Ethereum developers have launched the Kintsugi testnet to analyze the implications of the transition to Ethereum 2.0.
The Ethereum Foundation blog announced the launch of the Kintsugi testnet within the Ethereum 2.0 blockchain. The testnet is needed to analyze the possible effects of blockchain mergers on Proof-of-Work and Proof-of-Stake consensus algorithms.
Teams of Ethereum-based projects are recommended to create prototypes of their services and products for testing Kintsugi. This is necessary to detect potential problems in Ethereum 2.0 system functioning and to make changes in the client’s future versions.
The basic tools for working with Kintsugi are available to developers on a dedicated website. There are 104 nodes and almost 229,000 wallets active in the network as of 3 p.m. (GMT+2), and over 37,600 blocks have been generated. The average generation time per block ranges from 14,6 to 18,7 seconds. The developers plan to launch several more testnets. The migration of the main network to the Proof-of-Stake algorithm will begin only after the testnets are merged and found to be stable. Specific dates for testing are not available. According to the developers’ plans, a complete transition to Ethereum 2.0 may occur in Q2 2022. Earlier, Vitalik Buterin, one of its founders, shared his vision of Ethereum’s development.
