# Dev Update 14 September 2026

**URL:** <https://talk.neptune.cash/t/dev-update-14-september-2026/393>\
**Category:** News and Announcements\
**Created:** [September 14, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://talk.neptune.cash/t/dev-update-14-september-2026/393 "2026-09-14T18:04:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![aszepieniec](https://talk.neptune.cash/user_avatar/talk.neptune.cash/aszepieniec/32/5_2.png) [@aszepieniec](https://talk.neptune.cash/u/aszepieniec)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2026, 6:04pm UTC](https://talk.neptune.cash/t/dev-update-14-september-2026/393/1 "2026-09-14T18:04:22Z")

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## 1. Last Week by the Numbers

[neptune-core](https://github.com/Neptune-Crypto/neptune-core)  
Pull Requests: 2 opened, 6 merged  
Commits: 27 merged into master

## 2. Stand-up Summary

**Alan Szepieniec**  
Last Week: Help merge transaction chaining pull request. Outline the architecture for the DeFi module to support standing swap orders and user-defined tokens.  
Coming Week: Stand by, continue outlining DeFi architecture.

**Thorkil Værge**  
Last Week: Released Version 17 and merged Hard Fork Delta alongside transaction chaining pull requests. Closed entry points for network flooding attacks, resolved a fork choice rule bug causing block flickering. Verified the Test Net Zero transition at block height 540 via automated block data testing, resolved a peer ordering UI flickering bug by introducing deterministic tie-breaking sorting parameters, and upgraded owned nodes to Version 17.  
Coming Week: Lead a 6-to-8-week development focus on succinctness, draft the formal succinctness development plan, and prepare the Version 17.1 release to remove the Triton VM v7 dependency via pre-hard-fork block snapshots.

## 3. Technical Discussion

- **Hard Fork Delta & Transaction Chaining** : Hard Fork Delta modifies the single proof program to permit the consumption of unconfirmed unspent transaction outputs (UTXOs). This enables wallets and smart contracts to execute multiple state interactions within a single block. The feature was successfully verified on Test Net Zero at block height 540 using a test PR that downloads and validates block data from a test server.
- **Neptune Defi & User-Defined Tokens** : Architectural design began on the DeFi module to expand smart contract functionality. So far the module contains data structures for standing swap orders and user-defined tokens (exploring token standards such as NIP20), enabling atomic swaps between native Neptune coins (NPT) and custom tokens.
- **Networking & Stability Bug Fixes** : Patched entry points to protect against network flooding attacks and fixed a fork choice rule bug that caused short-run flickering between competing blocks. Resolved a client UI issue where updating peer standings with a half-life caused non-deterministic peer list sorting by adding secondary parameters to break ties deterministically.
- **Succinctness & Triton VM Architecture** : Core focus for the next 6 to 8 weeks shifts to succinctness. Succinctness has been officially scoped as a soft fork instead of hard fork. Any future modifications to Triton VM (utilizing STIR and FRI proof systems) will require hard forks.
- **Triton VM Dependency Removal** : Version 17.1 will remove the dependency on Triton VM v7 by creating a state snapshot of all blocks preceding the Hard Fork Delta.
- **Node Taxonomy** : Clarified node classification, concluding that wallet applications relying on external servers to verify block proofs do not meet the definition of light nodes due to a lack of direct multi-peer network connections.

## 4. Updates and Announcements

- **Version 17 Network Upgrade** : [Version 17](https://github.com/Neptune-Crypto/neptune-core/releases/tag/v0.17.0) has been officially released. All network participants and node operators **must** upgrade prior to the hard fork activation on the 24th of September to avoid network disconnection.