Algorand v5.0.0 Clears 90% Support as Post-Quantum Upgrade Nears Mainnet

TLDR:

• Algorand v5.0.0 reached 90% node support, clearing the upgrade for activation after its cooldown period.
• Native Falcon-1024 accounts give Algorand protocol-level support for post-quantum signatures.
• AVM v13 expands smart contracts with larger sizes, new opcodes and cross-app box storage support.
• A new per-byte fee model targets larger transactions while keeping standard transfer fees unchanged.

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Algorand v5.0.0 has reached 90% node support, clearing the upgrade for activation after its cooldown period. 

The protocol change marks Algorand’s largest upgrade since staking rewards launched in January 2025. It introduces native post-quantum accounts alongside expanded smart contract capabilities and a flexible fee model.

The upgrade also moves Algorand closer to a protocol designed to adapt as cryptographic standards evolve.

Algorand v5.0.0 Brings Post-Quantum Accounts to Mainnet

The Algorand team confirmed the 90% support threshold in a post on X. The upgrade will activate once the required cooldown period ends, with mainnet deployment expected soon.

Algorand v5.0.0 introduces native Falcon-1024 accounts for post-quantum signatures. The change moves quantum-resistant account support directly into the protocol rather than limiting it to application-level tools.

The upgrade also introduces AVM v13, expanding smart contract sizes and adding new functionality. New opcodes include poseidon2, while cross-application box storage support expands how applications can manage data.

Algorand has already developed post-quantum infrastructure through earlier network upgrades and account implementations. According to X user Marco Salzmann, v5.0.0 shifts that effort toward broader cryptographic agility across the protocol.

Algorand Upgrade Expands Smart Contracts and Fee Model

The new release adds a per-byte fee model for larger transactions and computationally heavier operations. Standard transfers will not face the same fee changes under the new structure.

The model gives Algorand more flexibility when transactions require greater storage or computational resources. It also creates a mechanism for fees to reflect transaction size  without changing ordinary transfer costs.

Algorand community member Alex, known as france.algo on X, said thousands of node runners upgraded within days. His post described v5.0.0 as one of the network’s largest protocol upgrades.

Salzmann also outlined a broader roadmap involving hybrid accounts, post-quantum multisig and additional Falcon research. The roadmap includes further work on post-quantum verifiable random functions and consensus mechanisms.

The post Algorand v5.0.0 Clears 90% Support as Post-Quantum Upgrade Nears Mainnet appeared first on Blockonomi.

Source: https://blockonomi.com/algorand-v5-0-0-clears-90-support-as-post-quantum-upgrade-nears-mainnet/