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# What’s New in Eth2 – 29 July 2022
 Ben Edgington (Eth2 at [ConsenSys](https://consensys.net/) — all views expressed are my own)
Edition 98 at [eth2.news](https://eth2.news/)
<div style=”text-align:center”>
:::warning
:warning: There is no ETH2 coin. Anyone offering you ETH2 coins is scamming you. :warning:
:::
</div>
Apparently I need to say this :man-shrugging:
## Top picks
We are [all systems go](https://blog.ethereum.org/2022/07/27/goerli-prater-merge-announcement/) for the Goerli/Prater testnet Merge – our final dress rehearsal!
## The Merge
There has been no change to the tentative plan to Merge the Ethereum Mainnet to proof of stake in mid- to late-September. But a firm decision on this will not be taken until after we see how the Goerli Merge has gone in a couple of weeks.
### The Goerli–Prater testnet Merge
As per this week’s top pick, the Goerli/Prater testnet Merge [has been announced](https://blog.ethereum.org/2022/07/27/goerli-prater-merge-announcement/). This is your last chance to participate in a Merge transition before the real thing.
The Prater beacon chain will undergo the Bellatrix upgrade at epoch 112260, which is 12:24 UTC on August the 4th. (How nice to know precisely when an upgrade will happen! Score one for proof of stake.)
The Goerli/Prater Merge itself will happen when Goerli hits a total difficulty of 10790000, which is expected somewhere between the 6th and 12th of August.
I believe that the plan is for Bankless and EthStaker to jointly host a [Goerli Merge community call](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethstaker/comments/v4631j/ethereum_merge_community_call_series/) – I have no info yet, but keep an eye out for it.
### Shadow forks
We’ve done two more shadow forks since I last wrote to you. Goerli shadow fork #5, and Mainnet shadow fork #10. Both went very well.
From Pari (the EF devops wizard who coordinates all these), on MSF10:
> – We didn’t notice any client incompatibilities with the transition! (🚀)
> – Some besu nodes were running an older version and needed an update/resync (that’d explain almost all of the missing participation rate). The nodes should be done resyncing soon and the participation rate should go back up.
> – We noticed lodestar-erigon having trouble fetching a block, but this is most likely attributed to the shadow fork peering setup rather than a real issue.
As for GSF5, beside some minor niggles, the only interesting issue showed up on Nethermind and was discussed during the [consensus devs call](https://hackmd.io/@benjaminion/BJjamMl69#Execution-behaviour-around-terminal-blocks). Basically, as I understand it, there was a choice of terminal blocks available. Nethermind nodes that chose the wrong one (the one that the chain did not eventually follow) ended up in a kind of deadlock for a while as they didn’t automatically validate the alternative terminal block. The spec will be clarified to avoid this in future.
### Prepping for the Merge
You’d be well-advised to have a trial run at the Goerli–Prater Merge. A great place for keeping up with the latest and getting help is the `#goerli-prater` channel on the [EthStaker Discord](https://discord.gg/JETnacYjUs). There is a bunch of [useful guides](https://discord.com/channels/694822223575384095/981553338086744116/1002556990767239211) posted there already. Also, Chris Hobcroft has a guide to setting up [Teku and Geth](https://github.com/chrishobcroft/TestingTheMerge/blob/main/goerli-prater-merge.md) for Goerli.
EthStaker’s [Merge Validator Prep Workshop](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMynQb6MSfc) is happening as I write and it’s sounding pretty good! Lots of great Q&A.
Infura’s hugely popular weekly Merge workshops are also ongoing, and you can watch the replays. The two most recent were,
– [Solo Stakers Forum: What You Need To Do To Get Ready](https://www.crowdcast.io/e/the-merge-weekly/register?session=2)
– [MEV Considerations and Factors](https://www.crowdcast.io/e/the-merge-weekly/register?session=3)
See [below](#Upcoming-events) for the next sessions.
Pari has [a short thread](https://twitter.com/parithosh_j/status/1552392955482234881) linking to some helpful documentation on prepping for the Merge:
– [Checklist for Ethereum Merge](https://notes.ethereum.org/@launchpad/merge-configuration-checklist)
– [FAQ for the Ethereum Merge](https://notes.ethereum.org/@launchpad/node-faq-merge)
– [How To: Checkpoint Sync](https://notes.ethereum.org/@launchpad/checkpoint-sync)
[SeaMonkey](https://github.com/SeaMonkey82) is setting an incredible example by setting up [instances of all 20](https://seamonkey.tech/goerli/goerli_validators.html) execution–consensus combos ready for the Goerli Merge. Here’s the [Tmuxinator config](https://seamonkey.tech/goerli/goerli.yml) that loads it all.
Finally, Rocket Pool has released [a guide](https://medium.com/rocket-pool/the-merge-node-operators-b0f106dcf66f) on how to get your node Merge-ready.
## Staking
Nexus Mutual has announced [slashing insurance](https://medium.com/nexus-mutual/announcing-eth2-staking-cover-comprehensive-protection-against-slashing-b98b64e0c0fd). The best insurance by far is just not to do anything silly (like run your keys in two different places). But third-party insurance might be some comfort for the nervous I suppose. Stakewise has [purchased it](https://twitter.com/stakewise_io/status/1549804664039915523).
Not new, but [newly verified](https://www.reddit.com/r/ethstaker/comments/w0wg6n/now_jcrtp_approved_simplified_rocketpool_node/), Fast Contract’s [Simplified Rocketpool Node Setup](https://medium.com/@fastcontract1/simplified-rocketpool-node-setup-5702886c8d8c): “I’ve imagined my parents wanting to setup a node, and made this guide with that in mind.”
I was very encouraged to read [this thread](https://twitter.com/marceaueth/status/1548489490116710409) on Rocket Pool’s three-fold scaling plans. In short (1) a reduction of bonded ETH from 16 to 4 per minipool, (2) a new staking as a service architecture, and (3) the ability for existing stakers to migrate their validators directly to Rocket Pool.
## Tooling
Alex Stokes is looking for help building a [web-of-trust style](https://twitter.com/ralexstokes/status/1551704787992846337) weak subjectivity checkpoint provider. This is a bit of a gap in our current Eth2 infrastructure. In proof of stake, checkpoint sync is ultimately more secure than syncing from genesis, but only if you can verify that your starting checkpoint is good with a bunch of entities that you somewhat trust – this is “[weak subjectivity](https://blog.ethereum.org/2014/11/25/proof-stake-learned-love-weak-subjectivity/)”.
Speaking of checkpoint sync, the Ethereum Foundation is now providing endpoints from which you can get [checkpoints for all the testnets](https://twitter.com/ajsutton/status/1552075430328680449). We’ve had a report of occasional weirdness on the Prater one with Teku – you can fall back to Infura to get the checkpoint if you encounter the problem.
By now everyone knows that if you currently run an Eth1 node, you will need to run both that _and_ a consensus client post-Merge, right? Well, other options are on their way. Ideally, rather than running a full beacon node, you will be able to run just a simple light client to drive your Eth1 node. This will significantly reduce complexity and resources, if you are ok with the security trade-offs. I suppose Eth1 clients might eventually come with a light consensus client baked in. Anyway, team Nimbus has been [making progress](https://twitter.com/jcksie/status/1549024757219205121) with allowing an execution client to be driven by a light client.
Migalabs has been working on [Eth2.0 Fluid validator migration](https://medium.com/@migalabs/eth2-0-fluid-validator-migration-7c830557c154). Their aim is to “demonstrate to users that it is easy to switch between different clients, in order to build a more diverse and robust ecosystem.” To that end, they have done some experiments on automatically migrating validators between six different clients, with due regard to handling the slashing protection data. The article has some good insights, and I am happy with the conclusion: “It is possible to migrate validators across all 6 main clients in an automated way.”
Obol has [announced](https://twitter.com/ObolNetwork/status/1549313026624573444) the [Athena Testnet](https://blog.obol.tech/the-athena-testnet/), its first public testnet for at-home validators. This is distributed validator technology (DVT) which promises to become very important staking infrastructure for our decentralised future.
## After the Merge
In [4844 and Done](https://polynya.mirror.xyz/sA0qPEbQ99HXCEXEi3BW34HXohMpLyDDM1a4AJhCF4E) Polynya argues that we don’t need full [Dank-]sharding for the forseeable future, and that [EIP-4844](https://www.eip4844.com/) will be perfectly sufficient for the needs of rollups on Ethereum. The title is a nod to Casey Detrio’s [Phase One and Done: eth2 as a data availability engine](https://ethresear.ch/t/phase-one-and-done-eth2-as-a-data-availability-engine/5269?u=benjaminion) from three years ago, which is more or less the path we ended up taking in the end.
## The Great Explainers
EthereumPools continues their series on staking rewards and penalties with a thread on [rewards and penalties in practice](https://twitter.com/EthereumPools/status/1548774120241913863).
Shegen has made an [Updated FAQ thread](https://twitter.com/shegenerates/status/1549055045466857473) on The Merge. Fourteen solid questions and answers.
Meanwhile, Crypto Texan tackles [eight misconceptions about The Merge](https://twitter.com/Crypto_Texan/status/1549057666193973249) – translated into tweet-sized bites from the [Ethereum website](https://ethereum.org/en/upgrades/merge/#misconceptions).
## Media and stuff
### EthCC
EthCC[5] happened last week. Here’s a a handful of Eth2 related talks I enjoyed.
– Vitalik’s [urges](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGjFTzRTH3Q). Danny Hutchins made [a transcript](https://medium.com/@hutchins.eth/vitalik-ethcc-2022-lecture-transcript-23fc8ac67103).
– Sajida Zouarhi, [The Merge – Bringing Ethereum to Proof of Stake](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPlbxVqcsvA)
– Evan Van Ness, [Maximal Decentralization On All Axes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWeNo2iPntc)
– Terence Tsao, [What does “merge” look like?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgFVcB8vUU8)
– Elias Simos, [Reputation for machines](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrwbeZHsQdg)
– And, of course, [Rick](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ).
There was a ton more talks, and I’m sure to have missed some good ones. Check them out for yourselves [here](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_kOxlaYNOTtNwtwySZ0B8w/videos), [here](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOka-g6iJEpQ9YSIoSn77uQ/videos), [here](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVgsFxDu5lTqHmpirw5Q69Q/videos), [here](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE8CzovkKFj1k8NSxH3HyPg/videos), [here](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPL7QtnWHYcjXhvAG_uzf3A/videos), and [here](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSiMnvs36TvheBU2rcAM4jA/videos). (Have I ever mentioned how annoying it is that EthCC spreads this stuff across so many channels?)
The Ethereum Cat Herders’ [Know Your Client](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ngc_K9Sob60&list=PL4cwHXAawZxoruie1hmYWJfiakpYivXft) series continues with,
– [Nethermind & The Merge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knkvXH1whlk) with Tomasz K. Stańczak,
– [Lodestar & The Merge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUg5ZFT59fA) with Gajinder Singh, and
– [Lighthouse and The Merge](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYo5893D8To) with Mark M.
The Teku session has been recorded and should be up soon!
Meanwhile, Justin Drake was on [The Defiant Podcast](https://newsletter.thedefiant.io/p/-justin-drake-on-how-the-merge-helps) talking about “How The Merge Helps Make Ethereum the Settlement Layer of the Internet”.
Danny Ryan was interviewed by Jeff Benson of [future](https://future.com/) (which seems to be a16z’s publication) for a pair of articles: [What the Merge Means for Ethereum Today](https://future.com/what-the-merge-means-for-ethereum-with-danny-ryan/), and [The Future of Ethereum Upgrades, Post-Merge](https://future.com/how-the-merge-will-impact-future-ethereum-upgrades/)
## Regular Calls
### All Core Devs
ACD call #143 took place on the 21st of July.
– [Agenda](https://github.com/ethereum/pm/issues/572)
– [Video](https://youtu.be/N80PgxELDYg)
– Notes from [Christine Kim](https://docsend.com/view/chxfhiqbkgteyfry) and [Tim](https://twitter.com/TimBeiko/status/1550221047122628608). And [in Spanish](https://twitter.com/Ariiellus/status/1550224132650180608) from @Ariiellus.
### Consensus implementers
Consensus call #92 took place on the 28th of July.
* [Agenda](https://github.com/ethereum/pm/issues/574)
* [Video](https://youtu.be/XDfNg8mdC10)
* My [quick notes](https://hackmd.io/@benjaminion/BJjamMl69), and from [Christine Kim](https://docsend.com/view/5jpzhe3z8x2w2mjz)
### EIP-4844 Breakout
Breakout room #2 took place today, the 29th of July.
– [Agenda](https://github.com/ethereum/pm/issues/581)
– [Video](https://youtu.be/t8B7NBRPBfg)
– [Notes](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KgKZnb5P07rdLBb_nRCaXhzG_4PBoZXtFQNzKO2mrvc/edit)
See the EIP-4844 [meta-spec](https://hackmd.io/@protolambda/eip4844-meta) for background and links to materials. Also, [KZG Ceremony resources](https://github.com/tvanepps/KZG-Ceremony-Resources).
The next call is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday the 17th of August at 1400 UTC.
### KZG Ceremony breakout call
Call #4 for planning the KZG trusted setup ceremony (for EIP-4844 and Danksharding) took place on the 21st of July.
– [Agenda](https://github.com/ethereum/pm/issues/569)
– [Video](https://youtu.be/7c4FybMLvjg?t=189)
## Upcoming events
– Next Infura Merge weekly workshops,
– Tuesday, August 2nd at 16:00 UTC: [The Execution Client and the Consensus Client](https://www.crowdcast.io/e/the-merge-weekly/register?session=4)
– Tuesday, August 9th at 16:00 UTC: [Running Multiple Validators and Staking as a Service](https://www.crowdcast.io/e/the-merge-weekly/register?session=5)
– Friday, August 12th at 14:00 UTC: [Merge Community Call #6](https://github.com/ethereum/pm/issues/580)
## In other news
– Latest [MEV-Boost Status Update](https://boost.flashbots.net/mev-boost-status-updates/mev-boost-status-update-july-15-29-2022) – July 15-29, 2022.
– See also [MEV-Boost in a Nutshell](https://boost.flashbots.net/).
– Episode #012 of [Under the Surface](https://twitter.com/stereumdev/status/1551629604791664641) from Stereum. Check out the latest on the funkiest Eth2 node runner GUI. Also news of the upcoming [Upkeep Challenge](https://stereum.net/update-upkeep-challenge/).
– Latest [Eth2 update](https://www.coinbase.com/cloud/discover/insights-analysis/eth2-merge-update-goerli-incoming-mainnet-shortly-after) from Coinbase.
– EthStaker [Community call #19](https://ethstaker.cc/community-call-19-stakewise/) was a couple of days ago. This one with Kirill Kutakov and Dmitri Tsumak of StakeWise. [Video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E0vZ_L_GfY). I’ve been sleeping on these, unfortunately – need to ask Phiz on Monday about getting on the mailing list or something…
– Rocket Pool [Bi-weekly Update](https://www.reddit.com/r/rocketpool/comments/w2mz5s/rocket_pool_biweekly_update_20220719/), 2022-07-19.
## And finally…
Stateful Works has been putting together some very innovative projects to support Ethereum core devs. Their [latest](https://twitter.com/StatefulWorks/status/1553071213953662976) adventure is [New Home of the Heart](https://stateful.mirror.xyz/_2_XjNGAJsN9BAj3IxPqgTykLJMQi3TX5dD4G9FHQEA), a “benefit NFT sale for the core devs working on the Merge”.
Obviously I am highly in favour of this, so please check it out and be sure to send it round your all NFT degen friends.
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