Hedera will upgrade its public testnet to services v0.68 today on Dec. 8 at 18:00 UTC. The work is expected to last about 40 minutes, and users may see temporary disruption to testnet services during that window. The upgrade affects the testnet network and individual nodes 0 through 6. Mainnet operations are not part of this update.
The v0.68 release is the latest step in a series of testnet deployments completed in recent weeks, including v0.68.2 and v0.68.3. The current changes prepare the network for a planned mainnet rollout on Dec. 10, where the same upgrades will be applied to production systems.
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Hedera’s Node Account IDs Become Updatable
Release notes for v0.68 show two core additions on the consensus node layer: Dynamic Address Book (HIP-1299) and generalized scheduled contract calls (HIP-1215).
HIP-1299 allows node operators to update their node account IDs without removing or redeploying network entries. In earlier versions, node IDs were treated as fixed, which meant changes to custody or account structure required more intrusive work. With v0.68, operators can adjust IDs while keeping the node entry active, and rewards remain mapped to the correct account.
HIP-1215 introduces on-chain scheduled contract calls. Developers can ask a smart contract to trigger a call at a defined time, with a chosen gas limit and a designated payer account. Previously, these actions required off-chain bots or additional user transactions. The new method uses the Hedera Schedule Service through a system contract, without changing transaction types or receipts.
Both features apply only to the Hiero consensus node software and do not require dApps to change their APIs or transaction formats.
No Breaking Changes for Applications
The Hedera team notes that the client-facing API remains the same, and the update does not alter transaction semantics. Developers are advised not to rely on static node account ID values, because IDs can now change at the operator level. Existing deployments continue to function, but infrastructure tools and monitoring systems may update their assumptions around node identity.
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The update also includes internal improvements to block synchronization and network handling. These changes are part of the v0.68 branch moving through previewnet, testnet, and then mainnet on a standard release cycle.
The Dec. 8 window is classified as scheduled maintenance. The notice says the work may interrupt testnet activity while nodes switch to the new version. After deployment, nodes will run services v0.68.3, matching the builds used in earlier testnet runs.
Alongside the v0.68 rollout, Hedera has posted a separate change for January 25, 2026, when the price for ConsensusSubmitMessage transactions will move from $0.0001 to $0.0008 under the v0.69 release. That pricing change is not part of the December 8 update, but appears in the same release calendar.
The v0.68 upgrade continues Hedera’s pattern of releasing new software on the testnet before a mainnet cutover. The sequence gives developers time to adjust infrastructure and verify expected behavior without altering application code.
The release follows recent network activity, including the milestone of more than 9 million Hedera accounts on the mainnet and additional institutional access channels for HBAR through regulated custody and ETF products. These developments sit outside the scope of the upgrade but contribute to overall network usage as the software moves into production.
