✨ Chiliz activates Snake8: stake‑weighted blocks with safeguards
posted 14 Oct 2025
On October 14, 2025, at 11:00 CEST, Chiliz activates the Snake8 hard fork. The upgrade replaces equal‑share block production with a lottery‑like draw weighted by stake that enforces a minimum selection frequency to keep smaller validators in rotation. Nodes that don’t upgrade will stop producing blocks.
Previously, every validator received roughly the same number of blocks (a validator = a node that can produce blocks; delegators = token holders who back a validator with stake). Under Snake8, a validator’s chance to produce a block matches its share of staked CHZ (a weighted lottery). To avoid starving smaller operators, the protocol enforces a guaranteed minimum share so small validators don’t get skipped, then rebalances all shares so the total remains 100%. In plain terms: a small part is shared evenly, and the rest depends on stake weight.
The team frames the change as a push for fairer competition and clearer incentives. “Your stake matters more than ever,” Chiliz tells delegators, stressing that validator reliability and transparency should guide delegation decisions. Validators must upgrade before activation. If they don’t, they won’t produce blocks or earn rewards.
Community reactions focus on returns (annualized return, APR). Contributors note that, with equal turns gone, larger validators should see a higher block frequency and potentially firmer APRs, while smaller pools may earn less – though the minimum keeps them active. APRs vary by operator and fee, and can be higher in some periods. Real numbers will settle after the fork. Validator fees reduce delegators’ net APR.
Snake8 reshapes staking economics on the Chiliz Chain. For CHZ holders, delegation choice will matter more for returns. Delegators gain more direct influence over yield via validator choice; operators compete harder on uptime, fees, and communication. The net effect could be a narrower, more predictable APR range, tilting toward well‑run validators with sizable stake and reasonable commissions.
The next days will show how blocks and rewards redistribute. If larger validators sustain high uptime and attract more CHZ, APRs may cluster. If competition and fee adjustments intensify, mid‑tier pools could retain share and keep the network balanced. Delegators should check APRs and validator uptime over the first 3–10 days after the fork.
