Early in the morning, the Ethereum $4,349 Layer 2 network Starknet faced a significant service disruption, halting block production for a while. After approximately two and a half hours of inaccessibility, updates were implemented, allowing block production to resume. Subsequently, most RPC providers returned to normal operations. Activity on the network was observed to restart according to the blockchain explorer.
Starknet Outage: Insights and Reactions
During the interruption, all activities within the Starknet blockchain were paused. The Starknet team announced on social media platform X that a temporary malfunction had occurred. Developers reorganized the blockchain during this period, adjusting approximately one hour of transaction history starting from block number 1,960,612.
Between 05:23 and 07:36, transactions sent were not recorded on the blockchain. It was noted that users whose transactions were missed should resend them. An investigation to determine the cause or causes of the incident was initiated, and a detailed report was promised by the project team.
Previous Interruptions: A Lookback
Starknet, operating as a Layer 2 network utilizing zero-knowledge proofs, aggregates transactions off-chain while sending cryptographic proofs to the Ethereum network. This technique reduces transaction fees while ensuring adherence to Ethereum’s security standards. The network has also implemented SN Stack projects for application blockchains and a decision granting partial consensus impact to Bitcoin $109,700 stakers.
Historically, Starknet has experienced limited network outages. According to QuickNode data, apart from a brief 15-minute access issue in July, a similar disruption occurred last year. Notably, an error on April 5, 2024, caused a network downtime of four hours, during which block reorganization was also applied.
Despite this interruption, the Starknet team remains committed to identifying and addressing network vulnerabilities to prevent future occurrences. The network’s ability to bounce back swiftly from these disruptions demonstrates both resilience and a dedication to maintaining the reliability of its services.
In conclusion, Starknet’s recent outage sparked concerns but also highlighted the team’s quick response capability. As they continue to evolve, addressing these technical challenges effectively remains crucial for sustaining user trust and optimizing network performance.
