Key Highlights
- ICON Network will shut down completely on December 31, 2026, ending all active blockchain operations.
- ICX holders must migrate to SODA at a 1:1 ratio, with migration becoming one-way from September 30, 2026.
- After the shutdown, ICON will become a read-only archive, while activity and liquidity move to SODAX across 18+ networks.
The ICON Network, a decentralized general-purpose blockchain protocol, today announced that it will shut down completely on December 31, 2026, as part of a transition into a new ecosystem centered around SODAX.
The change affects the entire ICON ecosystem, including ICX holders and users across the network globally. According to the official release, the ICON Foundation is leading the process, and users must transfer their ICX tokens to SODA at a fixed 1:1 rate via the official migration system before the deadline.
Economic shutdown phase began in March
The company said the network entered what it calls an “economic shutdown” phase. This means the network had stopped giving out staking rewards and new token emissions.
However, the blockchain will still be running, but only to help users move from ICX to SODA. At the same time, most of the activity, rewards, and liquidity have already shifted to SODAX, which is now the main focus of the ecosystem.
The firm gave clear deadlines for the process.
- Until September 30, 2026, users can swap ICX to SODA in both directions, but after that date, the system changes.
- From September 30 onward, only ICX → SODA conversions will be allowed.
- The final cutoff is December 31, 2026. After this date, no further conversions will be possible, and any remaining ICX that has not been migrated will no longer be useful.
The ICON blockchain will not disappear completely from records. Instead, it will become a read-only archive. This means users will still be able to check old transactions, but no new blocks or updates will be created. The chain will stop functioning as an active network and will only serve as historical data storage.
SODAX expansion and exchange support
Meanwhile, ICON said that SODAX has already started operating ahead of the shutdown. The firm has launched tools like SODAX Stake and SODAX Pool, which started in March 2026.
In early April, reward systems were added to encourage users to move their funds into the new system. SODAX is expected to continue the mission by focusing on cross-network execution and liquidity across 18 blockchain networks instead of just one.
Moreover, some major exchanges have shared their support for this process. For instance, Kraken has added SODA to its listing roadmap, and other exchanges like Coinone are preparing to support automatic migration for users.
This helps people who keep their tokens on exchanges, since their ICX will be converted without needing manual steps. For users holding their own wallets, migration must be done through the official site.
Broader context
ICON launched in 2017 to improve interoperability between blockchains. The project developed systems such as BTP and xCall to facilitate communication across different networks.
But over time, the blockchain space changed and newer systems reduced the need for standalone Layer 1 interoperability chains. This shift is part of why the project is now moving toward SODAX.
The full shutdown plan is being rolled out step by step. A governance vote is expected in May 2026 to confirm the final decision. After that, migration continues until the last date in December 2026. Once that day passes, ICON will no longer run as an active blockchain, and everything will fully move into SODAX.
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