The IOTA Rebased mainnet upgrade is now officially active. This significant transition moves the network from the original Stardust mainnet to the new IOTA infrastructure. For IOTA token holders, understanding the process and knowing what steps to take is crucial for a smooth experience.
What is the IOTA Rebased Upgrade?
The IOTA Rebased upgrade represents a major evolution of the IOTA network. It involves a complete migration to a new foundational architecture designed to enhance scalability, security, and future development potential. This transition was executed through a carefully coordinated "Genesis Ceremony" involving the IOTA Foundation and an initial set of 12 validators.
The process included meticulously shutting down the old network, generating a final ledger snapshot, validating all data, and creating a new, signed genesis block to initialize the fresh network environment. This ensures the integrity and continuity of the entire ledger history.
Key Changes for Users: Your Action Plan
For the vast majority of users, this upgrade is designed to be seamless. No token migration is required, and all existing assets remain safe and secure on the new network. Your tokens are not moved; instead, the entire ledger state has been transitioned.
However, to access your assets, you must use new wallet software. The previous Firefly desktop wallet is no longer supported. The primary method for accessing your funds is now through the new official browser extension wallet.
To prepare, ensure you have your original wallet’s private keys, secret recovery phrase (mnemonic seed), or a Firefly/Bloom Stronghold backup file. You will use these to import your existing account into the new wallet interface.
Instructions for Ledger Hardware Wallet Users
If you use a Ledger hardware wallet to secure your IOTA, you must take an additional step. You need to install the new version of the IOTA Ledger application that is compatible with the Rebased mainnet. This update is essential for your Ledger device to correctly communicate with and sign transactions on the upgraded network.
Network and Exchange Impact
During the upgrade window, the network experienced downtime. Furthermore, the majority of cryptocurrency exchanges that support IOTA temporarily suspended all deposit and withdrawal services for IOTA tokens. This is a standard precautionary measure to ensure the safety of user funds during a network transition. These services are expected to resume normal operation shortly after the upgrade is confirmed to be stable.
For developers and users of the IOTA EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) environment, note that the IOTA EVM was projected to become operational again within 4 to 8 hours after the mainnet successfully came online.
This upgrade paves the way for a more robust and feature-rich IOTA ecosystem. To stay updated on all the latest developments and tools, you can explore the latest network resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to swap my IOTA tokens after the upgrade?
No, your IOTA tokens do not need to be swapped or migrated. The upgrade moves the entire ledger state to the new network. Your tokens are safe and remain the same; you simply need to access them using the new wallet software.
How do I access my IOTA after the upgrade?
You must use the new official browser extension wallet. Import your existing account using your private keys, secret recovery phrase (24-word mnemonic), or your Stronghold backup file from the previous Firefly wallet.
What should Ledger users do?
Ledger hardware wallet users must install the updated IOTA application on their Ledger device via Ledger Live. This new version is specifically designed to be compatible with the Rebased mainnet.
When will exchange deposits and withdrawals resume?
Most exchanges temporarily halted IOTA transactions as a safety measure. Services are expected to be reinstated relatively quickly once the upgraded network is deemed stable by exchange operators. Always check your exchange’s official announcements for the most accurate timelines.
Is the IOTA EVM affected?
Yes, the IOTA EVM was temporarily offline during the upgrade. It was scheduled to be restored and fully functional within 4 to 8 hours after the mainnet launch was completed.
Why is this upgrade happening?
The Rebased upgrade is a fundamental step to improve the network's core architecture. It enhances security, enables greater scalability, and lays the groundwork for future innovations and easier development on the IOTA platform.