Ethereum Closer to PoS After Successful Goerli Testnet Merge

Ethereum testnet Goerli now switched to proof-of-stake (PoS), representing the third and final step before the long-anticipated Merge.

Goerli successfully transitioned to PoS shortly after the network’s total block difficulty crossed 10,079,000 at around 9:45 pm ET.

Two other testnets — Ropsten and Sepolia — ditched proof-of-work (PoW) over the past two months, with Goerli’s version of the Merge only going ahead as those were successful.

According to Ethereum developer Marius van der Wijden, confusion arose on the network due to two separate and unique terminal blocks. There was also “lots of non-updated nodes,” leading to an unexpected delay. The Merge was anticipated to go live earlier in the day.

Despite those initial speed bumps, the testnet appears to be operating as intended. The advent follows a successful upgrade to Goerli’s beacon chain, Bellatrix, earlier this year.

Ethereum’s blockchain has now edged closer to a full transition to PoS in what is known as the Merge, designed to pivot the chain to a more environmentally and energy-efficient protocol.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has been pushing the idea of converting Ethereum to PoS since 2015.

The Merge is likely to culminate in mid-September, according to proponents.

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