Starknet, an Ethereum Layer-2 network, has completed a voting process for its Alpha version 13.0 update, which will eventually allow network transactions to be completed with its native token, STRK. The update has garnered overwhelming support from participant delegates, with over 99.8% approval.
The v.13 update will initiate transaction fee payments using both STRK and Ethereum. Eli Ben-Sasson, a core contributor, revealed plans for the network to transition to using exclusively STRK for transaction fees in the future.
The implementation of the update is scheduled for January 10, but enabling STRK token payments will be postponed until the STRK launch. This decision could provide hints about the timing of the airdrop event.
In addition to setting the stage for STRK fee payments, the v.13 upgrade is expected to reduce transaction costs by potentially 25-50% and improve network performance. Starknet operates as a decentralized Layer-2 network on Ethereum using a zero-knowledge solution, which aggregates multiple transactions off-chain before batch publishing them on the Ethereum network.
Starknet Foundation plans to distribute 1.8 billion tokens as user rewards this year and potentially conduct a community airdrop. While the airdrop event was initially targeted for December 29, the team has postponed it without specifying a new date. Crypto communities on social media continue to speculate, particularly anticipating the team’s decision in relation to the approval of a spot Bitcoin ETF.