On January 24, 2026, at 16:06:56 UTC, Tezos successfully activated its 20th protocol upgrade, named Tallinn, at mainnet block #11,640,289. This upgrade follows the network’s established on-chain governance model, allowing protocol changes to be adopted without hard forks or chain splits. The proposal was developed collaboratively by Nomadic Labs, Trilitech, and Functori and approved through a vote by Tezos bakers.



Key Improvements


1. Reduced Block Time and Accelerated Finality


  • Layer 1 block time reduced from 8 seconds to 6 seconds


  • Transaction finality now achieved in approximately 12 seconds (2 blocks) instead of 16


  • Resulting in lower latency for applications and faster transaction confirmations


  • No additional hardware requirements for bakers



2. Enhanced Baker Attestations with BLS Signatures


  • Once 50% of bakers adopt tz4 addresses, all bakers will attest every block


  • Employs Boneh–Lynn–Shacham (BLS) aggregated signatures, consolidating multiple signatures into a single, efficient signature


  • Benefits include reduced data processing overhead, leaner consensus, and improved network security



3. Improved Storage Efficiency via Address Indexing


  • Introduces an Address Indexing Registry to compress on-chain storage of addresses


  • Replaces full addresses with short references, yielding up to 100× storage efficiency gains for certain Michelson-based applications


  • Particularly beneficial for NFT ledgers and large-scale smart contracts


  • Reduces disk space requirements for nodes



4. Layer 2 Impact and Tezos X Roadmap


  • Faster L1 blocks enhance the performance of Etherlink, Tezos’ EVM-compatible layer 2 network


  • Supports faster and more efficient settlement of layer 2 data on L1


  • Aligns with the Tezos X roadmap, which focuses on improved scalability, faster settlement, and lower operational costs for applications



Strategic Significance


The Tallinn upgrade demonstrates Tezos’ continued commitment to its self-amending, forkless protocol model, delivering meaningful improvements in performance, scalability, and governance efficiency. By combining faster block times, advanced signature aggregation, and optimized storage, Tallinn strengthens both base-layer infrastructure and layer 2 integration, reinforcing Tezos’ position as a high-performance, developer-friendly blockchain platform.

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