Zilliqa Hard Fork News: XT.com Migration and Pectra Due Oct 30

Fourth Exchange Migration Is Scheduled for 30 October

Crypto news today centers on the Zilliqa hard fork, announced by the project on 29 October 2026. The upgrade is set for block height 39,242,023, expected around 30 October.

According to the official Zilliqa update, users do not need to take any action. Centralized exchanges may pause ZIL deposits and withdrawals, then resume once the rollout succeeds.

Source: Official Zilliqa X-Post

Six Technical Changes Packed Into This Latest Network Upgrade

The announcement lists these changes:

• XT.com balances: ZIL moves from legacy Schnorr addresses to verified EVM addresses.

• Validator rewards: paid every epoch instead of every block.

• Pectra support: updates EVM compatibility.

• Staked balances: legacy ZIL in the Scilla staking contract can migrate through the ZKP app.

• Token prep: selected ZRC2 (Scilla) tokens get ready to move to ERC20 (EVM).

• Gas fees: EVM gas-fee accounting is corrected.

Developers can find the Zilliqa hard fork details in the GitHub release v0.22.1. It mainly fixes activation heights from the prior release.

How This Step Fits the Staged Legacy Exit So Far

This is the latest update in a four-stage plan to leave the old Schnorr-based system.

Why the Legacy Network Is Being Retired After the Ledger Flaw

In July 2026, a signing flaw was found in the Ledger app. After roughly four or more transactions, public on-chain data could let attackers rebuild private keys. Funds were stolen from affected legacy accounts.

Legacy transactions were paused around 20 July 2026. Zilliqa then chose to finish the planned transition and make the EVM its only production environment, as its Ledger incident hub explains.

Exchange balances move through protocol-level upgrades. Self-custody holders use a zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) app that proves ownership without revealing seed phrases.

What the Zilliqa Hard Fork Means for Traders and Holders

Traders should follow crypto exchange notices closely. HTX said it would pause ZIL deposits and withdrawals from 30 October. Trading is typically unaffected, and services resume once the network looks stable.

Self-custody holders need no action for this fork. Anyone with an unmigrated legacy ZIL should use the official ZKP Migration App and never share seed phrases.

Validators and node operators must run v0.22.1 or equivalent before the activation height to stay in consensus.

Final Take: A Routine Step in a Security-Driven Migration

The Zilliqa hard fork is mostly housekeeping, but it matters if you still hold unmigrated ZIL. XT.com is the next exchange to move over, and Pectra support brings the EVM closer to Ethereum.

Scammers tend to show up during migrations, so any DM promising a recovery is almost certainly fake. Only the project’s official channels can confirm the rollout. We will add the status to our latest crypto news coverage once block 39,242,023 is reached. 

Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. Always conduct your own research before making investment decisions.