With over 20 million request transactions executed for thousands of smart contracts across various blockchains, Chainlink Verifiable Random Function (VRF) stands out as the most widely used random number generator (RNG) in Web3. Through ongoing upgrades and improvements, Chainlink VRF achieves an ultimate latency of approximately two seconds, enabling numerous innovative use cases that demand swift responses.

Randomness plays a critical role in numerous blockchain applications, including gaming, NFTs, and the arts, ensuring fair outcomes and experiences. However, ensuring the security of a randomness source poses challenges, particularly within deterministic systems like blockchain networks.

Blockchain-based RNG systems are susceptible to manipulation, as miners or validators can influence results by selectively releasing blocks that benefit them. The lack of transparency in off-chain RNG solutions makes it difficult to ascertain whether the randomness provided has been tampered with.

Chainlink VRF remains pivotal in supporting a diverse array of use cases for managing Web2 and Web3 projects at scale as the blockchain gaming sector expands and the demand for on-chain verified randomness grows. By leveraging on-chain cryptography and off-chain processing, Chainlink VRF circumvents these limitations.

Through the use of the Oracle node's pre-committed private key, Chainlink VRF combines block data that is not yet available at the time of the request to generate a random number and cryptographic proof. The consuming program only accepts the random number input once a legitimate cryptographic proof has been generated—something that cannot occur if the random number generation process has been tampered with.

Chainlink VRF v2.5 introduces support for fee payments in LINK and other assets, such as native blockchain gas tokens. Unlike LINK payments, payments made in other assets incur a higher fee. Additionally, efforts are underway to develop a payment abstraction system that automatically converts fee payments received in other assets into LINK.

This update creates new opportunities for programmatically funding the on-chain predictability of VRF. For instance, dApps can transfer the cost of VRF calls to end users at request time, enabling fully autonomous dApps that do not require a team to manage a subscription contract balance.

Leading blockchain games are increasingly prioritizing verifiability, and major Web2 gaming corporations are following suit. Global brands and prominent gaming firms are turning to Chainlink VRF to enhance platform transparency.

Organizations like the NBA and Lotte Group have adopted Chainlink VRF to enhance their NFT strategy, while Chainlink serves as the Web3 infrastructure provider for Nexon's MapleStory Universe. The key enhancements in Chainlink VRF v2.5 make it easier than ever for developers to create sophisticated on-chain experiences and applications with provably fair gameplay and unforeseen outcomes.