Acala and Karura Propose Feb. 10, 2027, Network Shutdowns

Acala and Karura have proposed ending block production on Feb. 10, 2027, subject to governance votes, setting a withdrawal deadline for users holding external assets on the two Polkadot ecosystem networks.

Acala is a Polkadot parachain, while Karura is its counterpart on Kusama. Voting on the shutdown proposals began Nov. 9.

Users are being asked to withdraw external assets, including Polkadot (DOT), Kusama (KSM), Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC), before the proposed shutdown date. Acala’s native ACA token and Karura’s native KAR token cannot be withdrawn and would remain on their respective chains.

Acala’s proposal sets earlier deadlines for LDOT holders. Those with LDOT locked to specific validators must unlock it by Dec. 16, 2026. LDOT holders must request unstaking by Jan. 12, 2027.

Acala’s plan schedules an attempt to return remaining external assets on Feb. 10, before Acala stops producing blocks. Its proposal says the liquidity the network needed never arrived and that Polkadot’s multichain structure divided users and liquidity among parachains.