- Ethereum network will transition to PoS next Tuesday with the Bellatrix upgrade on the Beacon Chain.
- Node operators must update the client version they run much earlier to avoid incompatibility issues.
- The terminal total difficulty value triggering the Merge is expected between Sept 10-20, 2022.
The Ethereum network will begin its transition to proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus next Tuesday, September 6, with a scheduled upgrade called the “Bellatrix upgrade” on the Beacon Chain. According to Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, node operators must update the client version they use much earlier to avoid incompatibility issues.
Reminder: even though the merge is coming around Sep 10-20, the beacon chain hard fork is on Sep 6. Make sure to update your clients before then! https://t.co/x8GQCbtNNk
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) August 30, 2022
Following the Bellatrix upgrade, the proof-of-work chain will migrate to proof-of-stake upon reaching a certain Total Difficulty Value. According to a press release on the Ethereum blog, the terminal total difficulty value triggering the Merge is 58750000000000000000000, expected between September 10-20, 2022.
For the uninitiated, the Difficulty Value, or Bomb, is a defense mechanism designed to discourage miners from mining on the current network, Ethereum 1.0, by exponentially increasing the difficulty level of puzzles required to mine a new block on the Ethereum blockchain. The bomb would also keep scammers off the network because it would necessitate some technical expertise.
Notably, the network has successfully upgraded all public testnets, and the Merge can now go live on the Ethereum mainnet. The report from Ethereum also noted that the Merge differs from previous network upgrades as it involves several layers. It read:
Node operators need to update both their consensus layer (CL) and execution layer (EL) clients in tandem rather than just one of the two. Second, the upgrade activates in two phases: the first, named Bellatrix, at an epoch height on the Beacon Chain, and the second, Paris, upon hitting a Total Difficulty value on the execution layer.
It should be noted that no action is required from an Ethereum user or holder unless specifically stated by their respective exchange or wallet service providers.
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