Starknet v0.13.4 Upgrade Launched on Testnet

Starknet has officially launched its v0.13.4 upgrade on the testnet, introducing significant improvements in performance, fees, and developer experience. This update marks a major milestone in Starknet’s ongoing efforts to enhance scalability and operational efficiency. Officials shared this announcement via their official X account.

> Starknet v0.13.4 is now live on Starknet Testnet!
>
> This new version introduces major optimizations, including:
> – Cairo-Native for faster smart contract execution (and lower fees over time)
> – L2 gas for more accurate transaction fees
> – Stateful compression to reduce storage costs… pic.twitter.com/iqbVxSohxq
> — Starknet 🐺🐱 (@Starknet) February 27, 2025

Enhancements to Smart Contract Speed with Cairo-Native

The key update in version v0.13.4 is the implementation of Cairo-Native, which accelerates smart contract execution. The new features aim to lower transaction costs, leading to a more economical user experience. The L2 gas mechanism ensures accurate fee calculation, allowing for better financial transparency.

Stateful compression is a major addition that reduces storage costs, contributing to lower fees available to users. Additionally, Starknet has enhanced developer experience (DevX), enabling developers to work more efficiently on the platform.

Currently, this software functionality is live on the testnet, with plans for mainnet implementation scheduled between March 17 and March 24. Real-world users will soon access the optimized benefits through actual transactions.

Future Updates: Mempool and Fee Market in Q2 2025

Starknet has ambitious expansion plans for 2025 that go beyond version v0.13.4. The upcoming v0.14.0 update, slated for Q2 2025, will introduce a two-second block processing time, a mempool system, and a refined fee structure alongside distributed sequencer oversight. These upgrades aim to enhance three critical performance factors: accelerating transactions, improving network reliability, and boosting overall system efficiency.

Starknet’s continuous developments position it as a leading Layer 2 solution, enhancing transaction speed while keeping costs low and promoting decentralization for both users and developers.