Canto, a Cosmos-based blockchain, experienced a 33-hour outage due to a consensus issue. The team is now working on an upgrade to resolve the problem and restore normal operations.
Points
- Canto, a Cosmos-based blockchain, suffered a 33-hour outage caused by a consensus issue, halting all transactions.
- The blockchain team has scheduled an upgrade to address the issue and expects operations to resume soon.
- The outage raises concerns about the stability and reliability of emerging blockchain networks.
Canto, a layer-1 blockchain built on the Cosmos network, recently faced a significant disruption when it experienced a 33-hour outage due to a consensus issue. This prolonged downtime effectively halted all transactions on the network, raising concerns about the stability and reliability of the blockchain. Canto, which launched in August 2022, is designed as a permissionless, general-purpose blockchain that is compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine （EVM） and tailored for decentralized finance （DeFi） applications.
The outage began on August 11, with the last recorded transaction occurring at 2:29 am UTC on block 10847516. Since then, Canto has been unable to process new transactions, causing significant inconvenience for users and developers relying on the network. According to the CantoScan block explorer, no new blocks were produced for over a day, and the network remained down for 33 hours.
In an update posted on X （formerly Twitter）, the Canto team confirmed that the issue stemmed from a problem with the network’s consensus mechanism. Consensus mechanisms are crucial for validating transactions and ensuring that they are recorded accurately on the blockchain. When consensus fails, it can lead to a complete halt in network operations, as was the case with Canto.
To resolve the issue, Canto’s development team has scheduled an upgrade for August 12 at 12:00 pm UTC. This upgrade is intended to address the consensus problem and restore normal network functions. The team has assured users that all funds are safe and that once the upgrade is complete, the network will resume its usual activities.
The outage has drawn attention to the challenges faced by emerging blockchain networks as they strive to offer reliable and secure platforms for decentralized applications. While Canto has positioned itself as a promising platform for DeFi, this incident highlights the potential risks associated with newer blockchain technologies that have yet to fully mature.
Another update, the Callisto upgrade, was planned for the Canto blockchain on August 9. However, the Canto team has not yet confirmed whether this upgrade went through or if there is any connection between it and the current outage. The lack of clear communication on this matter has led to some speculation within the community about the underlying causes of the consensus issue.
Despite the setback, the Canto team remains optimistic that the network will recover fully following the planned upgrade. They have emphasized that users should not be alarmed and that all activities will resume as normal once the network is back online.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous testing and monitoring in the development of blockchain networks. As the industry continues to grow, ensuring the stability and reliability of these platforms will be crucial in building trust and encouraging wider adoption of decentralized technologies.
解説
- The 33-hour outage experienced by Canto underscores the challenges that emerging blockchain networks face as they develop and scale. Consensus issues, like the one that affected Canto, can have significant implications for the reliability of a network, particularly in the DeFi space, where the timely processing of transactions is critical.
- Consensus mechanisms are the backbone of blockchain technology, ensuring that transactions are validated and recorded accurately across the network. When these mechanisms fail, as seen with Canto, it can lead to a complete halt in operations, which in turn can erode user confidence in the platform.
- The planned upgrade by the Canto team is a necessary step to address the immediate issue and restore functionality to the network. However, the incident raises broader concerns about the robustness of newer blockchain networks. Ensuring that these platforms can handle unexpected issues and recover quickly is vital for their long-term success.
- For users and developers, this outage highlights the importance of due diligence when choosing a blockchain platform for their applications. It is crucial to understand the underlying technology and to be aware of the potential risks associated with newer or less established networks. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, the lessons learned from incidents like this will be essential in guiding the development of more resilient and reliable networks.