The XRP Ledger has delayed the activation of its Cleanup3_4_0 bug fix to November 4 after validator support briefly dropped below the required level during a scheduled vote check. The amendment, which addresses issues across token handling, vault accounting and lending code, had been on course to go live on October 23.

Validator Vote Reset Pushes Activation Date

The change requires backing from more than 80% of the network's 35 trusted validators. At least 29 must vote yes for 14 consecutive days, with network checks taking place roughly every 15 minutes. A change on the XRP Ledger only takes effect once it holds the required supermajority continuously through the full 14-day window.

Amendments are the ledger's mechanism for shipping protocol changes, and a threshold this high means no small group of operators can activate an update on its own. The amendment was holding exactly 29 votes on Monday. According to the XRPL Dashboard, support fell to 26 validators at 12:54 UTC on Wednesday, October 21, ending the original approval period. By 14:46 UTC, backing had returned to 29 votes and the countdown restarted.

XRPLWin now projects activation for November 4 at 14:46 UTC. The renewed delay comes shortly before Ripple Swell sessions that are scheduled to cover XRP Ledger upgrades.

Why Validators Must Hold Their Votes

Support has since recovered to 31 of 35 validators, giving the amendment a cushion of two above the minimum. The count must remain above the 80% threshold at every checkpoint, and another drop would restart the mandatory waiting period. The tally at each roughly 15-minute checkpoint is now what determines whether the November 4 projection stands.

The trackers that monitor amendment votes do not identify which validators caused Wednesday's dip. A server that goes offline or restarts may fail to register its vote, so the available data does not confirm whether any validator deliberately withdrew support.

The delayed amendment covers a software fix rather than the lending system itself. Ripple has described plans to introduce XRP lending, but lending and vault changes require separate validator approval, and neither feature has activated.

What the Delayed Bug Fix Changes

The fix addresses several distinct problems across token transfers, trading functions and lending code. One correction blocks a case that could have allowed an account authorized to destroy issued tokens to create new tokens instead — a scenario that concerns the integrity of the ledger's token supply.

Other changes adjust balance calculations for asset vaults and the rules governing overdue or defaulted loans. The xrpld 3.4.0 release notes describe further fixes affecting escrow, digital collectibles, signatures and permission checks.

Ripple continues to operate other services on the network while lending awaits approval. A recent review of XRP Ledger activity described new RLUSD custody support and wallet integrations. Those developments concern existing services, not the proposed lending system.

The XRP Ledger lending protocol remains inactive as of October 22. Even if the cleanup amendment activates on November 4, validators must separately approve the lending and vault features before those services can operate, keeping the bug fix and the lending rollout on separate tracks.