The Cardano node GitHub page was updated with the new version, Node 9.0, which can be used to implement the upcoming hard fork.
The Cardano development team released “Node 9.0,” the newest version of the Cardano validator node software, on July 8. According to a YouTube video released by Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson on July 7, the new software is the final development step needed to allow the upcoming Chang hard fork to occur.
The software was released at approximately 7 pm UTC. According to its notes, it “is the first node that can support crossing the 9.0 hard fork (Chang) boundary on mainnet and long-running testnets, such as PreProd).”
The previous day, Hoskinson announced in a YouTube video that the software’s release was imminent, stating that it would be available “next week.” He also claimed that “probably Monday or Tuesday, the signal for mass upgrades will come.” For a hard fork to occur, 70% of nodes will need to vote to upgrade to the new software, Hoskinson stated.