ORBITAL ALCHEMISTS / JACKAL CHAIN WORK
Return of the Jackal.
Jackal is a decentralised file storage protocol worth saving but it needs work. Orbital Alchemists is upgrading the chain's core software and reopening the conversation with its community.
This is a hub page for status updates, a proposed roadmap, and real ways to help.
Live Status
Where Things Stand
edited by Si, so sometimes a few days behind
Last updated: 17 Oct 2026
Assessment done, upgrade begun. Nothing has touched the live chain and nothing will until the new build is proven. No hard reset by design, so balances, staked JKL, names and chain history all carry over.
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Done 10 Oct 2026
Note to the Jackal community published
Where the initiative came from, and why.
Read the note -
Done 16 Oct 2026
Upgrade-path assessment complete
Written up in full: method, results, and what we're deliberately not claiming yet.
Read the assessment -
In progress
Upgrading the chain to a modern stack
Under way now. First a minimal working build, then we rerun every test from the assessment against it.
now · the roadmap picks up below
Proposed Roadmap
What We're Working Towards
potential milestones, for discussion
Finished work lives in the status section above. This is what comes next - statuses refreshed with each update, dates only when a real, agreed target exists.
Phase 1 — Prove the upgrade path
Technical groundwork on the chain binaries.
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In progress
Working build of the node on the modern stack
Done when a reproducible build on SDK v0.47, IBC v7 and wasmd v0.46 passes the full test matrix, with the results published either way.
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Proposed · Input welcome
Public testnet rehearsal with the upgraded binaries
Validators run the new build on a testnet, including the state-export boundary, before any mainnet coordination.
Phase 2 — Coordinate the upgrade
Transitioning the live chain, together.
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Proposed · Input welcome
On-chain upgrade proposal with the validator set
A coordinated upgrade only happens if the validators agree. Nothing happens without them.
Phase 3 — Rebuild the ecosystem
Making the network useful again, and keeping it that way.
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Proposed
Tooling compatibility review
Check explorers, wallets, bridges, relayers and client SDKs such as jackal.js against the modernised binaries.
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Proposed
Storage that ordinary people can use
Apps and providers building again is step one. Step two is a UI where buying storage and moving a file doesn't take expert-level knowledge of how the chain fits together.
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Proposed
Economics and governance for the long haul
Validator economics and governance that keep the chain healthy after the upgrade, so maintenance mode doesn't repeat.
Get Involved
Run the testnet
At some point soon we'll need validators willing to run the upgraded build. When it's ready, the instructions will appear here first. Every extra node is appreciated.
Check our work
The upgrade assessment and chain source will all be public soon enough. If you think we've got something wrong, say so.
Lend a hand
Docs, moderation, design, testing. A comeback needs more than code. If you want to pitch in ... let's chat.
None of this happens without you.
so ... those are a few ways in.
Legacy Working Links
Resources
the original community links — several likely to change soon
Code & Nodes
Some of this will move as the upgrade work finds a home — we'll keep the list current.
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Canine Chain (node binary)
GitHub
The live chain's source today — SDK v0.45 and Tendermint v0.34.
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Jackal Labs on GitHub
GitHub
All official repos: providers, SDKs and tooling.
Official Jackal
The original official links from Jackal's own site. Kept as-is for now; we'll update anything that moves.
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Jackal Protocol website
Website
The official site and entry point.
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Jackal Dashboard
Dashboard
Delegations, validators and network stats.
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Documentation
Docs
Protocol, node and storage provider docs.
Discussion
The original community rooms — none of them run by us.
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Discord
Chat
The official Jackal community server.
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Telegram
Chat
Official Telegram group.
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Orbital Alchemists on X
Social
Announcements and replies — or use the form below.
Understanding Jackal
Jackal Chain Upgrade Assessment
The full technical detail: the old chain proven to give the same result twice over, the fee rules for storage messages measured, and Jackal's code already building on modern tools.
Can Jackal Be Resurrected Sustainably?
Bringing a chain back from maintenance mode is not just a matter of getting the software to compile and the validators to sign blocks.
Understanding Jackal's Filetree
When people hear that Jackal is a 'blockchain for file storage', it's natural to assume the chain itself is holding files. It isn't.
Background on the chain and this initiative.
Our Starting Point
Not New to This
a year on the chain already
Orbital Alchemists has run a Jackal validator for over a year. We've seen what the chain can potentially do, and we've watched it drift into maintenance mode. So we're not outsiders, we're validators who love the chain and think it needs our extended support ... and out of respect for what the Jackal team already built. One thing to be clear about: we don't hold the keys to Jackal's official channels. The original team built a great codebase and then stepped back, and whether they (and the larger community) want us anywhere near the microphone is entirely their call. Until that's settled, this page and our blog are where you'll find our Jackal updates.
More from Orbital Alchemists
Simon Challinor - A Journey into the Roots of Decentralisation
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When Technology Stops Being Optional
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Introducing the philosophy behind TextRoots and the vision for a Personal Content Operating System
The thinking behind everything above.
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