Cardano launches Dijkstra testnet ahead of protocol upgrade

The DijkstraNet environment currently operates on node 11.1.3, with a transition to node 11.2 pending. This upcoming release will introduce the full Dijkstra hard-fork feature set—excluding Leios—and aims to ready Large Stake Model (LSM) functionality for the mainnet, requiring approximately 12 GB of memory. To facilitate these upgrades, Intersect has initiated a hard-fork action to move the network from its current Conway-era configuration to protocol version 12.

While DijkstraNet focuses on near-term stability, a separate environment, MusashiNet, serves as a sandbox for Leios-inclusive prototypes. This parallel track allows downstream tooling teams to experiment with integration before the formal node 11.3 release, which remains in development. Input Output estimates that activating Leios will eventually require voting keys covering 90–95% of the total stake, though no specific mainnet activation date has been set.

Beyond technical code, the upgrade process involves significant governance and operational adjustments. Discussions are underway regarding BLS key management, with a preference emerging for a mechanism that allows key updates without requiring signatures from every pool owner. Furthermore, the Technical Steering Committee is refining risk assessments, while the community prepares for a constitutional update meeting and a November workshop in London focused on node diversity.