In a significant milestone for the IOTA ecosystem, the project has officially shut down its Stardust mainnet, concluding this phase of its blockchain infrastructure.
The shutdown was announced via IOTA’s official social media channels, highlighting a successful transition step toward a more decentralized future.
Stardust, which played a crucial role in advancing the IOTA protocol with new features and modular architecture, now steps aside as the foundation is laid for its successor.
The move signals not an end, but a transformative beginning, as the network pivots toward fully decentralized governance and enhanced scalability.
13 Genesis Validators Lead the Launch of the New Mainnet
In tandem with the Stardust shutdown, IOTA has begun the genesis ceremony for a brand-new mainnet, led by 13 carefully selected genesis validators.
These validators are tasked with the critical role of initializing the new network in a decentralized fashion.
The genesis ceremony is a foundational process that establishes the initial state of the blockchain, ensures consensus rules are agreed upon, and launches the mainnet’s validator structure.
By distributing trust across these independent actors from the outset, IOTA is setting a clear precedent for decentralization and transparency, positioning the new mainnet as a robust and trustless system from day one.
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A Step Toward Full Decentralization and Community Empowerment
The launch of the new IOTA mainnet represents a strategic shift toward decentralization, a goal long pursued by the IOTA Foundation and its community.
Unlike the centralized elements of earlier IOTA versions, the new network architecture hands operational authority to validators chosen through a decentralized process.
The recent development not only reduces reliance on central entities but also empowers a broader community of stakeholders.
The validator-based consensus model aims to enhance security, network resilience, and community involvement, key pillars for the next phase of IOTA’s development in a competitive and rapidly evolving blockchain landscape.
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Binance to Support IOTA Hard Fork Upgrade
To ensure a smooth transition during the IOTA network’s upgrade and hard fork, Binance has announced that it will temporarily suspend deposits and withdrawals for tokens on the IOTA network starting at 06:00 UTC on May 5, 2025.
The upgrade is scheduled to occur an hour later, at 07:00 UTC. Notably, trading of IOTA tokens on the platform will remain unaffected during this time.
Binance has assured users that all technical requirements related to the upgrade will be handled internally and that deposits and withdrawals will resume once the upgraded network is confirmed to be stable.
The move reflects Binance’s ongoing support for IOTA’s development and its efforts to minimize disruption during major protocol transitions.
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