The Bellatrix upgrade is all set to ignite Ethereums’s new protocol upgrade the Merge. Ethereum works on a Proof-of-Work (PoW) mechanism which will soon be operated on the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) mechanism. This complete process is known as the Merge.
Currently, the Ethereum network (PoW) and the Beacon Chain (PoS) chain work parallel to each other. The upcoming upgrade is circulated to ensure that the validators are producing updated Beacon Chain blocks. This update will set up the codebase ahead of the new protocol upgrade ‘The Merge’.
Stepping Close to The Merge
“What’s happening today is the Bellatrix hard fork, which *prepares* the chain for the merge,” Vitalik Buterin, founder of Ethereum, said in a Tweet. “Still important though — make sure to update your clients!”
Adrian Sutton, lead blockchain protocol engineer at ConsenSys noted approximately 5% of the validating nodes in the Beacon Chain failed to update in time. Once the terminal total difficulty is attained, ‘The Merge’ will get into action. This complete scenario will be known as the ‘Paris’ upgrade.
From Paris to The Merge via Bellatrix
The Paris upgrade is scheduled for a particular time slot, not fixed though. But soon after the TTD of 58,750,000,000,000,000,000,000 is reached and the first block of PoS blockchain is created on the Ethereum blockchain – the complete process will take approximately 13 minutes. This 13 minute window will be achieved only and only if barriers, errors, or roadblocks.
Bellatrix is a crucial upgrade to help Ethereum operate smoothly based on the current Ethereum network hashrate. The Merge is expected to occur shortly. The market is all set to welcome the new upgrade with an enhanced mechanism. Bellatrix will help the mechanism transform into the Proof-of-Stake system.
Source: https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2022/09/19/ethereum-gets-into-the-merge-using-the-right-fuel-bellatrix/