The highly anticipated Fusion Upgrade recently went live on the Core blockchain Maiinet, bringing powerful improvements and new features like Dual Staking and LstBTC. In this post, we will unpack the improvements and features included and the impact of Fusion Upgrade on the Core ecosystem, validators, devs, and users.
What is Fusion Upgrade?
The Fusion Upgrade is essentially a hardfork upgrade to the Core blockchain that introduces improvements for better scalability and performance, along with power features for enhanced user experience through staking in the form of Dual Staking and LstBTC.
What is the timeline for the Fusion Upgrade?
The Fusion Upgrade is intended to be rolled out in two phases. Phase one, launched on 19 November, includes several improvement features and the Dual Staking feature. Phase two, the date of which has yet to be announced, will include LstBTC activation and other improvements to the Core blockchain.
What’s included in the Fusion Upgrade?
The Fusion upgrade introduces several changes for enhanced scalability and performance. It encompasses six hardforks for better scalability, performance, and user experience.
- Berlin, London, and Shanghai (from Ethereum).
- Hertz and Kepler (from BNB Smart Chain).
- Demeter (from Core).
- Improvements up to version 1.3.9 from BNB Smart Chain.
Better Staking Experience and Yield Opportunities
The Demeter hardfork also encompasses the game-changer–Dual Staking. An enhancement to Core’s Non-Custodial BTC Staking, Dual Staking allows Bitcoin holders to unlock higher reward rates by staking both $BTC and $CORE simultaneously. A higher CORE: BTC staked ratio unlocks higher yield on the BTC staking. Dual Staking brings more sustainability to staking on Core but also unlocks more utility for the $CORE token by positioning it as the key to unlocking boosted reward rates through Dual Staking.
For a more streamlined and modular approach, the Fusion Upgrade also introduces newer workflows for staking and delegation of all kinds (Hash, CORE, or BTC) on the Core Blockchain. To achieve this goal, it deprecates several smart contracts and introduces newer ones. One of the major changes that both developers and users should be aware of is the updated workflows when staking/delegating programmatically on the Core blockchain. For more details on the changes to the workflow and guidelines for developers and users, refer here.
New Opportunities Unlocked
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CORE Holders and Stakers: Before the Fusion Upgrade, $CORE, the native token of Core, was utilized for gas costs and governance on the Core network. With the launch of Fusion Upgrade, the introduction of Dual Staking significantly enhances $CORE’s utility by positioning it as the key to unlocking higher Bitcoin staking reward rates.
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Bitcoin Holders and Stakers: Dual Staking allows Bitcoin holders and stakers to earn higher yields on their staked Bitcoin by simultaneously staking CORE tokens. While Bitcoin holders can still choose to stake a single asset (only Bitcoin), the multi-tiered system of Dual Staking gives them a golden chance to stake CORE tokens to gain access to the highest reward rates available on Core. This mechanism offers the Bitcoin holders higher yield returns and rewards their commitment to the Core ecosystem.
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Bitcoin Miners: Bitcoin miners are one of the biggest sellers of Bitcoin. With Dual Staking, instead of selling off their Bitcoin asset to meet operational expenses, they can stake their Bitcoin alongside CORE to unlock higher yield returns and utilize the yield for self-financing.
Call to Action
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Developers: upgrade your dApps to align with the upgraded workflows and smart contracts for staking and delegation on Core. Through testing of your dApps to ensure uninterrupted and smooth operations.
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User Implications: Users are encouraged to become well-versed in the changes to staking, delegation, and reward claim workflows before programmatically performing each.
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Validators/Full Nodes: ensure to upgrade their nodes to v1.0.12 for smooth and uninterrupted operations.
Changelog
Join Live Discussion on Fusion Upgrade
Join Contributors at Core as they unpack Core’s game-changing Fusion Upgrade. Discussing What’s Changed, What’s Next, Impact & Long-Term Vision, New Opportunities Unlocked, and so much more! 
27th Nov 2024
5:30 PM UTC
Link
Conclusion
The Fusion Upgrade marks a significant milestone for the Core blockchain, redefining scalability, performance, and staking opportunities. By introducing innovative features like Dual Staking and laying the groundwork for LstBTC, Core has expanded its utility and appeal to token holders, developers, and validators alike.
This upgrade not only enhances the ecosystem’s functionality but also creates new pathways for higher yield opportunities for Bitcoin stakers and unlocks new utilities for the $CORE token, making it a win-win for users and the network. Whether you’re a developer building next-gen dApps on Core or a staker exploring new yield potentials, the Fusion Upgrade sets the stage for a more robust and versatile Core blockchain ecosystem.
Stay tuned for the second phase and continue to explore the transformative potential of Fusion!