What is ethereum's'merge'?

A major event the crypto industry has long been awaiting finally happened: Ethereum's "Merge," which proponents say could boost crypto prices in the long run and significantly change the future of cryptocurrency. The Merge is an upgrade to the Ethereum blockchain, which powers innovations in the crypto ecosystem like non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

When will the Ethereum merge take place?

Very soon. The Merge is scheduled for completion between Sept. 10 and 20, though the exact timing is uncertain. Independent estimates point to Sept. 15 as the likely date. Major crypto exchanges, including Coinbase Global (COIN.O) and Binance, have said they will pause ether deposits and withdrawals during the merge.

What is Ethereum (ETH)?

Ethereum (ETH) is the second most popular cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. Founded by Vitalik Buterin and Gavin Wood in 2015, today Ethereum’s market capitalization represents approximately 20% of the $1.1 trillion global crypto market. There are some distinct differences between Ethereum and the original crypto.

How will the Ethereum blockchain merge with a separate blockchain?

The Ethereum blockchain is due to merge with a separate blockchain, radically changing the way it processes transactions and how new ether tokens are created. The new system, known as "pproof-of-stake", will slash the Ethereum blockchain's energy consumption by 99.9%, developers say.