NEAR has released nearcore 2.14.0-rc.1, a release candidate that introduces protocol and database upgrades to the network's core software.
The release candidate designation means the software is in testing phase before final stable release. Release candidates allow validator operators and developers to run the software under realistic conditions, with particular attention needed for database upgrades that affect how node state is stored and migrated.
Key Protocol Changes
The 2.14.0 changelog includes several notable modifications to the protocol:
- Removal of contract gas rewards by reducing the burnt-gas reward parameter from 30% to zero
- Introduction of a bound on the combined size of resolved promise inputs, preventing excessively large receipt inputs from growing without an explicit protocol limit
- Addition of an ml_dsa_verify host function, enabling contracts to verify ML-DSA-65 signatures on-chain
The ML-DSA addition is noteworthy as it introduces support for ML-DSA, a post-quantum digital signature standard. This allows smart contracts to natively verify that class of signature where developers choose to use it, though it does not make the entire NEAR network quantum-proof.
Implications for Node Operators
Protocol version changes increase the stakes for node operators. Nodes require compatible software before the associated protocol upgrade activates to continue participating normally in network consensus.
For ordinary NEAR users, this release represents infrastructure software development. However, these infrastructure releases often deliver features that users eventually experience through the network.
