DashCore v21.0 Release Announcement

We are happy to announce the release of 21.0.0 This release includes binaries that you can download on GitHub.

DashCore v21.0 is a major release and a mandatory upgrade for all masternodes. Miners and users are recommended to upgrade, but DashCore v20.1.1 and v20.0.4 have been tested for compatibility with the new version. This version aligns with the release of Dash Platform v1.0. 

DashCore 21.0 introduces a number of features and improvements to Dash, including an updated masternode reward system for evonodes, mainnet spork hardening, and numerous enhancements through Bitcoin backports. Below are a few key highlights of this release. Comprehensive details can be found in the release notes.

Release Highlights

Masternode reward reallocation

Hard fork details

The masternode reward reallocation (MN_RR) hard fork, first included in Dash Core v20, will be activated after v21 is adopted by masternodes. This hard fork enables the major feature included in this release: Masternode Reward Location Reallocation. The activation will also initiate the launch of the Dash Evolution Platform Chain.

As the MN_RR hard fork is an Enhanced Hard Fork, activation is dependent on both masternodes and miners. However, this hard fork was first implemented in v20, so only masternodes are required to upgrade for the hard fork to activate.

Reward reallocation and evonode payments

Once the MN_RR hard fork activates, part of the masternode subsidy in the coinbase will be moved into the Credit Pool (i.e., to Platform) each time a block is mined. Evonodes will then receive a single reward per payment cycle on the Core chain – not rewards from four sequential blocks as in v19/v20. The remainder of evonode payments will be distributed by Platform from the credit pool. This is to incentivize evonodes to upgrade to Platform because only nodes running Platform can receive these reward payments.

Mainnet spork hardening

Dash introduced sporks in 2014 as a way to provide smoother upgrade transitions than hard forks. While this innovation has been useful, the network has matured to a point where they are no longer necessary on mainnet due features like enhanced hard forks. Consequently, this version hardens all sporks on mainnet. Sporks remain in effect on all devnets and testnet; however, on mainnet, the value of all sporks are hard-coded to 0, or 1 for the SPORK_21_QUORUM_ALL_CONNECTED spork. These hardened values match the active values historically used on mainnet, so there is no change in the network’s functionality. 

Integration Partner Notes

DashCore v21.0 is only a mandatory update for masternodes; however, we recommend upgrading to receive the latest features.  Once the release is available in the coming days, all integration partners should immediately review the Release Notes to become familiar with the details of the release and begin the update process.

In addition to the hard fork that will occur with v21.0, there are important fixes and optimizations that will not be backported to v20.0. It is important to verify compatibility with particular attention to 1) changes to RPCs, 2) changes to command-line options, and 3) Bitcoin backports.

Remote Procedure Call (RPC) Changes

DashCore v21.0 introduces one new Dash-specific RPC command. Additionally, several RPCs have breaking changes. Please refer to the release notes for details of all RPC changes.

New RPCs: listdescriptors,send, and quorum signplatform

Deprecated RPCs: no RPCs were deprecated; however, some RPCs were modified with breaking changes

Removed RPC: no RPCs removed

Command-line Options

A number of command-line option additions and changes were made. For additional details on these, please refer to the release notes.

Bitcoin Backports

We have backported hundreds of items from Bitcoin v0.20-v22.0 which are included in DashCore v21.0. In addition, select items have been backported from Bitcoin v23.0 through v26.0.

What is Dash?

Dash is a global payments network with its own cryptocurrency offering businesses and individuals instant payments for less than a cent per transaction. Our goal is to provide users with a better way to pay and get paid. Dash Core Group is in the process of rolling out a series of upgrades to our system dubbed “Evolution” to make Dash the most user-friendly blockchain-based payment and Web3 application platform in the world.