Tor 0.3.0.1-alpha: A new alpha series begins
Posted December 19th, 2016 by nickm
https://blog.torproject.org/blog/tor-0301-alpha-new-alpha-series-begins

Now that Tor 0.2.9.8 is stable, it's time to release a new alpha series for testing and bug-hunting!

Tor 0.3.0.1-alpha is the first alpha release in the 0.3.0 development series. It strengthens Tor's link and circuit handshakes by identifying relays by their Ed25519 keys, improves the algorithm that clients use to choose and maintain their list of guards, and includes additional backend support for the next-generation hidden service design. It also contains numerous other small features and improvements to security, correctness, and performance.

You can download the source from the usual place on the website. Packages should be available over the next weeks, including an alpha TorBrowser release some time in January.

Please note: This is an alpha release. Please expect more bugs than usual. If you want a stable experience, please stick to the stable releases.

Below are the changes since 0.2.9.8.
Changes in version 0.3.0.1-alpha - 2016-12-19

Major features (guard selection algorithm):
Tor's guard selection algorithm has been redesigned from the ground up, to better support unreliable networks and restrictive sets of entry nodes, and to better resist guard-capture attacks by hostile local networks. Implements proposal 271; closes ticket 19877.