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Important updates on Leadership, New Wallet Features, and How the Community can get involved.
Summary
This call served as both a reflection on leadership transitions and a look ahead at product development. With the announcement of the founder’s departure, Penumbra reaffirmed its core principles of decentralization and community ownership. In addition, the team introduced new features coming to the Prax wallet in version 2 and about the incentivized beta testing program.
Key Highlights
A Personal Note from the Team
One of the most important updates was the announcement that Henry de Valence, Penumbra’s founder, original majority code contributor, and CEO of Penumbra Labs, is stepping back from his role to focus on his mental health.
The team took a thoughtful moment to acknowledge:
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Henry’s deep, long-standing contribution to Penumbra’s inception and growth.
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The reality of working in crypto’s high-pressure, non-stop environment, and how critical it is to prioritize personal health in this space.
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Gratitude from the team and community for Henry’s leadership and the foundational work he’s done.
This marked a sincere and human reminder about the importance of sustainable work culture, even in decentralized, fast-moving projects.
Leadership Transition and Community Strength
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The community recognized his vital contributions while emphasizing the network’s ability to thrive without reliance on any one individual.
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This moment reaffirmed Penumbra’s mission of building a permissionless, decentralized financial system.
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This shows the network’s resilience and maturity, with its foundation resting on collective responsibility—not central control.
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A more detailed overview of what is next for Penumbra as an “unstoppable, private economy” can be found in the forum post- please comment and help us shape the future!
New Features in Prax v2 Wallet
Gar, PM from Penumbra Labs, provided an in-depth overview of the upcoming Prax v2 wallet, focusing on usability, flexibility, and security.
Following community feedback, key features V2 development will focus on will include:
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Multi-Account and Sub-Account Support:
Users want to manage multiple main accounts and sub-accounts with clarity and structure. -
Custom Account Naming:
Personalized naming options will allow users to label and organize accounts to suit their activity, such as saving, trading, or specific wallets. -
Optional Asset Views:
Users will be able to toggle the display of crypto balances, NFTs representing trading positions, or hide items to reduce clutter in the interface. -
Hardware Wallet Integration:
Users will be able to connect hardware wallets directly to Prax v2, enabling cold storage management within the app.
Auto-Lock Security Features:
Designed to improve safety, this feature will automatically lock the wallet after periods of inactivity.
The wallet’s direction continues to be shaped by user feedback, with surveys and follow-up engagement planned to better understand needs and expectations.
Incentivized Beta Testing Program
The team announced that the Penumbra beta testing program will be shifting to a compensated model, recognizing the value of thoughtful user feedback.
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How to Get Involved:
Complete surveys and offer detailed feedback in Discord to be considered for beta access. Don’t call us, we’ll call you. -
Why It Matters:
User feedback directly influences product design, feature prioritization, and interface improvements. -
Community Impact:
This approach positions testers not just as early users but as co-creators, reinforcing Penumbra’s ethos of user-driven development.
Closing Thoughts
This call was a reminder that Penumbra is not only a product—it’s a community. From decentralization to wallet design, the project thrives on shared input and transparent evolution. The team continues to build tools for a private and accessible crypto experience, with the help of those who use and care about it most.
Next Steps
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Review and comment on the latest forum post outlining Penumbra’s forward path.
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Explore Prax features when V2 hits Penumbra Updates channel in discord.
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Contribute through surveys by filling up this form or send thoughtful feedback to join the beta testing program. Keep your feedback coming in the #feedback channel in Discord.
Join the conversation in the next bi-weekly community call.