Core DAO Prepares Emergency Hard Fork for Rewards Issue

Core DAO is preparing an emergency hard fork to address an incident where a small group of validators improperly claimed more network rewards than the protocol intended. The network announced on September 1, 2026, that the issue has been contained, preventing further excess reward claims, and that user assets remain safe. The problem, disclosed on August 31, 2026, stemmed from a flaw in the protocol's reward calculation and distribution mechanism. This allowed certain validators to accrue rewards above the designed issuance rate, impacting the network's monetary policy. Core DAO has stated that the incident was limited to reward issuance and did not affect network security or the custody of user assets. In response, Core DAO is coordinating an emergency hard fork with validators. This upgrade is designed as a "forward upgrade," meaning it will implement permanent fixes and reinforce containment measures without reversing previously confirmed transactions. The network has not disclosed the exact amount of excess CORE issued, the duration of the exploit, or whether any additional tokens entered circulation.