Breaking Ground with Qtum 2.0
Hold onto your hats, blockchain enthusiasts! The Qtum blockchain has officially completed its inaugural hard fork on October 17, marking a significant milestone in its technological journey. This upgrade, known affectionately as Qtum 2.0, was executed at block 466,000 and aims to bring a host of enhancements to the platform.
What’s New? Key Features Unlocked
The hard fork is not just about pretty upgrades; it’s about adding real, tangible benefits to users:
- Smart contract capabilities have been refined, making them more robust and efficient.
- Block spacing improvements ensure quicker transaction confirmations, so you don’t have to wait around for your moolah to move!
By the time the clock struck the upgrade, the number of blocks on the Qtum blockchain had seen a notable increase, surpassing 466,600, with 466,621 blocks reported as of our latest check.
Qtum Improvement Proposals (QIPs): The Soul of the Upgrade
The magic really happens with the activation of four Qtum Improvement Proposals, also known as QIPs. Here’s a quick rundown of what these proposals entail:
- QIP-5: This introduces signature verification to the output script of transaction contracts, bringing better security.
- QIP-6: The addition of the btc_ecrecover precompiled contract enhances the Qtum Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).
- QIP-7: Upgrades the Qtum EVM to Ethereum’s latest Constantinople version, boosting synchronization with Ethereum standards.
- QIP-9: Modifies the difficulty adjustment algorithm, creating more stability in block times—goodbye erratic wait times!
For all loyal Qtum users, make sure to upgrade to version 0.18.1 ASAP! The latest features have automatically kicked in post block 466,600. But watch out—using an outdated wallet can momentarily cause your coins to disappear into the ether!
QTUM on the Market: Riding the Wave
Amid these developments, it’s worth noting that QTUM, the native cryptocurrency of the Qtum network, has been enjoying a concerted rally. Currently sitting as the 36th largest coin with a market cap of $178 million, QTUM soared nearly 6% in the aftermath of the hard fork. Talk about a digital high five!
In the World of Crypto: Keeping Pace
For context, EOS, another major blockchain player, recently completed its first hard fork too. It seems the trend of innovation is contagious in the world of cryptocurrencies. With each upgrade, major players like Qtum are reshaping the landscape and inspiring confidence in blockchain technology.
