On the 2nd of September, from 4:23 am to 6:36 am, Starknet experienced a complete network outage, halting block production and preventing onchain transactions. The team had to reorganize the chain from block 1,960,612, erasing an hour of activity.
Starknet, An Ethereum Layer 2 Network Abruptly Frozen
Early Tuesday morning, Starknet experienced a full network stoppage. No blocks were produced, and no onchain transactions went through. Users of the ZK-rollup based Layer 2 were stranded, unable to interact with the blockchain.
A Progressive Recovery but Tense Situation
Shortly after, the Starknet team announced the resumption of block production. Most RPC providers were back up, while nodes continued to update to stabilize the network. A bold decision was made: a chain reorganization starting from block 1,960,612, wiping out nearly an hour of activity. Transactions sent during the outage will need to be resubmitted.
A Rare yet Significant Technical Incident
This outage is surprising as Starknet had shown impeccable availability until now. Data from QuickNode revealed only a brief 15-minute incident in July, with the last similar outage dating back to April 2024. At that time, a rounding error in the code had already caused several hours of reorganization. In other words, two major incidents in seventeen months: a low ratio, but a reminder of the potential fragility of booming blockchains.
Starknet, a Key Player in the Ethereum Ecosystem
To grasp the importance of the incident, one must understand the role of Starknet. This Layer 2 aggregates off-chain transactions then sends cryptographic proofs to Ethereum. The result: reduced fees and increased capacity, all while benefiting from the original network’s security. In short, it is one of the building blocks to help Ethereum compete in speed with centralized solutions.
An Outage at the Wrong Time?
This outage comes as Starknet rolls out new strategic initiatives. Among them, a recently approved measure granting limited influence to bitcoin stakers in its consensus mechanism. Another project: the development of the SN Stack, a software suite designed to help projects create their own appchains. These advancements aim to establish Starknet as a leader in the ZK wave.
High Expectations Surrounding the Incident Report
The team has promised a comprehensive analysis with timelines, root causes, and preventive measures. Investors, developers, and users will await this report, as every technical flaw can impact the credibility of a Layer 2 expected to offer a smooth and secure experience. In a context where the ZK-rollup battle is intensifying, Starknet cannot afford to have multiple outages.
