XDC Subnets
XDC Subnets are sovereign blockchains that operate independently of the public XDC Network, allowing organizations to run a production-ready blockchain in their own environment.
Overview
XDC Subnets allow organizations to tokenize and manage assets before they are exchanged publicly. They also allow for applications to run in independent web3 environments, providing a similar onboarding process to that of any EVM mainnet.
These independent blockchains allow projects to maintain their own unique level of sovereignty and privacy over its tokenized assets and documents, even if transacting with other subnets in the XDC ecosystem. An XDC Subnet can optionally enhance its security guarantee by inheriting the XDC mainnet's Byzantine Fault Tolerant HotStuff protocol consensus engine and built-in forensics monitoring system, while maintaining complete data privacy.
A subnet built on XDC Network is:
Production ready, high-performing, secure, and EVM-compatible.
Self sovereign, enabling independent control over consensus, governance, and data.
Able to exist alongside (anchor to) the XDC mainnet or operate independently. An anchored subnet remains independent and only checkpoints the subnet state through its header.
Architected with a consensus mechanism that inherits XDC Network’s Byzantine Fault Tolerant Hotstuff protocol and on-chain forensics model.
An XDC Subnet’s sovereignty and customizable nature leave it within the hands of its creator.
How fast can I build my own XDC blockchain/subnet?
With a user-friendly interface and industry-leading tools, deploying your own blockchain can happen in under an hour. These tools make building a blockchain accessible to all. Read more about subnet tools below.
How can I customize my XDC Subnet?
Each subnet allows its creator to customize parameters such as governance, validator sets, network configurations; and to define its nature through a selection of built-in tools and capabilities.
Subnets operate as sovereign blockchains with their own masternodes, inheriting the XDC Network’s consensus model and forensics monitoring system for performance and security.
Customize your blockchain parameters such as number of masternodes, epoch length, optional mainnet integration, and many other network configurations.
Inherit the security and performance of the XDC Network within your own environment, powered by the Byzantine Fault Tolerant HotStuff protocol consensus engine and built-in forensics monitoring system.
Monitor and manage your subnet through a user-friendly interface.
Utilize the XDC Zero cross-chain framework to transact and transmit data cross-chain or leverage the parent chain for additional security.
Subnet Tools, Capabilities and Considerations
Subnet Generator UI
The subnet generator UI simplifies the deployment process, making subnets accessible to users without significant development experience. The deployment generator provides customizable selections such as epoch length, token distributions, master node count, rewards, and many others. The ability to deploy your subnet as a fully private blockchain or interoperate with the mainnet is available with this tool.
Subnet Monitoring UI
The Subnet Monitoring UI is a visual dashboard tool that allows developers to track the performance, health, and validator activity of their XDC Subnets in real time. It displays key metrics such as block production, finality status, anchoring checkpoints, and node uptime, helping teams quickly identify issues or confirm smooth operation. By providing a ready-to-use interface, this tool saves development resources—eliminating the need to build custom monitoring systems from scratch. It is especially valuable for teams deploying private, permissioned, or anchored subnets that need operational transparency and ease of maintenance.
Checkpoint Smart Contract (CSC)
The Checkpoint Smart Contract deployed to the parent chain (mainnet or testnet) provides enhanced security by recording block hashes from the subnet. This ensures the subnet blocks cannot be tampered with while protecting/concealing the underlying subnet data.
The CSC enables interoperability between the parent chain and the subnet chain. The CSC is an optional feature, but it is highly recommended to deploy a subnet using CSC.
____________________________
XDC Zero
XDC Zero is a cross-chain framework that includes relayers, endpoints, and an oracle that can be used for interoperability between the subnet and parentchain. This is an optional solution available for those who wish to transact and transmit data cross-chain or leverage the parent chain for additional security.
____________________________
Subswap
Subswap is a cross-chain application built on top of the XDC Zero framework. It allows users to easily transfer tokens between the subnet and parent chain.
____________________________
The video below will walk you through setting up and deploying your own blockchain (subnet):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SXsRbn6hN8&t=21s
How does an XDC Subnet compare to subnets on other chains?
While there are multiple blockchain deployment solutions across the industry, many of them require an extensive amount of development. XDC Subnets are designed to make your building process much easier and faster, providing a production ready blockchain that's equally as capable as the XDC Network mainnet itself.
XDC Subnets can communicate with other subnets and/or XDC mainnet as needed. This allows projects to maintain their own unique level of sovereignty and privacy over all transactions, including tokenized assets and documents. In addition, subnets benefit from XDC Network’s consensus mechanism where new blocks are generated every two seconds, and a three-block finality means transactions are confirmed and final in six seconds.
XDC Subnets go the distance by extending mainnet security to every sovereign chain.
Build your own blockchain/subnet on XDC
Quickly deploy your own sovereign blockchain with XDC Network’s simplified solution. In addition to the information and links above, the following references may be helpful in deploying your project: