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The ICON Blockchain will remain live, allowing for transactions and ongoing migration to SODA.
The validator set will be reduced, allowing validators to free up capital for migration.
ICX emissions will be halted, with validator rewards being discontinued.
We will soon begin the next phase of the ICON Network’s journey from a standalone Layer 1 blockchain to the core infrastructure of the SODAX DeFi execution system. As the network transitions to its hub-chain infrastructure on Sonic, we are entering the final phases of the ICON Network’s lifecycle.
To ensure a smooth migration for all participants, we are announcing a phased timeline to wind down the ICON blockchain's economic activity and transition to SODA as our primary token.
The Transition Timeline
This process is designed to give validators and community members ample time to manage their assets in preparation for final migration to SODAX.*
*The dates below may be subject to change as development progresses, if so we will update timelines accordingly.
Phase 0 (Feb 16, 2026): Removing Validator Bond Requirements
A governance vote will be initiated to remove the 1% bond requirement for validators. Once passed, this allows validators to unbond their locked ICX without penalty, freeing up their capital in preparation for the migration to SODA.
Phase 1 (Mar 2, 2026): Infrastructure Prep
In preparation for the validator set to be reduced, 4 additional Foundation nodes will be created. This will result in a core set of 7 nodes in later phases that will continue to secure the network through the network migration.
Phase 2 (Mar 16, 2026): Stake Redistribution Period
With the core validator set of 7 nodes created, all Foundation delegations to external nodes will be removed and redistributed to ensure the core validator set occupies ranks 1 through 7 as main P-reps. As staking rewards on the ICON Network reach their conclusion, we urge all ICX holders to review their own delegations as well.
Phase 3 (Mar 23, 2026): Network Shrinkage
With ranks 1 through 7 now secured by the core validator group, the active validator set will be reduced to a smaller group of 7 nodes. This smaller set will maintain the chain's security and basic functions during the final migration window. Once passed, nodes ranked 8th and below will be excluded from block production and consensus. Only the 7 Foundation-controlled nodes will participate in consensus.
External Validators: If you are not part of this core set, you can at this point fully withdraw any ICX from your nodes and/or delegation.
Phase 4 (Mar 26, 2026): Economic Shutdown
The ICON Network will enter Economic Shutdown by the end of March:
Emissions Halt: New ICX emissions will no longer be minted as rewards.
For Stakers: You should prepare to unstake and migrate your ICX to SODA.
Rewards: This is the time to claim any remaining ICX staking rewards.
Important: The ICON blockchain will remain live. You will still be able to transact on the network and use the migration dashboard at sodax.com to swap your ICX for SODA at a 1:1 ratio.
Next Steps: Maintenance Mode and Migration to SODAX
By April the ICON Blockchain can be expected to be in ‘maintenance mode’, with consensus and block production handled by a core group of 7 Foundation nodes. Rewards for staking ICX on the network will cease and the current economic activity of the ICON Network will begin its transition to the SODAX infrastructure.
The SODAX team is now in the final stages of development for SODAX Staking and Savings applications. The release of these applications is targeted to align with the ICON Network’s economic shutdown, allowing ICX to be promptly migrated to SODA with live use cases. Newly migrated SODA at this point will be available to:
Stake through the SODAX Stake app for Staking rewards.
Supply to the SODAX Money Market through the SODAX Save app, earning yield in the SODA/xSODA liquidity pool.
What This Means for You
Our goal is to make this transition feel like a natural evolution rather than a disruption. By sunsetting the high costs of maintaining an independent Layer 1, efforts are now redirected toward fee-generating DeFi applications that bring direct value to the system.
Thank you to all validators for your years of service in securing the ICON Network, and on throughout this transition.
While the network is winding down its economic activity, all network participants can be assured that their ICX remains safe. The ICON blockchain will stay live and migration to SODA will remain two-way until further notice. Once SODA staking is live, one-way migration will ensure that value is concentrated into a single token with a fixed max supply of 1.5 billion.