Ethereum Launches ‚Shadow Fork‘ for Upcoming Shanghai Upgrade

• Ethereum developers have launched the first “shadow fork” of the upcoming network upgrade Shanghai.
• The shadow fork allows developers to test code before it deploys on the public blockchain.
• Over 16 million ETH have been locked since Ethereum began the transition from proof of work to proof of stake chain.

Ethereum developers have successfully deployed the first “shadow fork” of the upcoming network upgrade Shanghai. This fork offers an environment in which developers can test code before it deploys on the public blockchain, thereby ensuring that the code is safe and secure.

The upgrade, known as the Shanghai upgrade, will allow for withdrawal of staked ETH. It is a highly anticipated upgrade for the Ethereum network and will be used to facilitate the transition from proof of work to proof of stake chain. This transition has already seen over 16 million ETH locked since it began.

The shadow fork was executed at around 5:40 am ET on Monday 23 January 2023. However, there were some minor technical glitches with nodes using Geth clients. Fortunately, the developers managed to fix the hitches, with all nodes being in agreement at the time of the update.

The next step now involves the activation of the withdrawal-mainnet-shadow-fork-1 at a later stage. This will allow developers to test the network by running malicious nodes in order to check its security and robustness.

The successful launch of the shadow fork is a major milestone for Ethereum as it moves closer to the full deployment of the Shanghai upgrade. This upgrade is expected to bring a range of new features and improvements to the Ethereum network, including decreased transaction costs, increased scalability, and enhanced safety.

The Ethereum Foundation is confident that the Shanghai upgrade will be a major step forward for the Ethereum network and will enable the network to reach its full potential. With the successful launch of the shadow fork, developers are now looking forward to the activation of the withdrawal-mainnet-shadow-fork-1 and the full deployment of the Shanghai upgrade.