Stellar Transitions to New Address Structure with Bell Update

Stellar has announced Protocol 30, referred to as the Bell update. The update aims to facilitate integration with major financial technology platforms and custodial service providers. A new address format will be implemented, ledger timing will be upgraded to millisecond precision, and support for post-quantum encryption standards will be added. The distribution of stable infrastructure and SDK versions began between October 16 and October 23, 2026. The final validator vote will take place on November 23. Individual XLM holders will not need to take any additional action. The hard fork process will proceed as normal. The Bell update centers around three technical adjustments. W addresses will support a multi-signature structure for smart contracts. The network clock will operate on a millisecond basis, and the ML DSA post-quantum signature standard will be integrated into Stellar Core. The transition process will not be optional; nodes and wallet providers must comply with the new protocol. Parties that do not complete the update will be unable to read new blocks after November 23. The simplification of the custody model with W addresses may reduce operational costs for financial technology companies. Quantum resilience and faster transaction infrastructure are among the requirements for the tokenization of real-world assets. The Bell update aims to enhance Stellar's capacity for institutional use.

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