On September 26, Cardano Founder Charles Hoskinson announced on twitter the launch of Shelley Networked Testnet that is now available to the community. 
This marks a new era for Cardano and will allow the community to run tests on the Ouroboros–based decentralized network.

The first Shelley test run, according to IOHK official <a href="https://iohk.io/blog/unboxing-the-blockchain-shelley-testnet-making-its-network-debut/">blog</a> happened in London and was run on a private network by a team from IOHK, Cardano Ambassadors, and Cardano Foundation representatives.
<h2>The importance of Shelly Testnet to Cardano</h2>
This phase of availing <a href="https://testnet.iohkdev.io/cardano/shelley/about/testnet-introduction/">Shelley Testnet</a> to the community marks the first time that the decentralized Ouroboros Genesis Consensus Algorithm is being implemented.

The Shelley Testnet will allow the community and IOHK to test safely, the Ouroboros-based decentralized network, before hosting on the main net. IOHK states: 
<blockquote>"The current Cardano mainnet operates on a federal model with all nodes in the network controlled by either the Cardano Foundation, IOHK or EMURGO. As a project, the ultimate goal is to complete decentralization with the majority of nodes run by the community. Not only does that goal pose an engineering challenge, but the change must be sustainable for the network to flourish to term, so it has achieved in an incremental way."</blockquote>
The development of <a href="https://www.cardano.org/en/ouroboros/">Ouroboros</a> has undergone close to a full year of constant <a href="https://www.cryptoknowmics.com/crypto/bitcoin-miners-now-solve-100-trillion-hash-puzzles-per-second/">debugging and troubleshooting</a> to realize full decentralization. Cardano does not expect the process to happen all at once and is, therefore, taking steps to ensure it is carried out correctly. IOHK adds:
<blockquote>"The private network we initially set up in London allowed us to see the networked testnet operating in real-time, and to capture crucial information about its behaviour in a live context."</blockquote>
Since Cardano is developing Ouroboros for real-world applications, it has to account for the unpredictability of the real world. Therefore, carrying out test runs will enable the Foundation to account for broader variables and invite the community to widen their understanding:
<blockquote>"That's where you come in. With the release of the networked testnet, we're inviting the community to help Cardano take things to the next level by running your own nodes and participating in the network. We encourage everyone to take part in." </blockquote>
IOHK is encouraging users to <a href="https://testnet.iohkdev.io/cardano/shelley/get-started/configuring-your-network/">join</a> them by launching their own nodes to the network. They have also availed <a href="https://testnet.iohkdev.io/cardano/shelley/about/testnet-introduction/">documentation</a> and instructions to help you navigate Shelley Network. They will be updating on GitHub the latest codes of the testnet for <a href="https://github.com/input-output-hk/jormungandr/releases/">download</a>.

Blockchain Unboxed, with Cardano Shelley Testnet Network Debut in London

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Blockchain Unboxed, with Cardano Shelley Testnet Network Debut in London

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