What is Ethereum 2.0 and the merge?

Ethereum 2.0, as the new version of Ethereum is widely-referred to, has been a long time in the making and will catapult the blockchain forward, directly addressing some of Ethereum's main issues—but not as many as you might think. There's heaps to take in when it comes to Ethereum 2.0 and the Merge, and this is how you make sense of it all.

What is a ETH merge?

The merge is the linking of the Ethereum mainnet and the Beacon Chain. The Beacon Chain shipped back in December 2020, beginning the process of the merge. This means that those holding ETH can already set up with the Ethereum staking launchpad and begin earning more ETH after confirming their staking address.

What happens after Ethereum & proof of work merge?

Now that both stages are complete, the merge itself has also been finalised. Post-merge, the Ethereum 2.0 network is predicted to consume 99.5% less energy than it did while it used Proof of Work. Ethereum’s native currency ETH is currently trading at £1,337.

How did Google search celebrate the 'Ethereum merge'?

Google Search celebrated the “Ethereum merge” by depicting two bears, one white representing the consensus layer, and the other a brownish black, combining to make the ultimate Ethereum panda bear, a metaphor for post-merge Ethereum.