Aiming to transform Polkadot's path ahead, this upgrade will bring significant changes.

JAM is a decentralized system merging characteristics from Ethereum and Polkadot.

Polkadot's co-founder Gavin Wood hinted at the forthcoming Join-Accumulate Machine (JAM) update during an event. This proposal is set to revolutionize Polkadot's trajectory moving forward.

Presenting at the Token2049 crypto conference in Dubai, Wood shared details about the JAM Gray Paper, showcasing groundbreaking technology fusing Ethereum and Polkadot. This upgrade will introduce a new, streamlined, and more flexible version surpassing the current Relay Chain.

Replacing the Relay Chain

Previously intended to work with other systems like PARSIQ, which specializes in tracking data and automation across blockchains, the Polkadot Relay Chain's purpose is evolving with the introduction of JAM. Polkadot is setting the stage for a future where a simpler, modular architecture will take the place of the Relay Chain.

Wood highlighted the 10-year gap between the release of the Jam Gray Paper and his earlier Yellow Paper in X post. The Web3.0 Foundation, the team behind Polkadot, also revealed a prize fund of 10 million DOT aimed at incentivizing diverse perspectives and contributions to the JAM protocol.

Described as a decentralized hybrid system combining elements from Ethereum and Polkadot, JAM offers users scalable and secure smart contract functionalities. It presents a permissionless object environment for global singletons akin to Ethereum's smart contracts. Polkadot, known for its interoperability features, introduces a concept of a scalable node network that aligns with secure sideband computing.

One notable aspect of JAM is its compatibility with Substrate, making it an attractive option for developers familiar with the platform for blockchain projects. Thanks to parachain services, existing Substrate-based parachains can leverage this crucial feature.