XRP Ledger Upgrade Enters Final Phase Ahead of May 27 Deadline

The XRP Ledger is entering the final stage of its latest network upgrade, with the FixCleanup3_1_3 amendment officially scheduled to activate on May 27, 2026. Validators across the network are now being urged to upgrade to XRPL version 3.1.3 before the deadline to avoid service disruptions and amendment blocking issues.

According to XRPL validator operator Vet, around 40% of the network has already upgraded, while the remaining validators still have several days left to complete the process.

What the Upgrade Actually Fixes

The 3.1.3 update includes several backend fixes designed to improve XRPL reliability across NFTs, lending, vault systems, and permissioned domains.

One of the biggest changes is automatic cleanup for expired NFT offers, which should reduce unnecessary ledger clutter. The update also properly enforces trust line token limits during vault withdrawals and fixes accounting issues where loan positions previously failed to update correctly after becoming impaired or defaulted.

Developers say the goal of the amendment is not flashy new features, but making the XRP Ledger stronger and more stable under the hood.

Hard Fork Debate Sparks Community Reactions

The upgrade discussion became controversial after crypto analyst ScamDaddy claimed the XRPL could effectively face a hard fork if a large portion of validators failed to update in time.

In a viral post, he argued that with only 40% of validators currently upgraded, nearly 60% of the network could temporarily split away from the updated chain.

However, several XRP community members strongly disagreed with the claim. One user explained that XRPL amendments require an 80% validator approval threshold before activation, meaning consensus had already been reached long before the final software update window began.

Confusion Around XRPL Voting System

The debate also shifted toward how XRPL governance actually works. ScamDaddy argued the network operates with a “default yes” voting system, while community members responded that validators default to “no” unless they actively approve amendments.

Supporters of the upgrade also pointed out that XRPL’s amendment structure is specifically designed to reduce contentious hard forks compared to networks like Bitcoin.

For now, exchanges, NFT marketplaces, DEX interfaces, and node operators connected to the XRP Ledger are continuing preparations ahead of the May 27 activation deadline.