Sei Labs: SIP-3 upgrade due mid‑year, paving way for Sei Giga and full EVM migration
Sei Labs co‑founder Jay announced that the SIP‑3 upgrade for the Sei network is expected to complete by mid‑year. SIP‑3 is described as the final technical hurdle before the broader Sei Giga upgrade. The SIP‑3 change will remove Sei’s dual architecture (EVM + Cosmos) and convert the network to a pure EVM chain, which requires deleting hundreds of thousands of lines of code. Once SIP‑3 is implemented, only EVM addresses will be able to initiate transactions. The team aims to finish the EVM migration by mid‑2026, after which focus will shift to launching Sei Giga. The update signals a major protocol-level overhaul with potential implications for developer tooling, address formats, and dApp compatibility.
Neutral
The announcement is largely technical and roadmap‑focused rather than signaling immediate tokenomics changes or new partnerships, so short‑term market reaction is likely muted. Migration to a pure EVM chain can improve developer adoption, tooling and interoperability with Ethereum‑compatible ecosystems — a bullish fundamental for long‑term network value. However, major protocol migrations carry execution risk (bugs, delays, tooling gaps) that can create volatility or temporary negative sentiment. Past examples: successful EVM integrations or mainnet upgrades (e.g., when networks simplify architectures or add EVM support) have gradually improved developer activity and token sentiment; conversely, botched migrations (or long delays) have caused price weakness and loss of confidence. For traders: expect neutral to mixed near‑term price action around milestones and announcements, with potential bullish bias over months if SIP‑3 and Sei Giga deliver smoother EVM compatibility and increased developer activity. Monitor upgrade timelines, testnet reports, address/transaction changes, and any governance or bridge updates that could affect liquidity and access.