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Ethereum on Proof-of-Stake: Comprehensive Guide to The Merge

This guide explains what changes in Ethereum (ETH) with The Merge activation and why it is big deal for entire Web3 segment

On July 15, 2022, Ethereum core developer Tim Beiko suggested Sept. 19 as the “tentative date” for The Merge activation in Ethereum (ETH) mainnet.

As such, Ethereum (ETH) is putting the final touches on its hotly anticipated upgrade that will put an end to Ether proof-of-work (PoW) mining.

Inside Ethereum Merge: Why is #2 blockchain migrating to proof of stake?

Ethereum (ETH) inches closer to The Merge upgrade, i.e., migration from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus to a proof-of-stake (PoS) one. It is set to make the largest smart contracts network more resource efficient, inclusive and eco-friendly.

Why is The Merge so important for the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain and Web3 sphere as a whole?

The Merge will replace proof-of-work (PoW) consensus with a proof-of-stake (PoS) one, by which Ethereum (ETH) network integrity will be secured by stakers instead of miners;

It is a first in crypto history in which a mainstream protocol radically changes its consensus design;

Ethereum Merge has already been activated in testnets Kovan and Sepolia; Goerli activation will be the dress rehearsal before mainnet;

Proof-of-stake (PoS) consumes less energy, reduces a network’s carbon footprint and makes it more decentralized;

Once Ethereum (ETH) proof-of-stake is rolled out, migration toward sharding will be the next step.

For the first time, Ethereum’s specifications for proof-of-stake (also called Ethereum 2.0, but Ethereum devs recommended avoiding using this name in Q4, 2020) were unveiled more than two years ago. What is Ethereum?

Ethereum (ETH) is the first-ever blockchain (decentralized network) with smart contracts support. It launched in mainnet in July 2015. Ethereum (ETH) was invented by a number of cryptocurrency developers; Vitalik Buterin and Gavin Wood are the best known of them.

Ethereum (ETH) was intended to address the main bottlenecks of Bitcoin (BTC) and other early cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin (BTC), Litecoin (LTC), XRP and all first-gen cryptocurrencies were only suitable for value transfer.

Ethereum (ETH) established itself as a general-purpose decentralized computer. Its smart contracts (software programs on Solidity) are used in thousands of decentralized applications: decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, marketplaces for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), blockchain-based games and so on.

Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency is dubbed Ether, or ETH. Ether is the largest altcoin; only Bitcoin (BTC) surpasses it by market capitalization.

What is proof of stake?

Proof of stake (PoS) is a class of blockchain consensus algorithms in which validators vote on the next block before adding it to the chain. Proof of stake is considered an improvement over the proof-of-work algorithm thanks to its resource efficiency, eco-friendliness and better decentralization parameters: to join staking, there is no need to purchase expensive mining equipment. There are chain-based and BFT-based proof-of-stake (PoS) systems.

Proof-of-stake systems rely on stakers in their operations: every validator should “stake” (freeze) his/her tokens to guarantee his/her commitment to the integrity of the protocol. By Q3, 2022, Ethereum’s rival, Cardano (ADA), is the largest proof-of-stake system.

As such, to join Ethereum’s proof of stake, a crypto enthusiast should stake at least 32 Ethers (ETH) or almost $50,000 by press time. Two months before the mainnet release of Ethereum’s proof of stake, 13,125,461 Ethers are staked in its “deposit contract,” or over $20.6 billion.

Ethereum activates The Merge: Most crucial update for crypto in 2022

Technically, Ethereum (ETH) started its journey to proof of stake in December 2020 with the launch of deposit contracts and the activation of the so-called Beacon Chain, a basic proof-of-stake (PoS) coordination mechanism. In September 2022, its entire validation structure will migrate to proof of stake (PoS).

The Merge: The Basics

At its core, The Merge is the procedure joining the existing Ethereum (ETH) transactions execution layer — the Ethereum (ETH) mainnet we have known and loved since 2015 — with Beacon Chain as its new consensus layer. Currently, the ecosystem of Proof-of-Work (PoW) miners is a consensus layer; Beacon Chain solves this issue.

Thus, Beacon Chain with Deposit Contract — the storage of all Ethers allocated for staking — will be “injected” into the Ethereum (ETH) mainnet. Beacon Chain will be responsible for processing all network data, including account balances, transactions and so on.

Beacon Chain becomes the engine of block production; proof-of-stake validators will be responsible for processing the validity of all transactions and proposing blocks. At the same time, the new system will keep the entire transactional history of the old Ethereum (ETH).

The Merge: The Testnets

To ensure a smooth transition to proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus, Ethereum (ETH) core developers activated The Merge in a number of closed and public testnets. Since December 2021, Ethereum (ETH) enthusiasts have emulated The Merge specifications in Kintsugi and Kiln purpose-made testnets.

Both Kiln and Kintsugi were specially launched to stress test Ethereum’s (ETH) transition to proof of stake. In Q1, 2022, they allowed developers to detect synchronization issues and put some final touches on the post-Merge codebase. Also, developers tried a brand-new “shadow fork” mechanism as in testing The Merge.

In Q2-Q3, 2022, Ethereans activated The Merge in public testnets Ropsten and Sepolia; Goerli testnet will be “Merged” in August 2022.

The Merge: The Timeline

Here is the timeline of the most crucial milestones on Ethereum’s road to The Merge:

June 30, 2015: Ethereum (ETH) launched in mainnet on a proof-of-work consensus;

Q2, 2019: Ethereum (ETH) developers propose Casper as a high-level implementation of how the blockchain can migrate to proof of stake (PoS);

Early March 2020: Vitalik Buterin, with co-authors, releases GASPER, a more advanced implementation of Beacon Chain;

November 20, 2020: Ethereum 2.0 Deposit Contract launched with 32 ETH minimum stake; Ethereans started injecting staking liquidity;

December 1, 2020: Beacon Chain launched as parallel network to Ethereum’s (ETH) mainnet;

October 28, 2021: Beacon Chain underwent Altair upgrade; ETH price spiked to all-time high;

Q1, 2022: Ethereum (ETH) implemented The Merge in Kintsugi and Kiln testnets, “shadow forks” quietly activated;

June-July 2022: Ethereum (ETH) Merge activated in public testnets Ropsten and Sepolia;

July 15, 2022: The Merge activation in mainnet tentatively scheduled for mid-September by coordinator Tim Beiko.

The Merge: The Next Steps

Once The Merge upgrade is live in mainnet and Ethereum (ETH) is running on proof of stake (PoS), the Shanghai update will be its first hard fork in the new consensus. Shanghai will change some aspects of UX/UI, upgrade EVM and reduce gas costs for end users. Also, native execution of BLS operations by Ethereum Virtual Machine will be added.

Last but not least, in the coming months, Ethereum (ETH) will most likely activate sharding. The blockchain will be split up into a network of shards, or interconnected sub-chains. Not unlike NEAR Protocol (NEAR) and Harmony (ONE), this update will improve the performance and throughput of the Ethereum (ETH) mainnet.

Bonus: Will The Merge affect the Ethereum (ETH) price?

As The Merge is the most radical upgrade for Ethereum (ETH) tokenomics, let alone technology, many ETH holders and potential investors are wondering whether it will somehow affect the Ether price.

Typically, every major upgrade is a powerful short-term catalyst for altcoins’ prices. Moreover, with Ethereum’s (ETH) transition to proof of stake, ETH holders will be incentivized to lock their riches for staking. This, in turn, will significantly reduce selling pressure.

Bottom line

Ethereum (ETH), the largest smart contracts network, will replace proof-of-work consensus with a proof-of-stake one on September 19, 2022, with The Merge mainnet activation.

This update is the result of three years of R&D efforts by Ethereum (ETH) developers and one of the most crucial technical changes in crypto’s entire history. Ethereum (ETH) mining will be replaced by staking as the way to add blocks to the mainnet.

Migration to proof of stake makes Ethereum (ETH) more resilient to centralization efforts, eco-friendly and resource efficient. #Ethereum News

https://u.today/ethereum-on-proof-of-stake-comprehensive-guide-to-the-merge

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⚠️ Ripple appearance at the Headquarters of the Bank of Spain

⚠️ Ripple appearance at the Headquarters of the Bank of Spain, Co-organised by the Reinventing BRETTON WOODS Committee⚠️
September 10 and 11, 2019

Full video: https://youtu.be/kUx1pJ9wadQ?si=FrqIfoeWJHtgBZXa

00:07:08
📽️ One of the most important things we’ve done at Pyth is help bring U.S. GDP onchain 🏛️

Working with the U.S. Department of Commerce to publish official economic data on a public blockchain is a powerful signal of where global market infrastructure is headed. When core economic indicators become cryptographically verifiable, composable, and accessible in real time, it opens the door to a more transparent and more efficient financial system for everyone.

Thanks to Roundtable and Jackson Hinkle for hosting a thoughtful conversation on how this came together and what it means for the future of market data.

In a conversation with Jackson Hinkle

Full interview link: https://www.thestreet.com/crypto/policy/why-washington-is-experimenting-with-public-blockchains-for-economic-data

00:04:14
Patent US10144532B2 | Craft using an inertial mass reduction device

🚀 The Mind-Blowing Patent That Could Revolutionize Space Travel: US Navy's Anti-Gravity Craft! 🛸

December 4, 2018 - The day physics got weird

🤯 What If I Told You...

The US Navy patented a spacecraft that could bend the laws of physics as we know them? No, this isn't science fiction or the latest Marvel movie – this is US Patent US10144532B2, and it's about to blow your mind! 💥

🎯 The Patent That Made Physicists Go "Wait, WHAT?!"

Filed on April 28, 2016, and granted on December 4, 2018, this patent describes a "Craft Using an Inertial Mass Reduction Device" – which is fancy talk for "spaceship that can make itself lighter than physics allows."

Invented by Salvatore Cezar Pais and assigned to the US Department of Navy, this isn't your average paper airplane design. We're talking about technology that could theoretically allow spacecraft to travel at extreme speeds by literally manipulating the fabric of spacetime itself! ⚡

🔬 The Science Behind the Magic✨

👉Here's where it gets really wild:

🌀 The ...

00:05:23
👉 Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading

Custom AI assistants that print money in your sleep? 🔜

The future of Crypto x AI is about to go crazy.

👉 Here’s what you need to know:

💠 'Based Agent' enables creation of custom AI agents
💠 Users set up personalized agents in < 3 minutes
💠 Equipped w/ crypto wallet and on-chain functions
💠 Capable of completing trades, swaps, and staking
💠 Integrates with Coinbase’s SDK, OpenAI, & Replit

👉 What this means for the future of Crypto:

1. Open Access: Democratized access to advanced trading
2. Automated Txns: Complex trades + streamlined on-chain activity
3. AI Dominance: Est ~80% of crypto 👉txns done by AI agents by 2025

🚨 I personally wouldn't bet against Brian Armstrong and Jesse Pollak.

👉 Coinbase just launched an AI agent for Crypto Trading

🚨 Ripple Drops $2.7 B Cash-and-Stock Deal for Full-Stack Financial Platform 🚨

Ripple has agreed to buy (subject to CFIUS and EC clearance) a yet-unnamed “full-stack” payments, FX and treasury-suite provider—valued at $2.7 B, its largest acquisition to date—to fold fiat rails, card issuing and 200+ country licenses directly into the XRP Ledger ecosystem, according to Crypto Threads’ unnamed sources close to the board.

🔑 Key points

🔹 Target profile:

  • 1,100 employees, 42 offices; owns EMI licenses in EU/UK, MSB registrations in 47 U.S. states, PI/PF licenses in Singapore, HK, UAE; processes $48 B annual payments volume, 65 % B2B cross-border.

  • Proprietary FX engine aggregates 450+ correspondent-bank routes plus four CSD access points (Fedwire, TARGET2, BOJ-NET, CHATS); average FX markup 18 bps vs Ripple ODL’s current 60 bps.

  • White-label card platform (Visa Fintech Fast-Track member) with 3.2 M virtual cards issued; instant push-to-debit rails in 70 countries.

🔹 Deal ...

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JUST IN - Trump announces 10% tariffs for Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, UK, Netherlands and Finland from Feb 1st, 👉 increasing to 25% on June 1st, until "a Deal is reached for the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland."

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Bank of England must plan for financial crisis sparked by aliens 👽

A former analyst at the central bank has urged governor Andrew Bailey to put contingencies in place to prevent collapse if alien life is confirmed

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/bank-of-england-must-prepare-for-ufo-announcement-f3mh8l9vh

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🚨David Grusch on The Megyn Kelly Show🚨

Earlier this week, UFO/UAP whistleblower David Grusch appeared on The Megyn Kelly Show for a brief but revealing interview. During the conversation, Grusch named individuals he claimed were involved in managing the alleged UFO/UAP Legacy crash retrieval program, statements that immediately drew attention across the disclosure community.

Most notably, Grusch asserted that former Vice President Dick Cheney played a central role in overseeing the program. Cheney’s name has circulated within UFO/UAP research circles for years, but this marks the first time it has been spoken publicly by a former intelligence official who claims direct knowledge of the issue. It is also notable that just weeks ago, journalist Ross Coulthart independently referenced Cheney in a similar context, lending additional weight to the consistency of these claims.

Grusch also named former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, stating that Clapper was not only aware of the crash retrieval issue, but managed it and helped place individuals into key roles, both publicly and behind the scenes. These are serious assertions that warrant scrutiny and further investigation, given their potential implications for disclosure.

Please watch the full interview and consider its significance within the broader context of the disclosure conversation. Please note that the interview concludes with a paid promotional pitch, and Grusch does not provide any additional comments after the pitch.

 

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Stellar CEO Reveals Where Real Opportunity Lies in Crypto Market: Details

In a recent tweet, Stellar Development Foundation (SDF) CEO and Executive Director Denelle Dixon defines what "real opportunity" is in blockchain as a new financial future beckons.

The SDF CEO was reacting to a recent Bloomberg report on Bank of New York Mellon Corp (BNY), Nasdaq, S&P Global and iCapital participation in a new $50 million investment round by Digital Asset Holdings. This comes as some of Wall Street’s biggest names embrace the technology that underpins cryptocurrencies to handle traditional assets.

Reacting to this development, Stellar Foundation CEO Denelle Dixon stated that every blockchain investment is a bet on a different financial future. Dixon added that seeing banks explore blockchain technology validates what has been known over the years.

Real opportunity defined

While Wall Street’s biggest names betting on blockchain might be one of the most significant adoption milestones in the digital asset market, Dixon defines what real opportunity is and what it is not.

According to the SDF executive director, real opportunity is not replicating old systems on new rails but rather building open networks that fundamentally expand global finance participation.

"But the real opportunity isn’t replicating old systems on new rails—it’s building open networks that fundamentally expand who gets to participate in global finance. That’s the opportunity," Dixon tweeted.

At the Meridian 2025 event, Stellar outlined its long-term privacy strategy, committing to investing in critical privacy infrastructure and building foundational cryptographic capabilities.

Stellar eyes privacy upgrade

A new protocol upgrade is on the horizon for the Stellar network: X-Ray, which lays the groundwork for developers to build privacy applications on Stellar using zero-knowledge (ZK) cryptography.

The protocol timeline testnet vote is anticipated for Jan. 7, 2026, while the mainnet vote is expected for Jan. 22, 2026.

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XDC Network's acquisition of Contour Network

XDC Network's acquisition of Contour Network marks a silent shift to connect the digital trade infrastructure to real-time, tokenized settlement rails.

In a world where cross-border payments still take days and trap trillions in idle liquidity, integrating Contour’s trade workflows with XDC Network Blockchains' ISO 20022 financial messaging standard to bridge TradFi and Web3 in Trade Finance.

The Current State of Cross-Border Trade Settlements

Cross-border payments remain one of the most inefficient parts of global finance. For decades, companies have inter-dependency with banks and their correspondent banks across the world, forcing them to maintain trillions of dollars in pre-funded nostro and vostro balances — the capital that sits idle while transactions crawl across borders.

Traditional settlement is slow, often 1–5 days, and often with ~2-3% in FX and conversion fees. For every hour a corporation can’t access its own cash increases the cost of financing, tightens liquidity that could be used for other purposes, which in turn slows economic activity.

Before SWIFT, payments were fully manual. Intermediary banks maintained ledgers, and reconciliation across multiple institutions limited speed and volume.

SWIFT reshaped global payments by introducing a secure, standardized messaging infrastructure through ISO 20022 - which quickly became the language of money for 11,000+ institutions in 200 countries.

But SWIFT only fixed the messaging — not the movement. Actual value still moves through slow, capital-intensive correspondent chains.

Regulated and Compliant Stablecoin such as USDC (Circle) solves the part SWIFT never could: instant, on-chain settlement.

Stablecoin Settlement revamping Trade and Tokenization

Stablecoin such as USDC is a digital token pegged to the US Dollar, still the most widely used currency for trade, enabling the movement of funds instantly 24*7 globally - transparently, instantly, and without the need for any intermediaries and the need to lock in trillions of dollars of idle cash.

Tokenized settlement replaces multi-day reconciliation with on-chain finality, reducing:

  • Dependency on intermediaries
  • Operational friction
  • Trillions locked in idle liquidity

For corporates trapped in long working capital cycles, this is transformative.

Digital dollars like USDC make the process simple:

Fiat → Stablecoin → On-Chain Transfer → Fiat

This hybrid model is already widely used across remittances, payouts, and treasury flows.

But one critical piece of global commerce is still lagging:

👉 Trade finance.

The Missing link is still Trade Finance Infrastructure.

While payments innovation has raced ahead, trade finance infrastructure hasn’t kept up. Document flows, letters of credit, and supply-chain financing remain siloed, paper-heavy, and operationally outdated.

This is exactly where the next breakthrough will happen - and why the recent XDC Network acquisition of Contour is a silent revolution.

It transforms to a new era of trade-driven liquidity through an end-to-end digital trade from shipping docs to payment confirmation – one infrastructure that powers all.

The breakthrough won’t come from payments alone — it will come from connecting trade finance to real-time settlement rails.

The XDC + Contour Shift: A Silent Revolution

  • Contour already connects global banks and corporates through digital LCs and digitized trade workflows.
  • XDC Blockchain brings a settlement layer built for speed, tokenization, and institutional-grade interoperability and ISO 20022 messaging compatibility

Contour’s digital letter of credit workflows will be integrated with XDC’s blockchain network to streamline trade documentation and settlement.

Together, they form the first end-to-end digital trade finance network linking:

Documentation → Validation → Settlement all under a single infrastructure.

XDC Ventures (XVC.TECH) is launching a Stable-Coin Lab to work with financial institutions on regulated stablecoin pilots for trade to deepen institutional trade-finance integration through launch of pilots with banks and corporates for regulated stable-coin issuance and settlement.

The Bottom Line

Payments alone won’t transform Global Trade Finance — Trade finance + Tokenized Settlement will.

This is the shift happening underway XDC Network's acquisition of Contour is the quiet catalyst.

Learn how trade finance is being revolutionised:

https://www.reuters.com/press-releases/xdc-ventures-acquires-contour-network-launches-stablecoin-lab-trade-finance-2025-10-22/

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