Network prepares for major upgrade
Stellar has rolled out Protocol 24 releases to developers running the network’s infrastructure. The update aims to fix bugs and improve system stability before the upcoming Protocol 20 mainnet vote scheduled for October 22.
Node operators running Stellar Core, Horizon, RPC, or Galexie need to update their software with the new releases. Those using Docker containers should pull the fresh Protocol 24 images from Stellar’s Docker registry. Meanwhile, users of Debian packages have to manually update their stellar-core, stellar-horizon, and stellar-binaries.
Validators have been instructed to prepare their systems in advance for the Protocol 20 vote. The network provided specific voting instructions to ensure the process goes smoothly. The main goal here is to make sure all node operators and validators are running the same software version before the critical mainnet decision.
Some users exempt from changes
Interestingly, not everyone needs to worry about this update. Developers using Stellar SDKs don’t require any structural or data format changes – their applications will continue working as usual. The same applies to regular XLM holders who simply store the cryptocurrency in their wallets.
The timing seems deliberate. With stable releases available since October 20, the testnet upgrade happened on October 21, leading up to the mainnet vote on October 22. It feels like the network is methodically checking all boxes before making the big move.
Market context and price action
While the network prepares for its technical upgrade, XLM’s market performance has been somewhat shaky. The token dropped 2.9% in the last 24 hours, currently trading around $0.3167 after reaching highs near $0.3328. The broader crypto market isn’t helping much either – the fear and greed index sits at 33, indicating general market anxiety.
Bitcoin’s dominance rising to 59% has triggered some rotation away from altcoins like Stellar. But here’s the thing – trading volume actually increased by nearly 10% to over $205 million. Some market participants appear to be treating the price drop as a buying opportunity.
With the so-called “Uptober” rally still potentially in play, despite broader market fluctuations, Stellar might have one more push left toward the $0.40 level. The volume metrics have shifted into positive territory, and sustained investor interest could support upward momentum. Though honestly, predicting crypto prices feels like guessing the weather sometimes.
The network’s focus on stability through these protocol updates might provide some underlying confidence. But whether that translates to price gains remains to be seen. For now, developers and validators have their work cut out for them with these updates, while traders watch the charts for signs of life.
