Refund and Upgrade Notification for Nano Supporters

Author: Holochain

Compiled by: ChainCatcher

We have made the difficult decision to offer all Nano supporters the option of a full refund or an upgrade to HoloPort or HoloPort+. This decision was made after a global shortage of components necessary for manufacturing Nano. After exploring various scenarios, we concluded that it is simply not feasible in the short term, and continuing to wait is not beneficial for our supporters. Furthermore, focusing our attention on alternative options for Nano at this time would divert our focus from delivering the Holo hosting network and our key applications.

In the past week, we were able to secure components for another limited batch of HoloPorts and HoloPorts+, which means that Nano supporters who choose to upgrade now will have the opportunity to join the Alpha testing later this year. HoloPort and HoloPort+ are validated units on the Holo network, allowing us to focus our testing and support on the delivery of the Beta mainnet. Additionally, we can provide estimated delivery times for these ports.

Since the early days of our Indiegogo campaign, our policy has been to offer refunds upon request for any orders that have not yet shipped, including shipping costs. This remains the case, and we want to provide you with an option first.

We will be emailing all Nano supporters to let you know whether you would like to upgrade to HoloPort or HoloPort+, or receive a refund. For those who wish to upgrade, we will begin sending upgrade invitations and Nano credit details to ensure that those who supported us during the Indiegogo campaign can access the upgrade options as early as possible. For those who wish to receive a refund, we will begin processing those requests within a week.

So, if you are a supporter of Nano: please check your email and let us know which option you prefer. If you do not receive an email, please contact help@holo.host, and we will certainly provide you with a link to let us know your preference.

Over the past months and years, we have put in a tremendous amount of effort into the Holo hosting infrastructure and HoloPort Operating System (HPOS), and if you look closely, you will see that HoloPorts are reliably upgrading and executing for most of our early testers. Our new HoloPort Alpha program will bring many newcomers into the testing process, and we are expanding the Hosted Elemental Chat testing to over 100 HoloPorts and more than 250 people in the coming weeks.

Throughout the design process of our infrastructure, we have also worked hard to ensure it supports the lean hardware of Nanos. This has been challenging but rewarding, as we are the first in the world to make the Nano motherboard work with the Linux kernel we use to build HPOS (HoloPort Operating System). This progress will prove useful for future Nano projects.

However, while we were working hard during the pandemic, many changes occurred in the electronic hardware industry, including extreme shortages, price fluctuations, and significant delays. This means that larger players in the market are stockpiling chips to ensure their ongoing supply chains, while chip suppliers are prioritizing these customers. Our motherboard manufacturer has been unable to access the specific processors designed for Nano before our initial testing at the end of last year, and we are now being told it is unlikely to be available before the end of this year. Therefore, despite being prepared to manufacture Nano since Q4 2020, we will not be able to deliver until at least 2022.

Given the constantly changing landscape surrounding Nano manufacturing, along with hardware changes and compatibility with the HoloPort Operating System, it is clear that delaying the release of Nano could negatively impact the Holo project timeline, as it would inevitably slow down the release of Holo infrastructure and require additional testing for HoloFuel, Host Console, and Publisher Portal. We further believe that as the supply chain eases and more chips and processors become available again in the future, it will allow for better lightweight options in network design.

While HoloPort and HoloPort+ share some similar dynamics, we have been able to coordinate with our manufacturing partners to ensure the components needed for the additional limited supply of HoloPorts that may be delivered within this calendar year.

1) We will not take lightly our commitments to the community.

Most of our Nano supporters joined us during the Indiegogo campaign. Over the years, you have given us incredible support and patience. By showing your support, you have helped demonstrate to the world the strong interest in creating a more decentralized world and accessible internet infrastructure.

Later, others among you purchased Nanos from our online store. Many first became aware of the project, went through the design and testing phases, experienced the volatility of the cryptocurrency market, and then faced the global pandemic. The sustained interest in this work indicates a demand for peer-to-peer functionality and collaborative technologies. As we begin delivering applications and infrastructure to realize this vision, your unwavering support motivates us and strengthens our resolve.

Our intention has always been to deliver Nanos to you. We believe that adjusting at this moment will mean greater success for the entire project.

2) Demonstrating Holochain's work on lightweight devices will showcase the potential of P2P applications connecting to the physical world.

Nano remains an important strategy for Holo. They demonstrate the capability of micro-devices working within the Holochain P2P ecosystem, which we believe is at the core of its disruptive potential. A great example is RedGrid's Holochain initiative within its clean energy network. Lightweight devices lay the foundation for Holochain as a major player in the Internet of Things (IoT) space and provide numerous opportunities for partnerships with governments, universities, and the private sector.

In fact, this is why we want to provide Nanos—to spread the seeds of using Holochain's small computers around the world. Therefore, as we adjust our course for this moment, know that lightweight micro-devices as a strategy have not disappeared; they have simply shifted to later milestones in the Holo journey.

Sincere thanks, especially to all our Nano supporters. We know that waiting has not been easy for many of you, and this news may be somewhat disappointing. However, we hope you know that your support has made a real impact in demonstrating the long-term demand for hosting P2P applications on the Web, which we hope brings you comfort.