The rollout of version 3.2.0 server software is gaining traction on the XRP Ledger network, a move aimed at reducing operational costs and boosting stability for enterprise use cases. Yet, despite the increased adoption of the new version, most nodes across the network are still running the older v3.1.3 release. The real deciding factor for network upgrades remains the choices made by validators, rather than the sheer number of upgraded nodes.
Threshold crossed among validators
According to XRPSCAN data, there are approximately 833 active nodes on the XRP Ledger network. While about 43 percent of these nodes have migrated to v3.2.0, 51 percent still operate on v3.1.3. Nevertheless, an impressive 31 out of 35 validators on the default Unique Node List (UNL) have already upgraded to v3.2.0, representing a substantial 89 percent adoption rate among this crucial group.
The Unique Node List, often abbreviated as UNL, designates the trusted set of validators the XRP Ledger relies on for consensus. For any new software version or protocol amendment to go live, over 80 percent of these validators must continuously support the change for two straight weeks.
Whether or not an upgrade is completed on the XRP Ledger is determined not by the total node count, but by support among validators on the default UNL.
This situation indicates that even if the broader network is slower to adopt the new update, the entities with decision-making authority are largely on board. Thus, while the required technical threshold has been surpassed, sustained support over the designated period is still necessary to finalize the upgrade process.
| Metric | v3.2.0 | v3.1.3 |
|---|---|---|
| Active network nodes | 43% | 51% |
| Default UNL validators | 31/35, approx. 89% | 4/35 |
| Activation threshold | 80% | Below threshold |
Security amendment gets a separate vote
A related change known as fixCleanup3_2_0, which comes with the v3.2.0 package, is currently being voted on separately via on-chain governance. This proposal brings a collection of security improvements and bug fixes focused on newer features like single-asset escrows, permissioned decentralized exchanges, multipurpose tokens, and the network’s lending protocol.
Mini glossary: The UNL is the trusted list of validators that serve as the reference for transaction approval on the XRP Ledger. MPT refers to a token standard developed on the XRP Ledger that supports multiple use cases.
The lending protocol stands out by enabling users to secure loans against pooled funds directly on-chain. The fixCleanup3_2_0 update also introduces internal controls to prevent deleted accounts from leaving behind residual data.
Upgrading a validator to the new software is not the same as approving the fixCleanup3_2_0 amendment—the adoption rate for the software is higher than that for the amendment itself.
Ripple votes in support of the amendment
Ripple, the payments firm founded by the creators of the XRP Ledger, cast its vote in favor of the fixCleanup3_2_0 amendment. Despite this high-profile backing, support for the amendment still trails behind the level of adoption seen for the v3.2.0 software upgrade.
Once the amendment is activated, any validators that fail to upgrade could find themselves classified as amendment blocked by the network. In this scenario, these validators risk losing access to the distributed ledger entirely.
