IOTA Rebased Mainnet Upgrade

Event Details

The IOTA Rebased upgrade, launching May 5, 2025, is a complete overhaul of the IOTA network, shifting from the Stardust framework to a new layer-1 built with MoveVM and EVM support. Key features include full decentralization with up to 150 validators, scalability exceeding 50,000 TPS with sub-second finality, and staking rewards of 10–15% APY. The upgrade, executed in five stages—shutdown, genesis data creation, validator verification, genesis finalization, and network launch—requires no token migration, but users must reinitialize wallets using the new browser-based extension wallet. Exchanges may pause deposits and withdrawals briefly, though trading will continue uninterrupted. This upgrade positions IOTA as a leader in IoT and Web3, enhancing security and real-world adoption.

Recent News

IOTA has been on a roll. In December 2024, IOTA partnered with Gen Sol, a South Korean animation and gaming platform, boosting its price to a two-year high of $0.49. January 2025 saw the release of IOTA’s latest quarterly update and the launch of a Discord Builder server to engage developers. Voting for a growth initiative proposal also opened, signaling community-driven expansion. The IOTA Ecosystem DLT Foundation became the first DLT entity approved by Abu Dhabi regulators, reinforcing its global presence. These milestones highlight IOTA’s focus on real-world utility and institutional adoption.

Future Plans

IOTA’s roadmap is packed with innovation. Post-upgrade, the network will expand its validator count to 150, enhancing decentralization. Plans include deploying decentralized applications (dApps) leveraging the new infrastructure and integrating real-world asset tokenization, with a market valued at $342B in September 2024. IOTA aims to capitalize on IoT growth, projected to reach $1.6T by 2025, by powering micropayments and data transfers for connected devices. The Tangle Ecosystem Association will continue funding ecosystem projects, fostering developer and partner growth.

Onchain Data

As of April 2025, IOTA’s price is $0.2116, with a 24-hour trading volume of $20.1M and a market cap of ~$573.9M. The total supply is 4.6B IOTA, with 3.57B in circulation. Specific onchain metrics like TPS or wallet activity are unavailable via platforms like Dune Analytics or Glassnode, but the upgrade’s 50,000+ TPS target suggests a massive leap in transaction capacity. Staking metrics post-upgrade are expected to reflect the 10–15% APY, potentially attracting more holders.

Community Sentiment

X posts buzz with excitement. Influencers like @DomSchiener call it “the most transformational upgrade in IOTA’s history,” highlighting MoveVM and real-world use cases. @CryptosBatman emphasizes the network’s speed, low fees, and burn mechanism, fueling bullish sentiment. However, some users caution about short-term price dips due to upgrade-related volatility. Overall, the community is optimistic, viewing IOTA as undervalued with 12x–30x upside potential compared to competitors like Sui.

Why It Matters

The Rebased upgrade makes IOTA a top contender in the layer-1 space, rivaling Ethereum and Solana with feeless transactions and IoT-focused scalability. Its unique Tangle technology and partnerships with giants like Dell and Jaguar position it for mass adoption. However, temporary exchange pauses and wallet transitions may cause minor disruptions.