- The Sepolia testnet will bear a post-merge execution layer (EL) improve at block 1735371, anticipated on August 17, 2022
- The improve will trigger EL purchasers on the community to disconnect from friends which haven’t transitioned to proof-of-stake. It doesn’t add further performance past this.
- Sepolia node operators should improve their execution layer consumer prior to dam 1735371.
- The same improve is predicted on Goerli and the Ethereum mainnet as soon as these networks have transitioned to proof-of-stake
Background
So as to keep a wholesome peer listing, nodes on Ethereum’s execution layer will robotically disconnect friends who do not need the identical improve sequence as them. On the Ethereum mainnet, this implies checking whether or not a peer upgrded to Frontier Thawing at block 200,000, then Homestead at block 1,150,000, and so forth all the best way to the most recent improve, Gray Glacier, which occurred at block 15,050,000. EIP-2124 specifies how that is dealt with. In typical community upgrades, that are triggered by a block top, this occurs robotically as nodes use the block top of upcomming upgrades to filter friends.
For The Merge, this was not attainable as a result of the improve was triggered utilizing a complete issue worth somewhat than a block quantity. The rationale for this selection is defined in EIP-3675:
Utilizing a pre-defined block quantity for the hardfork is unsafe on this context because of the PoS fork selection taking precedence in the course of the transition.
An attacker could use a minority of hash energy to construct a malicious chain fork that may fulfill the block top requirement. Then the primary PoS block could also be maliciously proposed on prime of the PoW block from this adversarial fork, turning into the pinnacle and subverting the safety of the transition.
To guard the community from this assault situation, issue accrued by the chain (complete issue) is used to set off the improve.
To reduce adjustments to the protocol throughout its most advanced improve since launch, the design for The Merge excluded EIP-2124 compatibility. This implies a further improve should now be accomplished so as to add this. You will need to notice that the one change launched as a part of this improve is specifying a block quantity that nodes can use to establish friends who’ve gone by means of The Merge. No different performance is launched or deprecated as a part of this improve.
Improve Data
Timing
This improve will occur on Sepolia at block 1735371, anticipated on August 17, 2022.
Observe {that a} related improve will likely be introduced for Goerli and mainnet after these networks have transitioned to proof-of-stake.
Ropsten will not be upgraded since it’s now thought of deprecated, together with Rinkeby and Kiln. See this post for extra particulars on their deprecation schedule.
Shopper Releases
Solely execution layer purchasers have to be up to date for this improve. Node operators can maintain operating their present consensus layer consumer launch on Sepolia by means of the transition.
Observe that consumer releases used for the Goerli/Prater merge all assist this improve on Sepolia. In different phrases, if you happen to already downloaded a launch for the Goerli/Prater merge, you should use that very same model on Sepolia for this improve.
Execution Layer
Improve Specs
The specification for this modification is tracked as a part of the Paris specs, below the FORK NEXT Improve part.
FAQ
As a node operator, what ought to I do?
You must improve your execution layer consumer to one of many variations listed above earlier than August 16, 2022. Your consensus layer consumer doesn’t have to be upgraded.
As a staker, what do I have to do?
The validator set on Sepolia is permissioned. In case you are half of the present Sepolia validators, you have to replace your execution layer consumer to one of many variations listed above on August 16, 2022 on the newest.
In case you are not half of the present Sepolia validator set, you do not want to do something at the moment.
Goerli/Prater and mainnet validators might want to comply with the identical steps when this improve is introduced on these networks.
As an utility or tooling developer, what ought to I do?
Nothing, until you’re additionally operating a node. In that case, please improve your execution layer consumer to one of many variations listed above earlier than August 16, 2022.
As an Ethereum person or Ether holder, is there something I have to do?
No. The Ethereum mainnet shouldn’t be affected by this improve. Even when this improve will likely be utilized to mainnet, there will not be any motion wanted.
Thanks to Justin Chrn for the unique cowl picture and Tomo Saito for the modifications.
