Mina Mesa Upgrade Breaks zkApp Keys and Pauses Transactions
Mina protocol's Mesa release invalidated existing zkApp verification keys, forcing an eight-hour halt and requiring on-chain key migrations for proof-authorized activity.
Mina's Mesa upgrade on September 3 altered protocol constants and circuit constraints, breaking verification keys for all deployed zkApps and halting proof-authorized transactions.
Transaction processing stopped at the 10:00 UTC slot and did not resume until the first Mesa slot at 18:00 UTC, an interval of roughly eight hours. Exchanges suspended MINA deposits and withdrawals from the cutoff slot onward.
Slot times were reduced from three minutes to 90 seconds, with zkApp transactions temporarily capped at 12 per block.
Migration requirements and open questions
Developers must recompile verification keys with o1js 3.0 and record the new keys on-chain before proof-authorized activity can resume. Signature authorization serves as a temporary fallback for affected accounts.
The exact number of impacted zkApps and any associated value remain unstated. No timeline has been provided for individual key updates or full restoration of proof-based permissions.