Deep Dive
1. Mainnet Upgrade IIP-603 (18 December 2025)
Overview: Deployed network-level optimizations to improve transaction throughput and node synchronization efficiency.
The upgrade introduced parallel transaction processing and refined mempool management, reducing block finality latency by ~18%. Validators upgraded to v1.17.2, which also enhanced the chain’s resilience to spam attacks via dynamic fee adjustments.
What this means: This is bullish for INJ because faster, cheaper transactions attract more DeFi users and developers. (Source)
2. MultiVM Expansion (11 November 2025)
Overview: Launched native support for Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), Solana VM, and Cosmos SDK.
Developers can now deploy apps across three ecosystems without bridges, sharing liquidity and state. The upgrade reduced cross-chain swap fees by 92% compared to layer-2 solutions.
What this means: Neutral short-term due to integration complexity but bullish long-term as it positions Injective as a hub for multi-chain financial apps. (Source)
3. Hard Fork Prep (19 December 2025)
Overview: Initiated protocol changes for a 2026 hard fork targeting modular architecture.
The update introduced backward-compatible APIs for future sharding and optimized gas fee distribution mechanics. Node operators were advised to test compatibility with upcoming v2.x testnets.
What this means: This is neutral – essential technical groundwork but no immediate user impact. Delays in validator adoption could temporarily slow network effects. (Source)
Conclusion
Injective’s late-2025 upgrades strengthened its infrastructure for high-frequency DeFi while expanding cross-chain capabilities. With daily active addresses hitting 90.9K post-upgrade, developer momentum appears robust. Will 2026’s modular upgrade help INJ capture more institutional RWA flows?