Ethereum Goerli test network activates Shapella upgrade, and the participation rate of verification nodes is 29%

It is reported that the Ethereum Goerli test network activated the Shapella upgrade at 6:26 on March 15. When the block was triggered, the verification node participation rate was 29%, which was low for Ethereum. In the YouTube live broadcast, Ben Edgington, the product leader of Teku, an Ethereum customer, admitted that the low participation rate might be due to the failure of the verification node to upgrade to the Goerli bifurcation in time.

Interpretation of this information:

On March 15th, the Ethereum Goerli test network successfully activated the Shapella upgrade, but with a relatively low verification node participation rate of 29%. Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain network that relies on a network of verification nodes to validate transactions and maintain the network’s security. Therefore, a low participation rate can be problematic for the network’s overall health and security.

In a YouTube live broadcast, Ben Edgington, the product leader of Teku, an Ethereum customer, explained that the low participation rate could be attributed to verification nodes not upgrading to the Goerli bifurcation in time. Upgrades to the Ethereum network require all nodes to agree on a specific set of changes, and the Goerli bifurcation was no exception. If some nodes fail to upgrade on time, they will not be able to participate in validating transactions, resulting in a lower participation rate.

The Shapella upgrade includes several changes, such as adjusting the number of rewards issued to miners, making the network more sustainable by gradually transitioning from a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism to a proof-of-stake (PoS) one. The PoS mechanism will require nodes to hold a certain amount of Ethereum tokens to participate in validating transactions, adding an extra layer of security to the network.

Overall, the successful activation of the Shapella upgrade is a step forward for Ethereum’s long-term development, but the low verification node participation rate is a reminder of the network’s need for a high level of coordination among its nodes. However, this may not be a significant concern for the larger Ethereum network, as the Goerli test network serves primarily as a testing ground for developers to experiment with new features and upgrades without affecting the main network.