The Ethereum Merge Explained
In September 2022, Ethereum underwent its most significant upgrade: The Merge.
**What Was The Merge?**
Ethereum transitioned from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake. This change:
• Reduced energy consumption by 99.95%
• Enabled native ETH staking
• Changed how new blocks are created
**Before vs After**
• **Before**: Miners competed using computing power
• **After**: Validators stake 32 ETH to participate
**Why It Matters for Stakers**
The Merge made ETH one of the most attractive staking assets. You can now earn rewards by helping secure the network.
**Current State**
Millions of ETH are now staked, and the network is more decentralized than ever. Anyone can participate through staking pools or personal validators.