Optimism releases Kona v1.8.0 with fixes for fault proofs and malformed batch handling

Optimism has released version 1.8.0 of Kona, its Rust-based fault proof stack, with fixes covering derivation logic, proof execution, TLS, and preimage handling. The update is designed to stop malformed batches, under specific faulty batch conditions, from causing Kona to derive a different chain from op-node, which would break consistency across validation software. It also changes how proof execution responds to errors: if preimage data or witness data is missing, execution now halts instead of immediately marking a block as invalid. In the same release, Optimism updated the EVM implementation, patched TLS dependencies, and improved error handling for the preimage server. The project said it recommends that all chains adopt this version and run kona-host together with the matching kona-client v1.8.0 absolute prestate. The item was published by Techub and cited Bitcoinist.