Ethereum Steps Closer to PoS as Goerli Testnet Merge Goes Live

The third and final Ethereum testnet before the long-anticipated Merge is now live.

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

It follows in the wake of two testnets — Ropsten and Sepolia — which have both transitioned from proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) system. Both testnets were a precursor to Goerli’s successful transition.

According to Ethereum developer Marius van der Wijden, confusion arose on the network due to two separate and unique terminal blocks as well as “lots of non-updated nodes” as a reason for an unexpected delay, which was anticipated to go live earlier in the day.

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

Ethereum’s blockchain has now edged closer to a full transition to proof-of-stake in what is known as the Merge — a multi-year event designed to pivot the chain to a more environmentally and efficient protocol.

The Merge will finally occur when the current proof-of-work (PoW) Ethereum mainnet protocol will join with the Beacon Chain proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain network and exist as a PoS chain.

That event is likely to culminate in mid-September, according to proponents.

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