What was Ethereum’s “merge”?

The Ethereum merge, or “The Merge” in English, represents the joining of Ethereum’s existing execution layer with its new collaborative proof-of-agreement layer, Beacon Chain. It was performed on September 19 on a trial basis.

This is intended to modify Ethereum’s blockchain from today’s proof-of-work (PoW) agreement mechanism to a proof-of-collaboration (PoS) model designated to be faster and more energy efficient.

Why is it called the “Merge”?

Ethereum will move from proof-of-work to proof-of-collaboration by merging 2 blockchains: the primary network, and the proof-of-stake network.

The merger is going to cause the data stored in the Ethereum primordial network to be transferred to the Beacon Chain, which will then become the primordial blockchain in the Ethereum network.

What is proof of collaboration and why is it necessary?

In contrast to proof-of-work, which needs miners to compete for rewards in the functionality of the proportion of computational power they can get, the proof-of-collaboration mechanism selects validators at random assignment related to the total portion and timing of when their ether (ETH) was staked.

Unlike proof-of-work, PoS validators are not required to subtract blocks to keep the network. Then, the network distributes rewards in ether, the blockchain’s native currency, in proportion to each validator’s collaboration.

Some of its advantages include

• Uso muchísimo más eficiente de la energía
• Un menor peligro de centralización de la red, que es una barrera para la estabilidad de la red.

Why are cryptocurrencies bad for the environment?

To understand the merger, you should first understand the role of cryptocurrency miners. To mine cryptocurrencies you need to set up a powerful PC with a mining platform, to run a program that tries to solve complicated cryptographic puzzles.

In this situation, such a computer will get a reward which in the case of Ethereum, miners get 2 ether plus gasoline, which are the fees paid by users on each transaction.

This system is called “proof of work” and is how the Bitcoin and Ethereum blockchains work.

The role of Beacon Chain and Ethereum Merge.

The Beacon Chain (which runs in parallel to the primordial network or live blockchain version) and currently has well over 375,000 active validators, is the element responsible for maintaining control of the proof of collaboration.

Since Beacon Chain cannot carry out capable contracts or manage accounts, the merger with the primordial network will bring this capability to the collaborative proof-of-stake ecosystem.

Essentially, the entire Ethereum PoW chain becomes the Ethereum PoS chain.