By Self Chain — Apr 18, 2025

Validator Upgrade Guide: Self Chain MainNet v2 CosmWasm Activation

Hello Validators and Node Operators,

The Self Chain community has officially approved the governance proposal for the Mainnet v2 upgrade, enabling CosmWasm smart contracts at block height #4,805,959 (estimated April 18, 2025, ~11:08:09 UTC).

This blog provides clear, detailed instructions to ensure a smooth validator node upgrade.

📌 Upgrade Overview

Target Upgrade Block Height: #4,805,959
Estimated Upgrade Time: April 18, 2025, ~11:08:09 UTC
Required Binary: mainnet-v2.0.0 (CosmWasm enabled)

At block height #4,805,959, Self Chain will halt to execute the upgrade. Validators must promptly upgrade to participate in consensus.

⏰ Upgrade Timeline

Milestone	Scheduled Date & Time (UTC)
🟢 Governance Proposal Passed	Completed
📥 Binary Availability	Available Now
⛓️ Chain Halt at Block #4,805,959	April 18, 2025 (~11:08:09 UTC)
🚀 Node Restart (CosmWasm Active)	Immediately After Halt (April 18, 2025)

Step-by-Step Validator Upgrade Instructions

Carefully follow each step below to upgrade your node seamlessly.

📥 Step 1: Download the Official Binary

Official Binary Downloads:

Linux AMD64: selfchaind-linux-amd64
Linux ARM64: selfchaind-linux-arm64
macOS AMD64: selfchaind-darwin-amd64
macOS AMD64: selfchaind-darwin-arm64

🔐 Step 2: Verify Binary Integrity (Checksum Verification)

Ensure the downloaded binary's integrity by verifying its checksum:

SHA256 Checksums:

Binary File	SHA256 Checksum
`selfchaind-linux-amd64`	`711c4b6af77bd6da4bf5aac7c1cc83179d9d213da9f99a48fc2754ddb073b6cc`
`selfchaind-linux-arm64`	`0ae04d58fe62b9496cc24a31dfba7a6eaf567a1f549f6018338891f8d39f9534`
`selfchaind-darwin-amd64`	`a599c6377ad15563b09240f1282e6382cd8c08e5375047b900dbaaa99fdd7146`
`selfchaind-darwin-arm64`	`6b2adf70246ee9d868c0cbfb336d5167f52d41ad26f5b91e006a2a9708482b30`

Use this command to verify:

sha256sum selfchaind-linux-amd64

Match the output exactly to the checksum provided above.

🔑 Step 3: Optional - PGP Signature Verification

If desired, validators can further verify authenticity using the official PGP signature:

gpg --verify selfchaind-mainnet-v2.0.0-linux-amd64.tar.gz.asc selfchaind-mainnet-v2.0.0-linux-amd64.tar.gz

Official public PGP key: Link to official PGP key

⚠️ Step 4: Back Up Validator Data

Prior to the upgrade, securely back up your validator private keys, configuration, and critical data.

🛑 Step 5: Stop Your Validator Node

At block #4,805,959 (~11:08:09 UTC, April 18):

Gracefully stop your existing node:

sudo systemctl stop selfchaind

Ensure your validator has fully stopped.

🔄 Step 6: Replace Binary and Restart Node

Replace your current binary with the new verified binary:

Backup old binary and place new binary into your system’s binary path.
Ensure correct permissions.

Restart your validator node immediately after binary replacement:

sudo systemctl start selfchaind

🛠️ Step 7: Verify Your Node’s Status

Monitor logs to ensure the validator restarts correctly and rejoins consensus:

journalctl -u selfchaind -f

Confirm your node:

Syncs new blocks normally
Actively participates in consensus
Runs with no critical errors

Check validator status on Mintscan Self Chain Explorer.

🌟 Step 8: Cosmovisor (Recommended Setup)

For validators using Cosmovisor, set up the upgrade directory:

mkdir -p ~/.selfchain/cosmovisor/upgrades/v2/bin
cp /path/to/selfchaind-mainnet-v2.0.0 ~/.selfchain/cosmovisor/upgrades/v2/bin/selfchaind

Cosmovisor will handle the restart automatically at the upgrade height.

📋 Final Validator Pre-Upgrade Checklist

Complete this checklist before upgrade day:

[ ] Official binary downloaded and checksum verified.
[ ] Optional: PGP signature verified.
[ ] Node data backed up securely.
[ ] Cosmovisor (if used) properly set up.
[ ] Node monitoring in place.
[ ] Prepared to restart node promptly after block #4,805,959.

🖥️ Recommended System Requirements

Ensure your validator meets the minimum recommended specifications:

CPU: 4 cores minimum
RAM: 16 GB minimum
Storage: SSD with at least 500 GB available
Operating System: Linux (Ubuntu recommended)
Ports: Ensure necessary ports (26656, 26657, etc.) remain open.

🛡️ Rollback & Contingency

In the unlikely event of issues:

Pause your node operations.
Immediately reach out via the Self Chain Discord #validator-support channel.
Follow official team guidance for rollback procedures if necessary.

🙋‍♂️ Support & Resources

Need assistance? Connect with the Self Chain team:

Discord Validator Support: Link to Discord
Documentation: Link to Official Docs
Mintscan Explorer: Self Chain on Mintscan

Our team will be actively supporting validators throughout the entire upgrade.