Conflux sets v3.1.0 hard fork for Aug. 25 with seven CIPs

Conflux Network has scheduled its v3.1.0 hard fork for Aug. 25, requiring node operators to install the update before seven network proposals and a private security fix take effect.
Summary

• Conflux node operators must install v3.1.0 before the network reaches the Aug. 25 deadline.
• Seven proposals will improve Ethereum compatibility and correct transaction and staking problems.
• CIP-173 is expected to take effect on Aug. 26, one day after the upgrade deadline.
• Conflux will disclose details of a private security fix after the hard fork is completed.

Conflux v3.1.0 requires a mandatory update

Conflux Network said in an Aug. 3 announcement that all nodes must install version 3.1.0 before the blockchain reaches epoch 155140000, which is expected on Aug. 25.

An epoch is a numbered stage in a blockchain's operation. Conflux has used the target number to set the official deadline because the precise activation time can change depending on how quickly the network produces blocks.

Node operators who update before the deadline can install the new software and restart their systems. Conflux advised operators to complete the process within two days of beginning the update.
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Operators who wait until after the target epoch will face a more difficult process. According to the announcement, they will have to remove their existing blockchain data, install the latest version, and download the network records again.

Nodes that remain on older software will no longer be fully compatible with the upgraded blockchain. Conflux warned that affected operators may be unable to download new blocks, process transactions, or continue mining.

The update also requires operators to replace an important settings file with the new copy included in the release. Using the old file will prevent a node from starting because version 3.1.0 applies stricter checks to its settings.

Operators who previously changed where their node stores data or records activity can transfer those choices to the replacement file. Conflux has also provided an updated list of entry points that nodes use when first connecting to other participants on the network.

A separate optional setting can reduce the amount of storage used by a node. Activating it will make the first restart take longer while the software rebuilds a current record of account balances and other network information, but later restarts should return to their normal duration.

Seven Conflux proposals will change network rules

Conflux plans to activate CIP-166, CIP-167, CIP-172, CIP-173, CIP-174, CIP-175 and CIP-176. A CIP, or Conflux Improvement Proposal, describes a planned change to the network's rules or features.

Three proposals will make Conflux eSpace work more closely with applications built for Ethereum. eSpace is the part of Conflux that supports Ethereum-based smart contracts, wallets, and development tools.

CIP-166 adds a new operation that allows applications to count the empty digits at the start of a computer value. While mainly useful to developers, the change keeps Conflux aligned with a recent Ethereum network standard.

Under CIP-167, Conflux will add direct support for checking a type of digital signature commonly used by passkeys and online identity systems. Passkeys allow users to sign in through methods such as a fingerprint, facial scan, or device security code instead of entering a traditional password.

The proposal may help developers create wallets and applications with more familiar login systems. According to Conflux, the same signature method is already used by WebAuthn, the online authentication standard that supports passkeys.

For U.S.-based developers, the update provides a technical route for building applications that work with passkey systems already available on widely used devices and browsers. The Conflux announcement does not introduce separate trading, tax, or regulatory rules for American CFX holders.

CIP-174 will limit the size of information sent to a calculation-heavy network feature and increase the transaction fee charged for using it. Conflux linked the proposal to two Ethereum changes designed to prevent unusually large requests from consuming too many network resources.

Conflux previously expanded its Ethereum-compatible environment to support wallets, applications, and token transfers built around Ethereum standards. That design recently gained more importance for CFX traders after Upbit restricted deposits and withdrawals to Conflux eSpace.

As crypto.news previously reported, the South Korean exchange warned users that CFX sent through Core Space or another unsupported network could require a lengthy recovery process. Core Space is Conflux's original operating environment, while eSpace supports Ethereum-compatible tools.

Transaction and staking problems will be corrected

Four proposals focus on flaws found in existing network behavior. CIP-172 will require every transaction added to a block to follow one approved format.

Conflux said the current issue can allow the same transaction to receive more than one identifying code. Since blockchain services use those codes to locate and verify transfers, the update will require a single standard format.

Nodes running the new software will begin rejecting incorrectly formatted transactions before the full hard fork takes effect. The early protection will apply as soon as an operator installs version 3.1.0.

CIP-173 addresses problems in the network's process for reviewing disputes involving proof-of-stake validators. Validators lock CFX to help confirm network activity and can face penalties when they break the rules.

The proposal will also extend an existing lock on staked CFX to validators who have already started withdrawing their entire deposit. Conflux expects CIP-173 to activate at proof-of-stake block 3749400 on Aug. 26.

CIP-175 corrects a problem affecting certain calls between Core Space and eSpace. In some cases, the network did not properly recognize the permission that one account had given another account to act on its behalf.

CIP-176 fixes how the network prepares stored information for use during a transaction. When the same account appeared several times in a transaction's access list, Conflux prepared only the information attached to its final appearance. Version 3.1.0 will process all relevant entries.

The software release also improves how the proof-of-stake system handles pending transactions and new block proposals. Conflux said existing nodes will not need to download the entire blockchain again solely because of the internal storage changes included in the release.

Major Conflux upgrades have previously drawn attention to CFX. In July 2025, coverage of Conflux 3.0 recorded a roughly 70% rally from $0.1450 to $0.2416 after the earlier update was announced.

Trading volume and open positions in the derivatives market also rose sharply during that period. The v3.1.0 announcement, however, provides no CFX price forecast and focuses on the steps required from network operators.

Security fix will remain private until the hard fork

Conflux said version 3.1.0 contains a fix for a security weakness but will not publish the related technical details until the network upgrade has been completed.

According to the project, an early disclosure could give attackers enough information to target nodes that have not yet installed the update. Conflux will therefore delay publishing the affected sections of its software until operators have had time to move to the protected version.

The team also warned operators against building their own version from the project's latest unfinished software. Such copies may not match the official mainnet release and could cause an operator to follow a different version of the blockchain.

Conflux used a similar coordinated process in March 2025 when it repaired a flaw affecting how contracts were placed at blockchain addresses. Earlier security coverage reported that the problem could allow a contract to replace another contract already stored at the same address and return its settings to their original state.

The project said version 2.5 corrected the flaw after the ecosystem team, GraFun, privately reported it. GraFun received 60,000 CFX, including 50,000 CFX for finding the problem and 10,000 CFX for reporting it quickly enough to reduce the risk of exploitation.

Beyond the private security patch, version 3.1.0 repairs several crashes that could be caused by damaged messages from other nodes, incorrect requests sent to the network, or unusual information recorded on-chain.

The update also adds two new tools for eSpace services, improves controls that limit excessive requests, and corrects several errors in transaction records. Conflux has removed an older connection method while keeping the commonly used web and live connection options unchanged.

Additional maintenance work covers a crash during shutdown, excessive activity records during periods of heavy network use, and several outdated software parts. Version 3.1.0 also adds a meter that allows operators to monitor the number of transactions their nodes process in real time.
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