Stellar Foundation Delays Major Blockchain Update

Stellar (XLM), a pioneer blockchain, is postponing its much-anticipated update due to a critical bug discovered in the Stellar Core v20.1.0 software.

Bug Discovery Shakes Stellar's Update Plans

On January 25, 2024, a bug in Stellar Core v20.1.0 emerged, impacting potential applications and services in the upcoming "Soroban" smart contract transactions. Initially deemed of "very little risk" by SDG officials, the bug prompted a reevaluation of the January 30 target update date.

Developers Push for Delay After Bug Revelation

Despite the initial assessment, strong feedback from the developer community led the Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) to consider a delay. The foundation now plans to "neutralize" its own validators, preventing them from voting on the scheduled update. Other validators may still choose to proceed with the "Protocol 20" upgrade.

Bug Fix Expected in Two Weeks

While a fix for the bug is anticipated within the next two weeks, the foundation emphasizes coordination to determine a future voting date in case of a delay. Stellar, created in 2014 as a Ripple protocol fork, aims to enhance programmability akin to Ethereum's renowned "smart contracts." Investors are watching closely to see if this update will breathe new life into the native XLM tokens.

SDF's Official Statement

In an official announcement, the SDF stated, "We have spent time on the bug, seen its potential impacts, and determined that the bug poses little risk given the phased rollout plan combined with the implementation of best practices. But we are not a single ecosystem. Updating the network isn't something SDF does alone, and we've opened threads to inform the decision on whether to move forward, encouraging the ecosystem to weigh in. Ultimately, the strong feedback and debate surrounding this election led us to change our approach."

A Setback for Stellar's Update Plans

Stellar's update delay reflects the challenges faced by even the most established blockchains. The bug, though deemed low-risk by the foundation, has triggered a reevaluation and sparked debates within the developer community. The future voting date, once determined, will be crucial for Stellar's progression, and investors will be closely monitoring the situation.