Avalanche, a prominent blockchain network, has officially announced the deployment of the Durango Upgrade, a major system enhancement designed to optimize the network’s protocols. The release occurred at 16:00 local time in Turkey, accompanied by instructions for implementing the new code. This upgrade mandates that nodes must run on versions newer than AvalancheGo v1.11.0, as previous versions are not compatible with the new optimizations.
Enhanced Validator Capabilities and Interoperability
With the Durango Upgrade, validators who participated in the successful trial on the Fuji Testnet can upgrade their nodes for the Avalanche Mainnet. This upgrade promises improved operation across various subnetworks and offers an interoperable environment for validators.
Developer-Centric Improvements
In response to developers’ feedback, Durango focuses on enhancing the development experience on the platform. This includes enabling direct asset transfers on the Platform Chain (P-Chain), the potential to change subnetwork ownership, and ensuring continued compatibility with Ethereum smart contracts in light of the upcoming Ethereum Shanghai Upgrade. The upgrade also rectifies some Virtual Machine (VM) implementation errors.
The Durango Upgrade resolves issues with asset transfers within the P-Chain that currently require workarounds. A new proposal suggests using ‘BaseTx’ for native transactions, streamlining asset management and improving security for users. Additionally, it addresses the rigidity of subnetwork ownership—proposing a way for current owners to transfer their rights to new parties using ‘TransferSubnetOwnershipTx’.
Finally, the upgrade includes changes from the Ethereum Shanghai Upgrade through ACP-24, maintaining alignment with Ethereum’s smart contract standards. The inclusion of EIP-3855’s PUSH0 opcode in the Contract Chain (C-Chain) ensures compatibility with newer versions of the Solidity programming language.