Timothy Morano
Feb 20, 2026 16:37
Celestia’s Hibiscus improve provides zero-knowledge proof verification and single-signature transfers by way of Hyperlane, concentrating on mid-March mainnet launch.
Celestia’s seventh main improve, dubbed Hibiscus, will hit mainnet in mid-March with two vital interoperability options: zero-knowledge proof verification for cross-chain messages and streamlined single-signature token transfers by means of Hyperlane integration.
The improve is already stay on Celestia’s arabica testnet, with mocha testnet deployment imminent.
What Hibiscus Really Adjustments
The headline function is CIP-46, a ZK Interchain Safety Module that lets networks confirm cross-chain messages utilizing cryptographic proofs as a substitute of trusted multisig validators. The module makes use of Groth16 verification and helps SP1 prover applications, with plans so as to add different ZKVMs like Risc0.
For top-value transfers, this issues. Multisigs are quick however require trusting a committee. The ZK choice trades velocity for mathematical certainty—greater latency and proof technology prices, however no belief assumptions past the cryptography itself.
CIP-45 tackles a unique friction level: multi-hop token transfers. At the moment, transferring tokens by means of Celestia to a different chain requires a number of signatures. The brand new forwarding module creates deterministic addresses that cryptographically bind to particular locations. Ship tokens there, and permissionless relayers deal with the remainder. Consider it as bringing IBC’s Packet Ahead Middleware comfort to Hyperlane routes.
Validator Economics Get an Overhaul
Much less flashy however doubtlessly extra consequential for community safety: CIP-44 raises the utmost validator fee from 25% to 60% and bumps the minimal from 10% to twenty%. Validators at the moment under 20% shall be robotically migrated through the improve.
The rationale ties again to Celestia’s earlier improve, which decreased protocol inflation. Decrease inflation means validators want different income sources to remain worthwhile. Wider fee bands give them flexibility to seek out sustainable enterprise fashions with out racing to the underside on charges.
Node Operators Get Aid
Consensus nodes can now prune blocks extra aggressively—down to three,000 blocks (roughly 5 hours) from the earlier 14-day minimal. That is a significant discount in storage necessities for operators who do not want historic information.
Timeline and Buying and selling Implications
With arabica stay and mocha upgrading now, the mid-March mainnet goal appears achievable. The improve positions Celestia extra competitively towards different information availability layers by addressing an actual criticism: that sovereign rollups on Celestia have traditionally felt disconnected from one another.
Whether or not the ZK ISM sees significant adoption depends upon demand from high-value functions prepared to just accept the latency tradeoff. The forwarding module ought to see sooner uptake—it is pure UX enchancment with no downsides for traditional transfers.
Groups constructing on Celestia ought to take a look at integrations on mocha earlier than mainnet deployment. These operating validators have to evaluation fee settings earlier than the automated migration kicks in.
Picture supply: Shutterstock