Acala Shutdown Referendum Proposes Ending the Network on February 10, 2027
The team says fragmented parachain capital and maintenance costs above returns led to the proposal, with a parallel vote open on Karura.
Key Takeaways
- The Acala team submitted Referendum #195 on November 11, 2026, opening the Acala shutdown referendum.
- If voters approve, Acala and Karura stop producing blocks on February 10, 2027.
- DOT, KSM and bridged USDT and USDC must be withdrawn before the shutdown date.
- Requests to unbond validator-linked LDOT are due before December 16, 2026.
The Acala shutdown referendum opened on November 11, 2026, when the team submitted on-chain proposal Acala Referendum #195 to end the Acala (ACA) network on Polkadot (DOT). Its sister chain Karura opened Karura Referendum #137 at the same time. If voters approve, both chains stop producing blocks on February 10, 2027.
What the Acala Shutdown Referendum Proposes
Launched in 2021, Acala was one of the first DeFi coins to win a Polkadot parachain slot. The referendum asks token holders to approve an orderly wind-down after seven years of operation. In a letter to the community, the team said the parachain architecture fragmented ecosystem capital across chains, left DeFi liquidity thin, and pushed node and network maintenance costs above the returns the network generated. The text of the vote is public as Acala Referendum #195.
Withdrawal Deadlines Before February 10, 2027
The shutdown plan sets staggered deadlines. DOT, KSM and bridge-connected USDT and USDC must move to other networks before February 10, 2027. ACA and KAR cannot leave over bridges and will remain on their network ledgers. Staking products follow an unbonding schedule: requests for bond-linked LDOT tied to specific validators are due before December 16, 2026, regular LDOT unbonding ends January 12, 2027, and LKSM unbonding ends February 2, 2027. Polkadot's standard unbonding period is 28 days.
Why the Team Wants Assets Cleared Early
The proposal says the early withdrawal window protects funds. After shutdown, the network code and history remain public, and unmaintained code can be exposed to governance exploits. Moving assets out before block production stops reduces that risk, the team says. Acala won the first Polkadot parachain auction in November 2021, drawing more than 81,000 crowdloan addresses and locking over 32.5 million DOT for a 96-week lease.
What Happens to Other Early Parachains
Acala is not alone. Moonbeam stopped producing blocks in July 2026, and other first-wave auction winners such as Parallel Finance and Clover have closed or changed direction, according to TechFlow. Voters can follow ACA through the vote on the Acala price chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Will Acala Shut Down?
If voters approve the referendum, Acala and Karura stop producing blocks on February 10, 2027.
What Is Acala Referendum #195?
Acala Referendum #195 is the on-chain vote opened on November 11, 2026 that proposes shutting down the Acala network. Karura opened Referendum #137 at the same time.
What Do Holders Need to Withdraw before the Acala Shutdown?
DOT, KSM and bridge-connected USDT and USDC must move to other networks before February 10, 2027. ACA and KAR cannot leave over bridges.
What Are the Acala Staking Unbonding Deadlines?
Requests for validator-linked LDOT are due before December 16, 2026. Regular LDOT unbonding ends January 12, 2027, and LKSM unbonding ends February 2, 2027.
Why Is Acala Shutting Down?
The team says ecosystem capital was fragmented across parachains, DeFi liquidity was thin, and node maintenance cost more than the network earned.
Sources
- Acala letter to the community on the proposed shutdown · Acala Network
- Acala Referendum #195 · Acala Governance
- Acala and Karura Plan to Terminate Chains Next February · TechFlow
- Prices and market data · Coinranking
