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How are blockchain mainnet upgrades done?

Published Sep 18, 2026Updated Sep 19, 2026Last verified Sep 18, 2026Requests recorded in this site’s own server logs, with the crawler identity checked by reverse DNS or IP range.Google17First collected Sep 18, 2026Recent requestsGoogleSep 20, 2026GoogleSep 20, 2026GoogleSep 20, 2026GoogleSep 20, 2026GoogleSep 20, 2026GoogleSep 19, 2026GoogleSep 19, 2026GoogleSep 19, 2026GoogleSep 19, 2026GoogleSep 19, 2026GoogleSep 19, 2026GoogleSep 19, 2026
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Quick answer

Mainnet upgrades are coordinated. Developers specify the change, activate it on one or more testnets, and then schedule mainnet activation at a set block height or epoch. Node operators have to install compatible client software before that point. Ethereum's Pectra upgrade, for example, ran on the Sepolia, Holešky and Hoodi testnets before mainnet activation on 7 May 2025. Nodes that do not upgrade can end up on an incompatible fork.

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Answer

Other examples: Ethereum's Merge was executed on mainnet on 15 September 2022 after testnet rehearsals [11], and Bitcoin's Taproot soft fork activated at block 709,632 in November 2021 [12]. The Pectra announcement warned that non-upgraded nodes would only stay connected with peers that share their upgrade status [4].

Sources

  1. academicBlockchain Technology Overview (NISTIR 8202) — National Institute of Standards and Technology (via arXiv) · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  2. officialNetworks — ethereum.org · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  3. officialHolesky and Hoodi Testnet Updates — Ethereum Foundation Blog · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  4. officialPectra Mainnet Announcement — Ethereum Foundation Blog · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  5. officialHolešky Testnet Shutdown Announcement — Ethereum Foundation Blog · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  6. officialSolana Clusters — Solana Foundation · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  7. officialUsing a test network — Bitcoin Core Onboarding · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  8. officialGenesis block — Bitcoin Wiki · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  9. newsEthereum Launches Long-Awaited Decentralized App Network — CoinDesk · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  10. officialEIP-155: Simple replay attack protection — Ethereum Improvement Proposals · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  11. officialThe Merge — ethereum.org · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page
  12. officialTaproot — Bitcoin Optech · accessed Sep 19, 2026 · Evidence page