$POL
Polygon Hard Fork Targets Faster Finality Set to Go Live April 8.
Polygon will activate its Giugliano hard fork on April 8 at around 2:00 PM UTC, targeting block 85,268,500, according to the Polygon Foundation. The upgrade focuses on improving transaction finality and fee handling. It forms part of the network’s broader Gigagas scaling roadmap aimed at enhancing speed and efficiency across its proof-of-stake system.
Upgrade Focuses on Transaction Finality
According to the Polygon Foundation, the upgrade allows block producers to signal blocks earlier. This change is designed to shorten the time required for transactions to become irreversible. As a result, confirmation speeds across the network should improve.
Notably, tests on the Amoy testnet showed finality reductions of about two seconds. While incremental, this change affects applications requiring fast settlement. For example, trading platforms and payment systems benefit from quicker confirmations.
However, the upgrade does not overhaul the system. Instead, it refines existing processes to improve performance. This approach aligns with Polygon’s strategy of incremental improvements.
Fee Structure and Infrastructure Changes
Alongside speed improvements, the hard fork introduces changes to fee management. The network will embed fee parameters directly into block headers. This adjustment improves access to fee-related data at the protocol level.
Additionally, new RPC capabilities will allow developers to retrieve fee data more efficiently. This reduces complexity in application design. As a result, developers can better estimate transaction costs and optimize user interactions.
Meanwhile, node operators must upgrade their systems before activation. Validators need Bor version 2.7.0 or Erigon version 3.5.0. Nodes that fail to update risk falling out of sync after the fork.
