Deep Dive
1. Granite Upgrade (19 November 2025)
Overview: This mainnet upgrade made the network faster and more user-friendly. It allows validators to adjust block times dynamically and lets users log into dApps with their phone's fingerprint or face recognition.
The upgrade implemented three key Avalanche Consensus Proposals (ACPs). ACP-226 enables validators to tune minimum block times dynamically, paving the way for sub-second transaction confirmations. ACP-204 adds support for the secp256r1 cryptographic curve, the same standard used by Apple's FaceID and TouchID, enabling passwordless, biometric authentication for decentralized applications. ACP-181 stabilizes the validator set for short 5–10 minute epochs, which reduces gas costs and makes cross-chain communication more reliable.
What this means: This is bullish for AVAX because it delivers a noticeably faster and smoother experience for everyday users, while making life easier for developers building multi-chain apps. These improvements make the network more attractive for real-world, high-frequency use cases like gaming and payments.
(Avalanche Developers)
2. Octane Upgrade (Q2 2025)
Overview: This earlier hard fork drastically reduced costs for users and developers. It replaced a fixed validator staking requirement with a flexible model and introduced dynamic fees that respond to network congestion.
Technically, the upgrade enacted ACP-77, which changed validator economics from a fixed 2,000 AVAX stake to a pay-as-you-go model, slashing subnet deployment costs by approximately 83%. ACP-125 reduced the minimum base fee on the C-Chain from 25 nAVAX to 0.1 nAVAX. ACP-176 introduced a dynamic fee algorithm, helping to prevent spam during high demand.
What this means: This was bullish for AVAX because it made building and using the blockchain significantly cheaper and more efficient. The upgrade led to a measurable surge in network activity, with C-Chain daily transactions rising 493.4% in Q2 2025 and Total Value Locked (TVL) growing nearly 40%.
(CoinMarketCap Community)
3. Sustained Development Momentum (2025)
Overview: Beyond named upgrades, Avalanche has maintained a high pace of core development throughout 2025, as measured by activity on its public GitHub repository.
According to analytics from July 2025, Avalanche's developer commits surged over 35% month-over-month, focusing on subnet tooling and consensus optimizations. It consistently ranked second in Development Activity among real-world asset (RWA) cryptocurrencies, with a 30-day score of 191.07, trailing only Chainlink.
What this means: This is neutral-to-bullish for AVAX because consistent, high-quality code commits are a strong indicator of long-term health and innovation, not just short-term hype. It shows the core team and community are actively working to improve the protocol's foundation for future growth.
(CryptoNewsLand)
Conclusion
Avalanche's development trajectory is clearly focused on concrete improvements: reducing costs, increasing speed, and enhancing usability. The sequential rollout of the Octane and Granite upgrades demonstrates a committed, execution-driven approach to scaling the network for broader adoption. With developer activity remaining robust, what new capabilities will the next consensus proposal unlock for the ecosystem?