The preparation process for Ethereum’s transition to the Proof-of-Stake (PoS) algorithm continues. Within this context, developers have scheduled the merger of Ropsten with the main blockchain for June 8.
According to information on Github about the test network merger, Ethereum DevOps Engineer Parithosh Jayanthi sent a request to incorporate the Ropsten test network configuration code into the main Ethereum network, assuming the former is ready for the merger.
Ropsten is one of several testnets created by the Ethereum Foundation in 2017. The Geth development team maintains the network. Ropsten is recognized as the best replica of the core Ethereum network as it has a similar network structure allowing developers to perform realistic testing of the PoS algorithm before actually upgrading the core network.
The intended merger will enable the interaction of the original network’s Proof-of-Work algorithms with Ropsten’s Proof-of-Stake to be tested in practice. Thus, the merger will provide an opportunity to simulate the result of the actual merger of the original Ethereum blockchain and the Beacon Chain network.
The exact date of Ethereum’s transition to PoS is still unknown. However, crypto enthusiasts are quite optimistic. For example, Preston Van Loon, Ethereum Core Developer, called the upcoming merger with Ropsten “a huge testing milestone” on the way to a complete changeover of the ETH algorithm, which, according to him, may take place by the end of this year.
Another strong indication that things are moving in the right direction is the Ethereum Foundation’s announcement that they have managed to merge together the core PoW network and the Bug Bounty program, aimed at handing out rewards for detecting PoS consensus level bugs in the Ethereum network.
Recall, according to a recent major analyst report, the Ethereum blockchain project is dominating the Web 3.0 space and the move to ETH2 is expected to strengthen the project’s leadership position.