The highly-anticipated upgrade of the Stellar blockchain, which aims to introduce Ethereum-style smart contracts, could be facing a delay beyond its initial target date of January 30.
The delay came after discovering a bug in the upgraded software, initially considered to pose minimal risk. However, after receiving substantial feedback from the blockchain’s developer community, the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) recommends a postponement.
Bug discovered in Stellar Core software
On January 25, the Stellar Development Foundation identified a bug in the Stellar Core v20.1.0 software. This bug can potentially impact applications and services associated with the upcoming “Soroban” smart contracts transactions once the upgrade is implemented.
Initially, SDF officials assessed the bug as having minimal risk, especially considering the planned phased rollout. However, following extensive input from the developer community, a change in perspective has prompted the foundation to take action.
In response to the feedback received from the developer community, the Stellar Development Foundation has decided to take a cautious approach. They intend to “disarm” their validators, effectively preventing them from voting to proceed with the network upgrade on the originally scheduled date of January 30. It’s important to note that other validators still retain the option to proceed with the upgrade, as outlined in the foundation’s draft blog post.
The Stellar Development Foundation has assured stakeholders that a solution for the bug is expected to be available within the next two weeks. This means that if the upgrade is indeed postponed, the foundation will coordinate with stakeholders to determine a future date for the crucial vote on the upgrade.
Stellar’s long-standing legacy and the smart contract integration
Stellar, originating as a fork of the Ripple protocol in 2014, has a long-standing history in blockchain technology. Now, it seeks to elevate its capabilities by incorporating the programmability and versatility that Ethereum’s renowned smart contracts offer.
Traders and blockchain enthusiasts closely watch this upgrade, as it could inject new life and enthusiasm into Stellar’s native XLM tokens.
