), enabling developers to use existing Ethereum tools and smart contracts without needing major changes. The network’s native token, SOMI, powers the ecosystem by covering transaction fees, enabling staking, rewarding validators, and facilitating governance.

How Somnia Works

Accelerated Sequential Execution 

On most blockchains, such as Ethereum, smart contracts are executed in a virtual machine, where each instruction is processed sequentially. In Somnia, contracts can be compiled into optimized machine code, enabling them to run at speeds comparable to native software.

​​In testing, this method has enabled the processing of millions of token transfers within fractions of a second. Because compilation requires more resources, this process is typically applied to contracts that are called often, while less frequently used contracts still run in the standard way.

IceDB

A blockchain needs to constantly read and write data, such as balances, contracts, and transaction records. Somnia uses a custom database called IceDB, designed for fast and predictable performance, with operations measured in nanoseconds. Features like built-in snapshotting help the network manage large amounts of information efficiently, even during periods of heavy activity.

MultiStream Consensus

Blockchains rely on consensus to agree on the order of transactions. Somnia uses a model called MultiStream consensus, where each validator maintains its own “data chain” of transactions. A separate consensus chain then combines these data chains and organizes them in a secure manner, using a Proof of Stake (PoS) system inspired by Byzantine Fault Tolerance (BFT).

This separation of roles enables transactions to be processed in parallel across multiple validators, rather than waiting for all validators to work on the same block. The consensus chain ensures that no validator can manipulate its own data chain without detection, maintaining security while increasing throughput.

Advanced Compression

Processing millions of transactions means a significant amount of data must be transferred between blockchain nodes. To manage this, Somnia applies compression methods and signature aggregation. 

By combining many digital signatures into one, verifying a batch of transactions becomes nearly as efficient as verifying a single one. Together with data compression, this approach reduces bandwidth demands, enabling the network to sustain high throughput without overwhelming the system.

Use Cases

Somnia’s goal is to enable Web3 applications to operate with the scale and responsiveness typically associated with Web2 platforms. Its architecture is designed to handle high transaction volumes and fast confirmation times, making it suitable for several types of applications. Some examples include:

Gaming (GameFi)

Somnia’s transaction capacity could make it possible to build games that run entirely on-chain. In these games, players would directly own in-game assets, allowing the game to continue developing independently of a single company. Community-driven modifications and extensions could also be added and the games can continue to evolve as long as there is interest from players.

Social media (SocialFi)

The network could be used to create social platforms where user accounts, posts, and follower networks are stored on-chain. This approach would enable users and creators to maintain control over their data and transfer it across different platforms, rather than being restricted to a single service. 

Metaverse

Somnia can serve as infrastructure for virtual worlds, where assets, avatars, and experiences seamlessly transition between environments. Somnia has introduced a Metaverse Browser as the first gateway to its ecosystem, offering an integrated Web3 wallet and a simple interface for accessing decentralized applications (DApps).

Decentralized finance (DeFi)

The network’s performance could support more complex financial tools, such as fully on-chain limit order books. These systems would offer familiar features from centralized exchanges but with the added transparency and user custody that decentralized systems provide.

Real-time applications

Somnia’s design can also be used for everyday digital services that need fast responses, such as messaging apps, online marketplaces, or streaming platforms. Running these kinds of applications directly on-chain would bring together the convenience of Web2 with the openness and user ownership that Web3 makes possible.

Somnia Token

The SOMI token is the native token of the Somnia network. It has a maximum supply of 1 billion and is used within Somnia’s ecosystem for various purposes:

Gas fees: SOMI is used to cover transaction costs across the network, including transfers, smart contract execution, NFT minting, and other on-chain activities.

Validator staking: Validators are required to stake 5 million SOMI to operate a node, process transactions, and secure the network. In return, they earn rewards from transaction fees and treasury incentives.

Delegated staking: SOMI holders who do not run validator nodes can delegate their tokens to validators to help them meet staking requirements. Delegators receive a share of the validator’s rewards, with terms set by each validator.

Governance: In the future, SOMI holders will be able to participate in governance by voting on decisions regarding network upgrades and policies.

The network’s Delegated Proof of Stake (DPoS) model enables both validators and token holders to play an active role in securing and shaping the Somnia ecosystem.

Somnia (SOMI) on Binance HODLer Airdrops

On September 1, 2025, Binance announced SOMI as the 35th project on the Binance HODLer Airdrops. Users who subscribed their BNB to Simple Earn and/or On-Chain Yields products from August 12 to 15 were eligible to receive SOMI airdrops. A total of 30 million SOMI tokens were allocated to the program, accounting for 3% of the total token supply.

SOMI was listed with the Seed Tag applied, allowing for trading against the USDT, USDC, BNB, FDUSD, and TRY pairs.

Closing Thoughts

Somnia is a blockchain designed to perform at levels closer to traditional internet systems. By using faster contract execution, a custom database, parallel consensus, and data compression, the network aims to support large-scale, real-time applications on-chain and expand blockchain use beyond finance into broader consumer uses.

Further Reading

A Brief History of the Metaverse and Crypto’s Role in It

What Are Modular Blockchains?

What Is Parallelization and How Does It Work?

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