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7 Apr 2026, 19:22
Polygon Targets Faster Finality as Giugliano Upgrade Goes Live April 8
Polygon will roll out its Giugliano hard fork on the mainnet on April 8, and the upgrade is expected to go live at around 2:00 PM UTC at block 85,268,500, according to the Polygon Foundation. The update is focused on improving how quickly transactions reach finality, meaning the point at which they are confirmed and cannot be reversed. Giugliano Hard Fork As part of the changes, block producers will be able to signal new blocks earlier in the process, which is intended to shorten confirmation times across the network. The upgrade also embeds fee-related parameters directly into block headers and adds new RPC capabilities for accessing fee data, which should streamline how developers and users interact with transaction costs. Polygon had previously tested the changes on its Amoy testnet, where the team recorded a reduction of roughly two seconds in finality time. To ensure a smooth transition, node operators are required to upgrade their infrastructure ahead of the activation block, specifically updating Bor to version 2.7.0 or Erigon to version 3.5.0. Nodes that fail to update risk falling out of sync with the network after the fork is implemented. The Giugliano hard fork is part of Polygon’s broader “Gigagas” scaling plan, which outlines a phased approach to increasing throughput and improving overall network efficiency. By July, the roadmap targets a throughput of around 1,000 transactions per second alongside finality times of about five seconds, as well as more stable transaction fees. Further milestones include scaling beyond 5,000 TPS by October, which is expected to enable smoother cross-chain liquidity through Agglayer integration, and eventually achieve near-instant finality with one-second block times and no chain reorganizations. The long-term goal is to support up to 100,000 TPS. Network Transaction and Revenue Metrics The upgrade also comes against the backdrop of steady network activity. A recent report by CoinGecko found that Polygon maintained steady activity through most of 2025, averaging about 119 million transactions per month and roughly 7.4 million active users. Monthly transaction volumes largely stayed within the 85 million to 110 million range, while user numbers remained consistent between 6 million and 8 million. Activity picked up sharply in the final quarter as transactions rose from 116 million in October to 183 million by December. While active users also increased during this period, they declined in early 2026 even as transaction levels stayed high. There was also a sharp jump in network revenue in January 2026, which reached its highest level since early 2023, supported by strong usage of payment applications and trading activity on platforms like Polymarket. Earlier this year, Polygon Labs axed 30% of its workforce as part of a restructuring effort. The layoffs followed previous workforce reductions in 2023 and 2024. The post Polygon Targets Faster Finality as Giugliano Upgrade Goes Live April 8 appeared first on CryptoPotato .
7 Apr 2026, 12:04
Tron (TRX) leads in stablecoin flows in 2026, with over $6.1 billion
The Tron ( TRX ) network has accounted for the majority of stablecoin inflows since the begining of 2026 until April 7. Year-to-date (YTD), the Tron chain recorded a total change in stablecoin supply of $6.1 billion, according to metrics from Artemis , a crypto analytics platform. As such, the Tron network’s stablecoin supply has increased to $86.6 billion at press time. Stablecoin supply change by top chains YTD. Source: Artemis Similarly, the Ethereum ( ETH ) blockchain recorded a supply increase of approximately $3 billion YTD, lifting its net stablecoin market capitalization to roughly $175.8 billion at the time of reporting. Other chains that registered stablecoin inflows in the first quarter of 2026 were BNB Chain, HyperEVM, Polygon PoS , Solana ( SOL ), and Ripple. Why is Tron leading in stablecoin inflows in 2026? The Tron network topped other blockchains in YTD stablecoin inflows, fueled by institutional demand and Tron’s expanding footprint in global markets. At the macro level, the passage of the GENIUS Act – a U.S. regulation signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2025 to regulate the stablecoin industry – has catalyzed organic stablecoin growth across major chains. Consequently, adjusted quarterly stablecoin volume across all chains surpassed $4 trillion for the first time in Q1 2026, according to data from a16z . Quarterly adjusted stablecoin volume. Source: a16z Tron benefits disproportionately from this macro tailwind. The network holds nearly $85 billion of its $86.6 billion total stablecoin supply in Tether (USDT), with the remaining $1.6 billion in other stablecoins, including USDD. USDT is fully compliant in the United States and is organically demanded by Web3 users globally. Earlier in March 2026, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) reached a settlement with Tron and founder Justin Sun , which bolstered the network’s legal clarity in the United States and reinforced institutional confidence. Meanwhile, Tron’s required protocol upgrade in February 2026, dubbed GreatVoyage-v4.8.1 (Democritus), further optimized the ecosystem for mainstream adoption of digital assets by improving infrastructure compatibility with artificial intelligence (AI) applications. The post Tron (TRX) leads in stablecoin flows in 2026, with over $6.1 billion appeared first on Finbold .
7 Apr 2026, 11:01
Polygon Crypto Activates Giugliano Hardfork to Improve Transaction Finality
Polygon crypto activated its Giugliano hardfork on mainnet at block 85,268,500 on April 8, delivering a 2-second reduction in transaction finality through a mechanism that lets block producers announce blocks earlier in the confirmation pipeline. The Polygon crypto Foundation confirmed the upgrade went live at approximately 2:00 p.m. UTC – on schedule and without reported disruption. That 2-second cut isn’t cosmetic. For payment applications and real-world asset platforms running on Polygon PoS, faster finality directly compresses settlement risk and reduces the confirmation latency that separates blockchain UX from traditional financial infrastructure. Key Takeaways: What It Is: The Giugliano hardfork (PIP-83) is a Polygon PoS mainnet upgrade activating at block 85,268,500, targeting faster transaction finality and updated fee infrastructure. The Technical Change: Block producers can now announce blocks earlier in the cycle, cutting finality by 2 seconds – validated on the Amoy testnet before mainnet deployment. Fee Infrastructure: Fee parameters are now embedded directly in block headers, with new RPC endpoints for fee data – a structural change for wallets and developer tooling. Node Requirement: All node operators must run Bor v2.7.0 or Erigon v3.5.0 or higher; nodes on earlier versions will fall out of consensus at the activation block. What to Watch: Real-world finality metrics post-activation will determine whether the 2-second testnet gain holds at mainnet scale – and whether Polygon closes the UX gap with faster L2 competitors. Discover: The Best Crypto to Get Right Now What Giugliano Actually Changes for Polygon Crypto – and Why the Finality Mechanism Matters The core change in Giugliano is architectural: block producers on Polygon PoS can now signal block availability earlier in the slot cycle, reducing the time validators must wait before treating a block as confirmed. On the Amoy testnet, that translated to a 2-second finality improvement – a measurable delta, not a rounding error, when the baseline confirmation window is already measured in seconds. The upgrade also embeds fee parameters directly into block headers and introduces new RPC support for fee data. Giugliano Upgrade The Giugliano hardfork will be released on Polygon mainnet at block number 85,268,500, at approximately 2 PM UTC on April 8. This upgrade: enables faster finality by letting producers announce blocks earlier, adds fee parameters directly in block headers,… — Polygon Foundation (@0xPolygonFdn) April 6, 2026 That distinction matters for developers: wallets and dApps can now query fee conditions from block data directly rather than reconstructing them through separate API calls, which simplifies gas estimation logic and reduces the surface area for fee-related errors at the application layer. Giugliano isn’t a throughput upgrade – it’s a latency and infrastructure upgrade. The Gigagas roadmap targeting 100,000 TPS remains a separate and longer-horizon effort. What Giugliano delivers is a tighter confirmation loop and cleaner fee data pipelines – foundational plumbing that the Gigagas scaling work will depend on. The upgrade also carries specific backstory. Giugliano formally reintroduces PIP-66, a set of changes that were bundled into the earlier Bhilai hardfork (PIP-63) but rolled back after triggering unspecified network behavioral issues in deployment. Reminder: PIP-85 activates on Polygon PoS from block 85,245,000, while the Giugliano hardfork itself is scheduled later at block 85,268,500 (~2 PM UTC on Apr 8). What changes with PIP-85: – delegators start receiving direct priority fee income – 37% to stakers via Ethereum… https://t.co/KgioUxTkeo pic.twitter.com/DbmQ0p5sgm — Vadim | POLTRACK (@vadim_web3) April 7, 2026 The Amoy testnet run on March 23 at block 35,573,500 served as the final validation gate before mainnet, and the clean activation on Wednesday suggests those earlier issues have been resolved. Benchmarked against the broader L2 landscape, the gap Giugliano closes is real but context-dependent. Optimistic rollups like Arbitrum and Optimism carry 7-day challenge windows that dwarf any PoS finality metric. ZK-based rollups achieve near-instant cryptographic finality but at higher proving costs. Polygon PoS sits in a different architectural category – a sidechain with its own validator set – and Giugliano tightens its native finality without altering those fundamental tradeoffs. Explore: The Best Pre-Launch Token Sales With Asymmetric Upside Potential The post Polygon Crypto Activates Giugliano Hardfork to Improve Transaction Finality appeared first on Cryptonews .
7 Apr 2026, 11:00
Bitcoin Quantum-Proofing Push Could Open New Attack Risks, Mow Warns
Post-quantum cryptography could make Bitcoin’s signature sizes balloon by as much as 125 times — a technical reality now fueling a sharp debate over how fast the network should act. Mow Calls Out The Rush Samson Mow, founder of Bitcoin firm Jan3, went public over the weekend with a pointed warning : moving too fast on quantum security could leave Bitcoin more exposed, not less. His comments came after Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and the company’s chief security officer, Philip Martin, called on the industry to start acting now against quantum computing threats. Mow pushed back hard. A rushed transition to post-quantum cryptography, he said, risks opening up fresh vulnerabilities — including compatibility breakdowns and a sharp drop in how many transactions the network can handle at once. “Simply put: make Bitcoin safe against quantum computers just to get pwned by normal computers,” Mow wrote on X. It’s been almost 10 years since the Blocksize Wars ended and Brian hasn’t changed at all. He still carries the exact same complete lack of humility and understanding. Brian forms the opinion first, along with a prescribed course of action and timeframe, instead of starting by… https://t.co/Ti7QV63e7P — Samson Mow (@Excellion) April 4, 2026 A Ghost From Bitcoin’s Past At the center of his concern is block size — the cap on how much transaction data fits inside a single Bitcoin block. Larger post-quantum signatures mean more data per transaction, which means fewer transactions per block, which means a slower and more congested network. Former Bitcoin developer Jonas Schnelli put numbers to it, and Mow cited them directly. The implications go beyond speed. Block size has been a flashpoint before. Between 2015 and 2017, a bitter community dispute over whether to expand Bitcoin’s block size tore the ecosystem apart and ultimately led to a chain split. That fight raised deep questions about decentralization, network security, and who really gets to decide Bitcoin’s direction. Mow is warning the same battle could be coming back — what he’s calling “Blocksize Wars 2.0.” Where Mow Draws The Line Mow isn’t saying quantum threats should be ignored. His argument is about timing, not priority. Research on potential solutions is already underway, he said, and that work should continue. But quantum computers capable of cracking Bitcoin’s encryption , he argued, are still a decade or two away at minimum. Rushing a fix for a threat that doesn’t yet exist, he said, creates real risks today in exchange for protection against something hypothetical tomorrow. The debate is gaining urgency as new research from Google and the California Institute of Technology has stoked fresh concern about how quickly quantum computing may develop. Armstrong and Martin flagged those findings as reason enough to move the timeline up. Mow’s position: the cure could be worse than the disease, at least for now. Featured image from Trade Brains, chart from TradingView
7 Apr 2026, 10:21
Solana Crypto Foundation Launches STRIDE Program to Strengthen Ecosystem Security
The Solana Foundation has launched STRIDE – Solana crypto Trust, Resilience and Infrastructure for DeFi Enterprises – a structured security evaluation program covering all Solana-based DeFi protocols, funded through a partnership with security firm Asymmetric Research. The program arrives five days after the Drift Protocol exploit on April 1 , in which attackers drained $286 million in under 12 minutes – a breach that exposed the absence of any standardized, ongoing security baseline across Solana’s DeFi layer. STRIDE is not a bug bounty or a one-time audit mandate. It is a continuous monitoring framework, independently administered by Asymmetric Research, with tiered benefits tied directly to protocol TVL and public evaluation results available to users and investors. Whether that structure is sufficient to rebuild institutional confidence in Solana DeFi is the question the market will answer over the next several months. Key Takeaways: What It Is: STRIDE (Solana Trust, Resilience and Infrastructure for DeFi Enterprises) is a foundation-funded, structured security evaluation program for all Solana DeFi protocols, administered by Asymmetric Research. How It Works: Asymmetric Research independently assesses protocols across eight security categories – including operational security, access controls, multisig configurations, and governance vulnerabilities – with results published in a public repository. Tiered Benefits: Protocols with over $10M TVL that pass evaluation receive foundation-funded 24/7 threat monitoring; those above $100M TVL unlock formal verification tools using mathematical proofs across all smart contract execution paths. Rapid Response Network: The companion Solana Incident Response Network (SIRN) launches with five founding firms – Asymmetric Research, OtterSec, Neodyme, Squads, and Zeroshadow – sharing threat intelligence with response priority determined by TVL and impact. Current Status: STRIDE version 0.1 is live; the framework will evolve based on real-world assessment feedback, with the first public evaluation reports expected as protocols apply. What to Watch: Track the first published STRIDE evaluation results and any SIRN activations – those two data points will signal whether the program functions as operational infrastructure or credentialing theater. Discover: The Best Crypto to Get Right Now What STRIDE Actually Does for Solana Crypto and Why the TVL Threshold Structure Changes the Calculus The core mechanism: Asymmetric Research evaluates protocols against its own eight-pillar security framework covering operational security, access controls, multisig configurations, and governance vulnerabilities, then publishes those results publicly. That is not an audit; it is a continuously maintained security rating. The distinction matters because audits are point-in-time assessments that expire when a protocol upgrades; STRIDE’s continuous monitoring model keeps ratings calibrated to evolving threats. The tiered benefit structure is where the program’s real incentive logic lives. Protocols above $10 million TVL that pass evaluation receive foundation-funded 24/7 threat monitoring at no cost to the protocol – operational security support that most teams currently cannot fund independently. Solana Foundation is funding new ecosystem-wide security initiatives led by @asymmetric_re : – STRIDE. A comprehensive security program for all Solana DeFi. Includes hands-on evaluations and a public repository of findings. – 24/7 active threat monitoring for protocols above… — Solana Foundation (@SolanaFndn) April 6, 2026 Protocols above $100 million TVL receive access to formal verification tooling, which uses mathematical proofs to check every possible smart contract execution path rather than sampling representative scenarios. At current Solana DeFi TVL concentrations, that $100M threshold covers the protocols whose failures carry systemic contagion risk. Running alongside STRIDE is SIRN – the Solana crypto Incident Response Network – a membership-based coalition of security firms that functions as a shared threat intelligence layer and rapid-response coordinating body. The five founding members are Asymmetric Research, OtterSec, Neodyme, Squads, and Zeroshadow. SIRN is open to all Solana protocols, but response prioritization is explicitly ordered by TVL and estimated impact. The foundation funds the coalition’s operations; protocols don’t pay for access. Prior Solana security infrastructure – Hypernative for threat detection, Range Security for risk alerts, Riverguard for attack simulation, Sec3 X-Ray for static analysis – addressed individual threat vectors. STRIDE’s version 0.1 attempts to unify those capabilities under a single evaluative baseline. Whether version 0.1 evolves quickly enough to match the attack surface expanding in parallel is the core execution risk. Explore: The Best Pre-Launch Token Sales With Asymmetric Upside Potential The post Solana Crypto Foundation Launches STRIDE Program to Strengthen Ecosystem Security appeared first on Cryptonews .
7 Apr 2026, 09:40
Upbit Halts POL Transactions: Critical Network Hard Fork Prompts Temporary Suspension
BitcoinWorld Upbit Halts POL Transactions: Critical Network Hard Fork Prompts Temporary Suspension SEOUL, South Korea – April 8, 2025 – The prominent South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit has announced a temporary suspension of all deposit and withdrawal services for Polygon (POL). This critical maintenance window begins precisely at 12:00 p.m. UTC today. Consequently, the exchange cites an upcoming network hard fork as the primary reason for this necessary operational pause. This proactive measure highlights the complex infrastructure management required in the dynamic blockchain sector. Upbit Announces Polygon Network Maintenance Schedule Upbit formally notified its user base about the impending service halt. The suspension affects only the Polygon network’s native token, POL. Importantly, trading for POL against other cryptocurrencies will continue uninterrupted on the platform. The exchange has set a clear timeline for the procedure. Services will resume once the network upgrade stabilizes. Upbit typically requires several hours post-upgrade for thorough system validation. Therefore, users should anticipate a follow-up announcement confirming the restoration of full functionality. Network hard forks represent significant events in blockchain development. They involve a permanent divergence from the previous version of the protocol. Nodes running the old software become incompatible with the newly upgraded network. Exchanges like Upbit must meticulously coordinate with these upgrades. They must ensure their systems seamlessly integrate the new chain rules. A misstep during this process could lead to fund loss or transaction errors. Thus, preemptive suspension is a standard, security-first industry practice. Understanding the Polygon Hard Fork’s Technical Impact The Polygon ecosystem continues its evolution from MATIC to POL. This hard fork is a planned, consensus-driven upgrade. It aims to enhance network performance, security, or introduce new features. Developers propose these upgrades to improve the protocol. Node operators must then adopt the new software. For users, the primary impact is typically minimal. However, they must ensure their transactions occur on the correct chain. Wallets and services must update to recognize the new chain ID. Expert Analysis on Exchange Protocol Management Blockchain infrastructure experts emphasize the prudence of such suspensions. “Exchanges act as custodians for user assets,” explains a fintech analyst from Seoul National University. “Their foremost duty is asset security during chain transitions. A temporary suspension, while inconvenient, prevents potential double-spend attacks or reconciliation errors that could occur if nodes are split between two chain versions.” This analysis underscores the technical rationale behind Upbit’s decision. The exchange follows a documented protocol used globally by major platforms like Coinbase and Binance during similar events. The history of blockchain shows that well-communicated hard forks generally proceed smoothly. The Ethereum Merge in 2022 serves as a key precedent. Major exchanges executed similar suspensions. They successfully safeguarded billions in user assets during that historic transition. Upbit’s action aligns with this established risk-mitigation framework. The exchange has managed previous hard forks for networks like Ethereum Classic and Bitcoin Cash. Its systematic approach builds user trust through transparent communication. Practical Guidance for Polygon Traders and Holders Users holding POL on Upbit need not take immediate action. Their assets remain secure in their exchange wallets. The suspension only affects the movement of tokens onto and off of the exchange. For individuals planning transactions, they should consider the following timeline: Pre-Suspension: Complete any urgent deposits or withdrawals before 12:00 p.m. UTC. During Suspension: Monitor official Upbit announcements for status updates. Post-Upgrade: Wait for the official all-clear before initiating new transactions. Users operating with self-custody wallets, like MetaMask, are largely unaffected. They can continue transacting on the Polygon network. However, they should confirm their wallet provider supports the post-fork chain. Sending tokens to an exchange deposit address during the suspension will likely result in delays. The funds may not be credited until the exchange’s systems fully reconcile after the upgrade. Conclusion Upbit’s temporary suspension of Polygon (POL) deposits and withdrawals is a routine, security-focused procedure. It directly responds to the network’s scheduled hard fork upgrade. This action demonstrates the exchange’s operational diligence and commitment to asset safety. While briefly limiting liquidity movement, it prevents far greater risks associated with uncoordinated chain splits. The cryptocurrency community widely accepts such measures as essential for ecosystem stability. Users should follow Upbit’s official channels for the resumption notice, marking another seamless infrastructure upgrade in the blockchain landscape. FAQs Q1: Can I still trade POL on Upbit during the suspension? Yes. The suspension only affects deposit and withdrawal functions. Trading POL against other cryptocurrencies on the Upbit order book will continue normally. Q2: How long will the POL deposit and withdrawal suspension last? Upbit has not specified an exact duration. The suspension begins at 12:00 p.m. UTC on April 8 and will last through the hard fork event and subsequent system validation. Service restoration depends on network stability. Q3: Is my POL safe on Upbit during this time? Yes. The suspension is a preventive measure. User assets remain secure in Upbit’s custody. The action is taken to protect those assets from potential technical issues during the chain transition. Q4: What is a network hard fork? A hard fork is a permanent upgrade to a blockchain’s protocol. It creates new rules that are incompatible with the old software. All network participants must upgrade to the new version to continue validating transactions and blocks. Q5: Do I need to do anything with POL in my private wallet? If you hold POL in a self-custody wallet (not on Upbit), you should ensure your wallet provider (e.g., MetaMask) supports the upgraded Polygon network. You may need to update your wallet’s RPC settings or app version after the fork. This post Upbit Halts POL Transactions: Critical Network Hard Fork Prompts Temporary Suspension first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
