Stellar blockchain has introduced its latest upgrade, Protocol 23, also known as Whisk, which went live on September 3, 2025, following approval by public network validators. The new release represents a substantial shift in how the Stellar network operates, bringing in eight advancements that promise faster performance, lower costs, and a more efficient developer experience.
The upgrade marks the beginning of a new naming convention for Stellar protocols. After over a decade of 22 earlier iterations, the Stellar Development Foundation decided to adopt memorable names to simplify communication about milestones. Inspired by naming practices in other technology ecosystems, the team settled on everyday tools as its theme, with Whisk representing versatility, speed, and the ability to blend complex components into a unified result.
Key improvements in Whisk
At the heart of Whisk are two core enhancements designed to improve both network capacity and developer usability.
One of the most significant changes is the introduction of unified events. Previously, Stellar applications faced difficulties because operations on the network generated different types of data depending on whether they involved smart contracts or traditional functions. This separation required developers to maintain dual systems, complicating application design and data analysis. With Whisk, events across all operations now follow a standardized format, streamlining application development and reducing costs.
Equally impactful is the adoption of parallel transaction processing. Earlier versions of Stellar Core processed transactions sequentially, validating them one at a time in a strict order. Modern hardware, however, allows for simultaneous operations, and Whisk taps into this capability. The system can now validate one batch of transactions while preparing the next, cutting down cycle times. This shift increases throughput, reduces latency, and maintains low transaction fees even under heavy demand, making the network more scalable and future-ready.
The code is live. The network has shifted. @gttyson on why Whisk is the biggest upgrade to the Stellar network since smart contracts. pic.twitter.com/Ohv6uiYCIS
— Stellar (@StellarOrg) September 3, 2025
Additional upgrades beyond performance
Beyond the headline changes, Whisk incorporates several other adjustments aimed at strengthening the Stellar ecosystem. The update brings further fee reductions through improved memory use and optimized WebAssembly caching. It also introduces foundational work for state archival, a step toward long-term scalability, even though full implementation remains in progress.
Whisk is LIVE.
✔ Parallel smart contract execution
✔ Memory-first state management
✔ Unified event format#BetterOnStellar pic.twitter.com/b72u1ac0sk— Stellar (@StellarOrg) September 3, 2025
Another feature of the upgrade is configurable network parameters, which give validators the flexibility to fine-tune timing for Stellar Consensus Protocol operations. This flexibility could shorten ledger closing times, further enhancing speed and efficiency.
Stellar is built different.
Whisk (Protocol 23) rewires the network for parallel execution, lower latency, and cleaner dev tools.
On Sept 4 @ 9am PST/12pm EST, hear directly from the engineers behind the upgrade. #BetterOnStellarhttps://t.co/Gp74swRR3I pic.twitter.com/4OY9QqCPyw
— Stellar (@StellarOrg) September 2, 2025
Collectively, these changes provide both immediate improvements in user experience and foundational upgrades to support future growth.
Implications for developers and users
For developers, Whisk reduces friction in building on Stellar by simplifying data handling and ensuring applications remain functional during the transition. The unified events system in particular addresses a longstanding challenge, making it easier to design services ranging from wallets to analytics platforms.
For users, the benefits come in the form of quicker confirmations and lower fees. The parallel processing model ensures that the network can handle higher transaction volumes without performance degradation. Observers noted that as more assets, applications, and protocols integrate into Stellar, such upgrades are essential to sustain its role as a reliable and affordable blockchain network for everyday financial use cases.
The Stellar community emphasized that Protocol 23 is part of a continuous evolution. Future updates will build on this foundation, with new protocol names following in alphabetical order. After Whisk, the next upgrade will begin with the letter X, continuing a cycle of enhancements designed to ensure the network keeps pace with growing demand and real-world adoption.
