Polkadot Digest 22 Mar 2023

Polkadot News

Polkadot v0.9.38-rc12 has been released. This is a runtime-only release; node software does not need to be updated. https://github.com/paritytech/polkadot/releases/tag/v0.9.38-rc12

Referendum 111, proposing to adjust the nomination configuration in several ways, is passing with 99% in favor with 5 days left to vote. https://polkadot.polkassembly.io/referendum/111

The PR for OpenGov into Polkadot (and totally removing Gov1 from Kusama), has been merged. Note that this requires a runtime upgrades, which must be approved by DOT holders. https://twitter.com/Polkadot/status/1638217544573001743

Kusama News

Referendum 134, proposing to upgrade the Relay Chain to runtime 9381 and Statemine and Bridge Hub to runtime 9382, is now up for vote. https://kusama.polkassembly.io/referenda/134

A Fellowship Referendum to whitelist this call has also begun. https://kusama.subsquare.io/fellowship/referendum/32

To understand what the Fellowship is and how whitelisting works, see the Polkadot Wiki: https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-opengov#fellowship

With a little less than two days left in the current parachain lease auction, Khala has been in the lead the vast majority of blocks, but Aband has been in the lead for 0.11% of all blocks in the Ending Period. https://parachains.info/auctions/kusama

This means that depending on the ending block, either Khala or Aband could win this auction. For details, see https://wiki.polkadot.network/docs/learn-auction#mechanics-of-a-candle-auction