Ethereum (ETH) developer Tim Beiko recently announced that the network is gearing up for the very last test leading up to “The Merge.” This test should be carried out at the beginning of next month, the developer writes in an update.
Ethereum testnet switches to PoS
The big Ethereum update will make the network a proof of stake (PoS) create network. In other words, miners will no longer be the ones approving and processing transactions. Instead, ETH holders can lock down their crypto and thus contribute to the security of the network.
This update should make the network more efficient and faster. It is the biggest update in Ethereum’s 7-year history. And that will require a lot of testing before it can be implemented on the main Ethereum network.
At the moment, the network is still running on the miner-powered proof of work (PoW), but the PoS blockchain is already running parallel to this network. Ultimately, these two blockchains must be merged, or ‘merged.’
Beiko has announced that the Goerli testnet, which is a test environment for Ethereum developers, will go through the Merge. The PoS version of Goerli is called Prater and it needs to be merged with the Goerli blockchain. This should take place sometime between August 6 and 12.
“Prater will go through the Bellatrix upgrade on August 4, and the Goerli merge will take place between August 6-12.”
📢📢📢 Goerli/Prater Merge Announcement 📢 📢📢
Prater will run through the Bellatrix upgrade on August 4th, and merge with Goerli between August 6-12th: if you run a node or validator, this is your last chance to go through the process before mainnet 🚨https://t.co/JAz5AJe12B
— Tim Beiko | timbeiko.eth 🐼 (@TimBeiko) July 27, 2022
When will the Merge on Ethereum take place?
Crypto fanatics have been waiting for the Merge for years now, but each time it has been delayed. With the successful tests, the first big step towards ETH 2.0 seems to be getting closer and closer.
It is estimated that the Merge on Ethereum’s main network, the real deal so, can take place in September. September 19 to be exact.
It is therefore important that the dress rehearsal on the Goerli test network is successful. If problems arise, the launch date of September 19 can be further postponed.
