Deep Dive
1. Mainnet 18 Upgrade (11 June 2026)
Overview: This upgrade improved how the network fetches external price data and manages idle resources. It makes the system more reliable and cost-effective for users.
The activation introduced Oracle v2, which uses real-world timestamps instead of block heights for price feeds, leading to more accurate and timely data. It also implemented Resource Reclamation (AEP-82), which automatically frees up compute capacity from finished or stalled deployments, making more resources available for new users. A bug fix for Market Order Close events was also included to ensure smoother order management.
What this means: This is bullish for AKT because it makes the underlying marketplace more efficient and reliable. Users get better price data and providers can offer more consistent service, which could drive higher network adoption and usage.
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2. Project Twilight Hard Fork (March 2026)
Overview: This was a major economic upgrade that changed how AKT tokens are created and destroyed, directly linking the token's value to network demand.
The hard fork implemented the Burn-Mint Equilibrium (BME). Now, when users buy cloud compute, they burn AKT tokens and receive Akash Compute Tokens (ACT) for spending. This shifts the network from inflationary staking rewards to a model where increased usage creates buying pressure and deflationary pressure on AKT.
What this means: This is bullish for AKT because it fundamentally ties the token's economics to real product usage. As more developers use Akash for AI and cloud compute, the mechanism actively reduces AKT supply, which could support its long-term value.
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3. Mainnet 14 Upgrade (28 October 2025)
Overview: This foundational upgrade modernized the network's core software, paving the way for future features and improvements.
The update successfully migrated Akash to Cosmos SDK v0.53. This major version upgrade cleared out deprecated legacy code, improved module security, and enhanced the development framework. It was a necessary step to unlock more advanced decentralized cloud capabilities.
What this means: This is neutral to bullish for AKT. While not a user-facing feature, it strengthens the network's technical foundation, reduces technical debt, and allows developers to build new features faster, supporting long-term growth.
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Conclusion
Akash Network's development is strategically advancing on two fronts: refining core marketplace efficiency and overhauling its tokenomics to be usage-driven. How will the new burn-mint model impact AKT's correlation with AI compute demand over the next quarter?