Starknet v0.14.0 mainnet launch moved to August 18, STRK drops

• Starknet v0.14.0 mainnet launch delayed to August 18, 2025.
• The upgrade will add decentralisation, faster blocks, and EIP-1559 fees.
• STRK price has dropped over 11% in a week amid launch uncertainty and market pressure.

Starknet has officially postponed the mainnet launch of its highly anticipated v0.14.0 upgrade to August 18, 2025.

This marks a slight delay from the previously expected date of July 28, as confirmed by updated version notes on the Starknet ecosystem’s developer channels.

Despite the excitement surrounding this significant technical milestone, the network’s native token, STRK, has seen a noticeable dip in price, leaving traders and investors wondering about the broader implications.

Mainnet launch date adjusted again

Initially, Starknet had communicated through its official social media channels that v0.14.0 would go live on mainnet by July 28.

The testnet version had already been released by the end of June, signalling that the rollout was progressing on track.

However, the most recent update indicates that the mainnet deployment will now happen on August 18.

While no specific reasons were given for the delay, industry observers suggest it could be part of additional testing or stability enhancements.

For a network transitioning to decentralised sequencing, getting things right is crucial.

Starknet’s move toward decentralisation isn’t just symbolic; it’s a foundational shift that alters how blocks are built, validated, and confirmed across the protocol.

Decentralisation takes centre stage in Starknet v0.14.0

Starknet v0.14.0 is being described by developers and community members alike as a technological leap forward.

One of its cornerstone upgrades is the introduction of distributed sequencers.

Instead of relying on a centralised block builder, three independent sequencers will now take turns producing blocks, reaching consensus through the Tendermint protocol.

This change not only enhances resilience but also aligns Starknet with the ethos of trustless systems.

Alongside decentralisation, the upgrade reduces block times dramatically, from about 30 seconds to just six seconds.

This makes Starknet significantly more competitive in the crowded Ethereum Layer 2 space, where fast and cheap transactions are increasingly non-negotiable for users and developers.

Beyond decentralisation and faster blocks, Starknet v0.14.0 brings several under-the-hood improvements aimed at creating a more robust and efficient ecosystem.

It introduces a new fee market based on Ethereum’s EIP-1559 model, providing more predictability in transaction costs.

V0.14.0 will also support pre-confirmed transactions, which should drastically improve the user experience for DeFi apps by reducing confirmation uncertainty.

The STRK token price slides

Although the technology is improving, STRK has struggled in the market.

Over the past 24 hours, the token dropped by 2.6% to $0.1322, with a 7-day loss of 11.7%.

This decline coincides with uncertainty around the launch timeline and broader bearish sentiment in the crypto market.

On-chain data shows STRK is now down 75% from its all-time high of $4.41 reached in February 2024.

However, the drop in price may not entirely reflect the strength of the network upgrade.

Historically, major protocol improvements tend to spark renewed investor interest after the upgrade successfully goes live.

If the launch on August 18 proceeds smoothly, a shift in sentiment could follow shortly after.