Algorand v5.0.0 reaches 90% node approval in under four days, and the Foundation launches AC2 for AI agent approvals
Covered by 9 sources
The Algorand network completed its v5.0.0 protocol upgrade on mainnet in August 2026, introducing native post-quantum accounts, scalable transaction fees, and expanded capabilities for the Algorand Virtual Machine. The upgrade reached a 90% approval threshold from node runners in under four days, and is described by the Foundation as the largest protocol upgrade since the implementation of staking. Alongside the protocol release, the Algorand Foundation launched AC2 (Agentic Communication and Control), an open standard that governs how AI agents obtain human approval for actions.
AC2 replaces the pattern where a user types a confirmation into a chat window, which anyone holding a session token can reproduce. Under the protocol, each approval is a cryptographic signature performed on the user's own device, giving a verifiable record that cannot be forged or replayed. The system also manages API key exposure during an agent's runtime.
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Algorand Foundation open-sources AC2, a blockchain-agnostic protocol for verifiable agent approvals using WebAuthn and FIDO2
The Algorand Foundation has open-sourced AC2, a protocol designed to improve how autonomous agents handle approvals and credentials. The protocol uses WebAuthn and FIDO2 to ensure that signatures are generated on a user's device rather than within the agent's runtime, preventing credential theft if the agent's environment is compromised.
Covered by 3 sources