A new Alephium update v3.13.0 just landed, and while much of the work happened behind the scenes, it brings real improvements to how the network runs. Whether you’re running a node, building on Alephium, or just following the project, this release marks an important step forward.
What is Alephium?
Alephium is a modern blockchain designed to fix a classic problem: how to scale while staying secure and decentralized. It does this with a unique tech called BlockFlow, which allows it to process many transactions in parallel. Think of it like adding extra lanes to a blockchain highway.
It combines the UTXO model from Bitcoin (great for security) with smart contract capabilities like Ethereum. To make smart contract development safer and easier, Alephium uses its own programming language: Ralph. It’s simple, readable, and built with security in mind.
Alephium is also energy-efficient, making it a future-ready platform for Web3 applications.
What’s New inn Alephium update v3.13.0?
This update focuses on speed, security, and reliability – especially for node operators and developers.
The biggest change: Sync v2 is now the default. This is the new way nodes stay in sync with the rest of the network. It’s faster and more stable, helping new nodes catch up more quickly and reducing the risk of sync errors.
To keep things safe during the rollout, Sync v2 nodes currently only accept connections from testnet nodes. This controlled release helps prevent bugs from affecting the main network while the transition continues.
Another important improvement: nodes can now support both Sync v1 and v2 at the same time. That means operators don’t have to choose – they can run both and switch over smoothly when they’re ready.
Other technical upgrades include:
- Automatic cleanup of submitted jobs, improving memory efficiency.
- Faster and cleaner block announcements, which helps nodes stay better informed.
- More accurate detection of missed blocks, making sync processes more reliable.
On the smart contract side, there are improvements to Ralph:
- Fixes to how inline functions and enum values are handled.
- General improvements to syntax and code generation, making Ralph easier and safer to use.
Why It Matters
Alephium v3.13.0 isn’t just a patch – it’s a sign of a network evolving. Sync is now faster and more reliable, developers have a better experience writing contracts, and node operators get more stability and flexibility.
Alephium update v3.13.0 is a step toward a more stable, faster, and scalable network. The new synchronization system, improved block handling, and smart contract language enhancements make Alephium an even more reliable platform for developers and users.
And the best part? As an Alephium node provider, we’ve already upgraded our infrastructure to the latest version. This means you can start using all the benefits of v3.13.0 right now through our API – no setup or technical hassle required: