Node operators on the MultiversX blockchain have been given a nine-day window to prepare for an upcoming upgrade aimed at boosting network speed tenfold.
Dubbed “Supernova,” the upgrade is set to go live on Sept. 10 during epoch 2233. It will slash block times from six seconds down to just 600 milliseconds, requiring more than 5,000 nodes to transition to software that supports the updated protocol.
The changes go deeper than simply shortening block intervals. Supernova reorganizes the consensus pipeline of MultiversX, enabling validators to vote on blocks while execution occurs in parallel. This decoupling removes transaction execution from the critical path, which had previously limited the speed of block production.
While preserving deterministic finality, the new design aims to reduce intra-shard finality to under 250 milliseconds. Additionally, cross-shard settlement times are expected to drop from approximately 18 seconds to around 2.4 seconds.
At the same time, MultiversX will keep its epoch length the same, ensuring backward compatibility for all user addresses, private keys, and balances.
This transition comes as MultiversX’s native token, EGLD, experiences a boost in market momentum. According to data from CryptoSlate, EGLD climbed past $4 over the weekend—reaching roughly $4.05 for the first time since May—before retracing slightly below that level.
The Majority of MultiversX Nodes Have Yet to Transition
Initial data indicates that network validators are still in the preparation phase for the upcoming migration.
A mainnet configuration release candidate issued on Aug. 31 designated round 32157661 as the official activation target, establishing a coordinated upgrade window running from Sept. 1 through Sept. 10.
Public network data analyzed on Sept. 1 revealed that the Supernova migration had not yet actively begun, with 95.35% of the network’s 5,171 nodes still operating on the older v1.11.11.0 software.
While this does not mean the network is running behind schedule at the start of the nine-day window, it provides a clear starting point to track the progress of the migration.
Once Supernova goes live, however, the stakes will increase significantly.
According to official validator guidelines, the underlying processing changes mean operators must upgrade their software to ensure nodes interpret transactions uniformly. Although old and new software versions can run concurrently prior to activation, any outdated node still running after the transition could generate conflicting transaction outcomes, causing it to fall out of sync with the rest of the blockchain.
Additionally, the network will experience a brief pause in activity before the high-speed system takes full effect.
MultiversX projects that the mainnet will pause the acceptance of new pool transactions for about 240 rounds under the current six-second block time—translating to roughly 24 minutes—to clear existing transactions. Any new transactions submitted during this brief window will be queued until Supernova is fully active and begins processing them.
Consequently, the primary short-term indicator to watch before Sept. 10 is whether the network’s node distribution shifts decisively toward the Supernova-compatible software ahead of round 32157661.
If validators coordinate successfully on schedule, the focus will turn to whether the upgrade delivers its expected performance boost on the live mainnet. Conversely, if a significant portion of node operators fail to upgrade in time, MultiversX will need to navigate the challenges of deploying a much faster consensus mechanism across a split and out-of-sync network.
