The Sui blockchain’s mainnet encountered significant turbulence with three sequential outages on May 28 and 29, creating fresh apprehensions about its stability. According to the Sui Foundation, these disruptions stemmed from a bug linked to a new gas fee collection feature introduced in the recent update, version 1.72. This recurring issue resurfaces concerns about the robustness of the network launched earlier in 2023.
What occurred during the initial outage?
The first interference started around 7:00 AM on May 28, persisting for nearly seven grueling hours. The foundation identified the cause as a conflict involving the newly implemented “address-balance” feature, which complicated transactions using coin objects. Instead of conventional balance storage, SUI balances utilize digital “banknotes,” each holding varying values to complete payments. Insufficiencies in selected coin objects during transactions led to system shut down due to software errors when handling gas fees.
Were the troubles resolved after the first patch?
Although the core team applied a patch by 1:30 PM to end the outage, it introduced another minor risk. The network was temporarily restored before succumbing to a subsequent vulnerability. A fresh bug not previously addressed caused a subsequent disruption early on May 29, leading to validators’ inactivity. By 9:40 AM, the core developers put forward a comprehensive solution, again regaining control over the mainnet.
The third interruption occurred while validators restarted, facing glitches with on-chain random number generation. Without adequate validator involvement, tasks involving randomness faltered, stalling operations for almost six hours.
The Sui Foundation reassured users by announcing the security of funds throughout these incidents, asserting that no transactions were rolled back while methodical interventions curtailed further malfunctions.
Subsequent to these technical setbacks, SUI’s token value experienced downward pressure, dropping around 8 percent to settle at $0.90, marking a 19 percent weekly decrease. Data from CoinDesk recorded SUI stabilizing at this price as the following week began.
This trifecta of network disruptions isn’t unprecedented for Sui. Notable incidents include a two-hour downtime due to planning mishaps in November 2024, and a six-hour consensus protocol-related outage in January 2026.
• Sui mainnet encountered three outages, influencing gas fee transactions.
• The initial bug arose from the “address-balance” feature, leading to system shutdowns.
• Patch solutions were implemented swiftly to resume operations.
With the recent events igniting caution among stakeholders, Sui’s trajectory for credibility and stability continues to face hurdles. Addressing these technical vulnerabilities will be crucial in reclaiming user trust and market confidence moving forward.
