WTF is Madhugiri Hardfork? The Madhugiri Hardfork is a major protocol upgrade on the @0xPolygon PoS mainnet, activated at block 80,084,800 around 10:00 UTC, December 9, 2025. It introduces key performance, security and cross-chain improvements that strengthen Polygon’s infrastructure for high-volume applications. This upgrade is powered by PIP-74, PIP-75, and three Ethereum “Fusaka” EIPs; EIP-7823, 7825 and 7883, all focused on optimizing gas usage and preventing network overload. What Changed? ▪️ +33% Higher Throughput Block gas limit increased from 45M to 60M, allowing more transactions per block. ▪️ 1-Second Block Finality Blocks no longer wait for a fixed 2-second delay. They are published immediately when ready, improving UX across all dApps. ▪️ New Bridge Transaction Type A dedicated format for cross-chain traffic (Ethereum ⇄ Polygon) makes bridging faster and more reliable. ▪️ Future-Ready Upgrade Design Many parameters are now configurable, meaning future performance boosts may not require another hardfork. ▪️ Better Security & Resource Management The new EIPs cap gas usage for heavy computations, reducing risks like network overload or denial-of-service attacks. Strategic Benefits ▪️ Supports High-Frequency Apps: Stablecoins, payments, gaming and RWAs now run more efficiently. ▪️ Enterprise-Friendly: Higher speed and predictability make Polygon more attractive for institutional deployments. ▪️ Less Congestion: More transactions per block + faster finality = a smoother user experience across peak periods. ▪️ Developer Advantage: Builders can now scale dApps without worrying about block limits or latency bottlenecks. Real Example: A Stablecoin Payment dApp Before Madhugiri: Large payment batches could hit gas-limit boundaries, causing processing delays, especially during high traffic. After Madhugiri: ▪️ Because block gas limit increased, more of those payment transactions can be batched into a single block, meaning fewer delays even under high load. ▪️ The 1-second block consensus means payments confirm faster, improving user experience (less waiting for finality). ▪️ Cross-chain bridge operations (e.g. bridging stablecoin from Ethereum to Polygon) are now more efficient thanks to the new transaction format. Result: A stablecoin app can serve thousands of users with near-instant confirmations, similar to traditional payment rails but with blockchain transparency. Broader Significance & What’s Ahead Madhugiri isn’t just an upgrade; it’s a signal. @0xPolygon is positioning itself for: ▪️ Large-scale stablecoin adoption ▪️ Enterprise-grade applications ▪️ Tokenized real-world assets ▪️ High-volume, production-ready dApps And because the upgrade introduces adjustable parameters, future scaling improvements can be rolled out more easily and more frequently.