Share this article
Testing for Ethereum's Upcoming Hard Fork Is Being Delayed
Ethereum core developers announced a delay in plans to launch Constantinople, ethereum's upcoming system-wide upgrade, on the test network.
Updated Sep 13, 2021, 8:27 a.m. Published Oct 4, 2018, 5:15 p.m.
Make us preferred on Google
Ethereum core developers announced a delay in plans to launch Constantinople, Ethereum's upcoming system-wide upgrade, on the test network Ropsten on Thursday.
As explained in a tweet by Peter Szilagyi, team lead at the Ethereum Foundation, the main reason for the delay is to offer more time for clients – the individuals and businesses running "nodes" or computer servers supporting the ethereum network – to address a vulnerability found in one of the five Constantinople upgrades.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
In addition to this, the delay would also give space for Ropsten users testing other ethereum projects – such as the off-chain scaling solution Raiden – to prepare for the possible network split that could occur as a result of implementing Constantinople.
Requiring what is known as a "hard fork," the upgrades comprising Constantinople include changes to block reward issuance, code execution, data storage and more. The active nodes of the Ropsten testnet would need to implement such changes simultaneously or risk splitting into two separate blockchains.
As a result, Lefteris Karapetsas, a developer for the Raiden network, told ethereum developers in a public forum that causing a potential network split for even a temporary period on Ropsten would "effectively make testing almost impossible" for their project, which is "rather close to mainnet release," in response to an open call for input on the postponement date.
To avoid intentionally causing complications on the ethereum testnet, one idea proposed by ethereum core developer Alexey Akhunov as an alternative was to launch a separate temporary testnet to Ropsten and resolve obvious problems in code there before implementation for further testing by existing users of the Ropsten network.
The new release date for Constantinople on Ropsten is now set for October 14th, estimated to be block 4.23 million, as agreed to by core developers and testnet users together.
And as warned by Szilagyi, any further delay would push into an even busier season for ethereum core developers heading into their fourth annual developer conference, dubbed Devcon, scheduled for October 30 in Prague.
Ethereum image via Shutterstock
More For You
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
More For You
Gold tops $5,000 as bitcoin stalls near $87,000 in widening macro-crypto split: Asia Morning Briefing
Bitcoin’s onchain data points to supply overhang and weak participation, while gold’s breakout is priced by markets as a durable macro regime shift.
What to know:
- Gold’s surge above $5,000 an ounce is increasingly seen as a durable regime shift, with investors treating the metal as a persistent hedge against geopolitical risk, central bank demand and a weaker dollar.
- Bitcoin is stuck near $87,000 in a low-conviction market, as on-chain data show older holders selling into rallies, newer buyers absorbing losses and a heavy supply overhang capping moves toward $100,000.
- Derivatives and prediction markets point to continued consolidation in bitcoin and sustained strength in gold, with thin futures volumes, subdued leverage and weak demand for higher-beta crypto assets like ether reinforcing the cautious tone.
Top Stories
