A distributed network , the distributed network comprising a replicated computing cluster , the replicated computing cluster comprising a plurality of nodes , wherein the distributed network is configured to perform, by a consensus subset of the plurality of nodes , consensus rounds, the consensus rounds being configured to reach a consensus on input blocks (301-303) to be processed by the plurality of nodes; wherein each of the plurality of nodes of the replicated computing cluster is configured to run a replica , wherein each of the replicas is configured to run one or more computational units , wherein the one or more computational units are pieces of software which have their own unit state; perform consecutive processing rounds comprising a consecutive processing of the input blocks (301-303) comprising a plurality of transactions in a deterministic and replicated manner, thereby computing a sequence of round states; perform software upgrades of the replica at handover states of the round states at pre-agreed handover rounds of the consecutive processing rounds; compile and/or compute a handover package , the handover package being configured to enable an obtainment of the handover state; and provide, upon request of another replica, via a communication interface that is independent of the software upgrades, the handover package ; wherein the distributed network is configured to execute, by a permissible subset of the nodes of the replicated computing cluster 15), a joint signature on the handover package , in particular a threshold signature; perform the software upgrades from a current software version of the replica to a new software version of the replica by performing the processing rounds up to and including the computing of the handover state of the pre-agreed handover round with the current software version; installing the new software version; and performing the processing rounds subsequent to the handover round with the new software version starting from the handover state. run one or more computational units , wherein the one or more computational units are pieces of software which have their own unit state; perform consecutive processing rounds comprising a consecutive processing of the input blocks (301-303) comprising a plurality of transactions in a deterministic and replicated manner, thereby computing a sequence of round states; perform software upgrades of the replica at handover states of the round states at pre-agreed handover rounds of the consecutive processing rounds; compile and/or compute a handover package , the handover package being configured to enable an obtainment of the handover state; and provide, upon request of another replica, via a communication interface that is independent of the software upgrades, the handover package ; wherein the distributed network is configured to execute, by a permissible subset of the nodes of the replicated computing cluster 15), a joint signature on the handover package , in particular a threshold signature; perform the software upgrades from a current software version of the replica to a new software version of the replica by execute, by a permissible subset of the nodes of the replicated computing cluster 15), a joint signature on the handover package , in particular a threshold signature; perform the software upgrades from a current software version of the replica to a new software version of the replica by performing the processing rounds up to and including the computing of the handover state of the pre-agreed handover round with the current software version; installing the new software version; and performing the processing rounds subsequent to the handover round with the new software version starting from the handover state. <EOS>