SVM Testnet: v0.0.5 Goes Live with Enhanced Validator Security & EVM Staking Restored

SVM Testnet Now on Version v0.0.5

The integrated software upgrade for the Steem Virtual Machine (SVM) Testnet has been successfully completed. The network is now officially running on version v0.0.5 and producing blocks normally.

Official Release:
https://github.com/blazeapps007/SteemVirtualMachine-EVM/tree/release/v0.0.5-validator-identity

Three Key Changes in the v0.0.5 Upgrade

1. Strengthened Validator Identity Security

Steem identity verification has been made mandatory for all methods of creating and editing validators. A validator must possess its own ACTIVE Steem account, and the corresponding owner, active, and posting keys must be registered.

This rule now applies to:

• Direct transactions
• Authorization (authz)
• Interchain Accounts (ICA)
• EVM staking precompile

This enhances the security of validator identity verification.

2. EVM Staking Precompile Reactivated

Staking precompile address:

0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000800

It was previously disabled during Proposal 3 due to the risk of bypassing identity verification rules. It has now been reactivated in v0.0.5 with identity verification integrated.

The ability to manage validators and perform delegations using MetaMask and other EVM wallets has been restored.

3. Permanent 1 Gwei Gas Floor

The minimum gas price for EVM transactions has been permanently set to 1 Gwei within the chain logic. The objective is to keep the network's fee-burn mechanism effective and secure. Important: Users' existing keys, stakes, and validator identities remain unchanged in this upgrade.

Current Network Status and Jailed Validators

Following the upgrade, the network is operating normally on the new binary. However, nodes belonging to those who did not prepare the new binary before the designated block height of 620,500 went offline and were subsequently jailed due to downtime.

According to the latest status, the currently jailed validators are:

• @cur8
• @steem-agora
• @happycapital

This is part of the post-upgrade recovery process. The affected validators must update their nodes to version v0.0.5, fully synchronize, and then unjail themselves.

Urgent Validator Recovery Instructions

Run the following commands from the SteemVirtualMachine-EVM directory.

Step 1: Fetch the latest code and switch to the release branch

git fetch && git checkout release/v0.0.5-validator-identity

Step 2: Update and sync the node

./update.sh

Step 3: Verify synchronization status

Ensure catching_up: false and check that the node is synchronized with the current block. Step 4: Unjail the Validator

docker exec steemvm-node /root/go/bin/steemvmd tx slashing unjail \
  --from <your_moniker> \
  --home /root/.steemvm \
  --chain-id steemvm \
  --gas auto \
  --gas-adjustment 1.5 \
  --gas-prices 1000000000asteem \
  -y

Binary Verification Details

• Docker Image: steemblazer/steemvmd:v0.0.5
• SHA256: 5915bf669c390d3f6e08c81961d8aec2818145e1a9155e26a88b080a507d334f

Special Instruction: If you prepared the v0.0.5 binary prior to September 29th, you must re-run the relevant commands to ensure the updated binary is in use.

Official Upgrade Guide:
https://github.com/blazeapps007/SteemVirtualMachine-EVM/blob/release/v0.0.5-validator-identity/Instructions/UPGRADE_v0.0.5.md

Next Objectives: SVM App Public Beta and Sherpa Protocol

The launch of v0.0.5 has established robust validator identity enforcement and secure EVM staking capabilities on the SVM Testnet.

The upcoming objectives are:

• Restoring the active validator set to 100% capacity.
• Advancing preparations for the SVM App Public Beta release.
• Expanding the Sherpa Protocol DeFi ecosystem.
• Increasing the adoption and usage of SVM within the STEEM ecosystem.

Testnet Disclaimer

The Steem Virtual Machine (SVM) is currently in the experimental stage. The bonded STEEM, executed transactions, and tokens generated here are intended for testing consensus and EVM execution. The assets on this network hold no real-world financial value.