Key Developments
On November 19, 2025, Avalanche's Granite mainnet upgrade went live, a significant development announced by CEO Emin Gün Sirer. This upgrade is designed to facilitate enhanced interoperability through improved subnet capabilities.
This upgrade marks a pivotal moment for Avalanche, with the potential to drive increased institutional interest. Initial on-chain data have already indicated remarkable growth in subnet activity and total value locked.
Both Avalanche and Firo executed significant upgrades on November 19, 2025. The Avalanche Granite mainnet upgrade specifically enhances capabilities for subnets and aims to bolster institutional adoption. These upgrades are crucial for future compatibility and sustained network growth.
Avalanche's Granite upgrade enables new subnet functionalities and improved finality, as stated by CEO Emin Gün Sirer.
Firo's Privacy and Stability Enhancements
Concurrently, Firo underwent a hard fork, spearheaded by Reuben Yap. This fork introduces improved privacy features and enhances network stability, thereby boosting the platform's overall performance.
Immediate Network Impact
The immediate aftermath of these upgrades has seen increased activity across both networks. Avalanche's subnet creation experienced a notable rise of 15%. Furthermore, Firo's network hash rate saw an increase of 8% following their respective upgrade implementations. These enhancements collectively signal a clear positive trajectory for both platforms.
Financial and Market Implications
In terms of financial shifts, the Avalanche Foundation has introduced a new grant of $20 million specifically allocated to foster subnet development. Additionally, Hyperliquid's fee reductions are intended to encourage more market entries, promising potential market shifts that favor lower-cost trading options.
Anticipated Long-Term Impacts and Expert Opinions
Long-term impacts are anticipated across various sectors of the cryptocurrency landscape. Prominent figures such as Vitalik Buterin have acknowledged the strides made in interoperability, suggesting that these developments may lead to further cross-chain Decentralized Finance (DeFi) developments. These initiatives appear poised to transform the crypto landscape.
Vitalik Buterin, Co-Founder of Ethereum, remarked:
Avalanche’s Granite upgrade is a step forward for interoperability and subnet flexibility. Excited to see how this impacts cross-chain DeFi.
Experts predict that these advances could stimulate technological growth within the industry, aligning with historical trends where similar upgrades have led to boosts in network metrics. Historical data from comparable past improvements suggest potential increases in network utilization and Total Value Locked (TVL), thereby strengthening industry adoption and expanding use cases.

