As Ethereum is steadily approaching the transition to a Proof-of-Stake mechanism, one notable thing that has changed, aside from further protocol development, has been the change in terminology.
We have already covered Ethereum 2.0 extensively in one of our ongoing blogs where we go in-depth on everything you need to know about Ethereum’s transition to PoS:
Let’s take a closer look at the rebranding from Ethereum 2.0 to the Ethereum Merge, as well as go over the most recent developments in Ethereum’s roadmap as of May 2022.
Check out our latest video- Ethereum Merge: ALL you need to know (including ETHPOW)
Ethereum Merge: ALL you need to know (including ETHPOW)
The term “Eth2.0” was retired in early 2022 to avoid confusion and scams, and to better reflect Ethereum’s evolution—not replacement. The Merge, completed in September 2022, unified Ethereum’s original execution layer with the Beacon Chain’s Proof-of-Stake consensus. By 2025, this rebranding has proven prescient: Ethereum’s roadmap has expanded far beyond the original Eth2.0 vision, with Layer 2 rollups, proto-danksharding, and modular scaling now driving innovation. The shift in terminology helped clarify that Ethereum remains one chain, continuously upgraded—not split or replaced.
ETH Merge is a huge success!
On 15th September 2022 at 06:42:42 UTC at block 15537393, the Merge was completed.
And we finalized!
Happy merge all. This is a big moment for the Ethereum ecosystem. Everyone who helped make the merge happen should feel very proud today.
Missed our historical LIVE Merge party? Check it out here!
Ethereum Merge Party – Watch the Merge live!
Ethereum Post-Merge: Where Things Stand in 2025
Since the successful Merge on 15th September 2022, Ethereum has fully transitioned to Proof-of-Stake, eliminating mining and reducing energy consumption by over 99%. The focus has shifted from testing Merge readiness to scaling and optimizing the network. Key milestones since the Merge include:
Staking Growth: Over 30 million ETH is now staked, with thousands of validators securing the network.
Scalability Upgrades: Proto-danksharding (EIP-4844) was implemented in late 2024, significantly reducing Layer 2 fees and paving the way for full sharding.
Layer 2 Expansion: Rollups like Optimism, Arbitrum, and zkSync have seen explosive growth, handling the majority of Ethereum transactions.
Institutional Adoption: Ethereum’s energy-efficient design and predictable monetary policy have attracted major financial institutions and enterprise use cases.
The Merge is no longer a future milestone—it’s the foundation for Ethereum’s next phase: modular scalability, global adoption, and sustainable infrastructure.
Why the Ethereum Merge Still Matters to Crypto Traders in 2025
Although the Merge was completed nearly three years ago—on 15th September 2022—it continues to influence Ethereum’s trading dynamics in significant ways. Here’s why it remains relevant to traders today:
Reduced ETH Supply and Market Scarcity
The Merge reduced ETH issuance by approximately 90%. Combined with EIP-1559’s fee-burning mechanism, Ethereum has become deflationary during periods of high network activity.
This scarcity has strengthened Ethereum’s position as a store of value, attracting long-term investors and institutional interest.
Staking Rewards and Yield Opportunities
ETH holders can earn staking rewards by locking up their tokens. As of August 2025, staking yields range between 4% to 6%, depending on network conditions.
Traders now consider staking returns when evaluating ETH’s opportunity cost relative to other assets.
Layer 2 Growth and Transaction Efficiency
The Merge enabled scalability upgrades such as proto-danksharding (EIP-4844), which significantly lowered Layer 2 transaction fees.
A majority of ETH trading now occurs on rollups like Arbitrum, Optimism, and zkSync, offering faster execution and lower costs.
Environmental Sustainability and Institutional Access
Ethereum’s energy consumption dropped by more than 99% post-Merge, making it one of the most environmentally sustainable blockchains.
This shift has made ETH more appealing to ESG-conscious investors and funds that previously avoided energy-intensive assets.
Price Behavior and Market Sentiment
ETH’s price has shown resilience, supported by reduced sell pressure, staking lockups, and expanding utility across DeFi and NFTs.
Traders monitor staking inflows, validator performance, and Layer 2 activity as key indicators for ETH price trends.
Ethereum ($ETH) Price Trends Since the Merge: 2025 Insights
Since the Ethereum Merge on 15th September 2022, ETH’s price trajectory has been shaped by a mix of protocol-level changes, macroeconomic factors, and evolving market sentiment. Here’s a breakdown of how prices have responded and what traders are watching now:
Initial Reaction and Short-Term Volatility
In the hours following the Merge, ETH saw a modest price increase, briefly peaking above US$1,640 before settling below US$1,600.
Traders were cautious, anticipating potential forks or technical disruptions, which kept early momentum subdued.
Medium-Term Consolidation and Staking Dynamics
As staking rewards became more accessible and the supply of ETH decreased due to reduced issuance and fee burning, ETH entered a period of steady accumulation.
By mid-2023, ETH had stabilized in the US$1,800–US$2,200 range, supported by growing validator participation and reduced sell pressure.
Long-Term Growth and Institutional Interest
The implementation of proto-danksharding in late 2024 significantly lowered Layer 2 transaction costs, boosting network activity and reinforcing ETH’s utility.
By August 2025, ETH is trading above US$3,000, driven by deflationary pressure, staking lockups, and increased adoption across DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise applications.
Key Price Drivers in 2025
Environmental Appeal: Ethereum’s energy-efficient design has made it a preferred asset for ESG-focused investors.
Deflationary Supply: With issuance down and EIP-1559 continuing to burn fees, ETH’s circulating supply has declined, supporting upward price pressure.
Staking Yield: ETH staking yields remain attractive, encouraging long-term holding and reducing market liquidity.
Layer 2 Ecosystem: Rollups now handle the majority of Ethereum transactions, improving user experience and expanding use cases.
Ethereum has changed a lot since the Ethereum 2.0 upgrade began. Now fully running on Proof-of-Stake, the network is faster, cheaper, and uses way less energy. With sharding and other upgrades complete, Ethereum can handle over 100,000 transactions per second, making it a top choice for apps, games, and finance tools.
This article explains how Ethereum got here, what each upgrade did, and why it matters. Whether you’re new to crypto or already staking ETH, this guide will help you understand Ethereum’s journey and what’s next.
What is Ethereum 2.0?
Ethereum 2.0—now simply called Ethereum—was a major upgrade that transformed the network from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake. This shift made Ethereum far more energy-efficient and scalable. The upgrade included several key milestones:
The Merge (2022): Combined the original Ethereum mainnet with the Beacon Chain, switching the consensus mechanism to Proof-of-Stake.
Sharding (Completed 2024): Split the network into multiple shards to boost speed and reduce costs. Ethereum now handles over 100,000 transactions per second.
Staking: Users can earn passive income by staking ETH to help secure the network. As of mid-2025, staking yields average around 3.7% APR. Check out our staking guide HERE
These upgrades have made Ethereum faster, cheaper, and more accessible. Validators no longer need expensive hardware, and anyone can run a node—even from a laptop or phone. Ethereum now powers a massive ecosystem of DeFi apps, NFTs, and Web3 platforms, and continues to lead innovation in blockchain technology.
This guide will cover the timeline for the upgrade to ETH2.0 and the solutions proposed.
Ethereum 2.0 Key features and what you need to know video
The 3 Phases of Ethereum 2.0
Ethereum 2.0 will be launched in 3 phases:
Phase 0- Beacon Chain – Completed in 2020
Phase 1- The Merge – Completed September 2022
Phase 2- Sharding
Ethereum 2.0—now simply Ethereum—was rolled out in three major phases, each transforming the network’s scalability, security, and sustainability:
Phase 0: Beacon Chain (Completed December 2020)
This phase introduced the Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism via the Beacon Chain. It ran in parallel with the original Ethereum chain and laid the foundation for future upgrades by coordinating validators and generating randomness for staking.
Phase 1: The Merge (Completed September 2022)
The Merge combined the Beacon Chain with Ethereum’s mainnet, officially transitioning the network from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake. This reduced Ethereum’s energy consumption by over 99.9% and eliminated the need for mining.
Phase 2: Sharding (Completed Q4 2024)
Sharding split Ethereum’s data processing across multiple chains (“shards”), dramatically increasing throughput and lowering costs. Combined with Layer 2 rollups, Ethereum now handles over 100,000 transactions per second. Validators can run nodes on lightweight devices, boosting decentralization and accessibility.
Main features of sharding:
Ethereum’s sharding implementation is now complete, delivering major improvements in scalability and decentralization:
Lightweight Node Requirements: Validators no longer need to store the full blockchain. Thanks to data sampling and blob transactions, even mobile devices can run nodes.
Greater Security via Decentralization: With over a million active validators, Ethereum is more resilient and censorship-resistant than ever.
High Throughput: Combined with Layer 2 rollups, sharding enables over 100,000 transactions per second, significantly reducing gas fees.
Efficient Data Distribution: Ethereum uses 64 shards to spread data across the network, minimizing congestion and improving performance.
Optimized Rollup Integration: Rollups now directly access shard data, making them faster and cheaper, and enabling new use cases like real-time data feeds and decentralized AI.
What are layer 2 rollups?
Layer 2 rollups are scaling solutions that execute transactions off-chain and post compressed data back to Ethereum, reducing congestion and lowering fees. As of 2025, rollups have matured into the backbone of Ethereum’s scalability strategy.
Optimistic and ZK Rollups: Both types are widely adopted. ZK rollups, in particular, have gained traction for their speed and security, powering applications in DeFi, gaming, and identity verification.
Blob Transactions and Proto-Danksharding: Introduced in the Cancun-Deneb upgrade, blob-carrying transactions allow rollups to post large data payloads efficiently. This has drastically reduced costs and improved throughput.
Rollup-Centric Ethereum: Ethereum now functions as a data availability and settlement layer, while most user activity occurs on rollups. This architecture supports over 100,000 transactions per second.
Interoperability and Composability: Rollups are increasingly interoperable, allowing seamless asset transfers and smart contract interactions across different Layer 2s.
Decentralized Applications at Scale: From social media platforms to real-time multiplayer games, rollups have enabled dApps that were previously impossible on Layer 1 due to cost and latency.
Ethereum 2.0—now simply referred to as Ethereum—has completed its major transition phases and entered a new era of scalability and decentralization. Here’s a snapshot of its current state:
Proof-of-Stake Fully Operational: Since the Merge in September 2022, Ethereum has run entirely on Proof-of-Stake. Validator participation remains high, with over 1 million active validators and a network participation rate consistently above 99%.
Sharding Completed: As of late 2024, Ethereum successfully launched 64 shards, dramatically improving data throughput and enabling lightweight node operation. This has made it possible to run validator nodes on consumer-grade devices.
Rollup-Centric Architecture: Most user activity now occurs on Layer 2 rollups, which post data back to Ethereum using blob transactions introduced in the Cancun-Deneb upgrade. This architecture supports over 100,000 transactions per second.
Post-Merge Upgrades: Ethereum has progressed through the “Surge” (scaling via sharding), and is actively implementing the “Scourge,” “Verge,” “Purge,” and “Splurge”—a series of upgrades focused on censorship resistance, stateless clients, historical data cleanup, and protocol refinement.
Staking and Withdrawals: Withdrawals have been enabled since the Shanghai (Shapella) upgrade in April 2023. Staking remains popular, with yields averaging 3.5–5% annually depending on network conditions.
EVM Improvements: The Ethereum Virtual Machine has seen multiple enhancements, including support for Verkle trees and EOF (EVM Object Format), improving efficiency and developer experience.
How to set up an Ethereum Validator Node
Check out our LIVE demonstration on how to set up an Ethereum 2.0 Node
How to set up an Ethereum 2.0 node
I’ve also set up something called an Ethereum validator node for Ethereum 2.0. These nodes will be how Ethereum would run and how transactions are going to be validated in the future. So we’re going to explore all of these concepts as well in this guide.
Currently you can test out Ethereum staking on the ETH 2.0 Testnet set up by Prysmatic labs (aka Topaz). Since it’s a test, Ethereum will not be used, instead, it will use Göerli ETH, a free testnet version of ETH.
Time needed: 2 days
How to set up an Ethereum (ETH) Validator Node This guide has been adapted from the Prysm ‘Topaz’ Testnet Guide
Get some Göerli ETH
Göerli ETH is free to obtain and will be used to stake the 32 ETH required for the node. The easiest way to obtain the Göerli ETH is to use the social faucet.
Spin up a Server
You’ll need to be familiar with running a VPS server (you can use AWS, Hetzner or Linode). Recommended specs include an Intel Core i7 processor with 100 GB of SSD storage
Start your Beacon Node
Easiest way we found to do this is via Docker docker run -it -v $HOME/prysm/beacon:/data -p 4000:4000 -p 13000:13000 \ gcr.io/prysmaticlabs/prysm/beacon-chain:latest \ –datadir=/data
Wait (roughly 2 days) to get activated, and then you’re good to go!
Staking Ethereum on a validator node
Ethereum now operates fully under Proof-of-Stake, and staking remains a core mechanism for securing the network and earning passive income.
Stake Requirement: 32 ETH is required to activate a validator. This stake acts as collateral to ensure honest behavior and network uptime.
Rewards: Annual staking yields range from 3.5% to 5%, depending on network conditions and validator performance. Rewards are paid in ETH and accumulate over time.
Withdrawals: Since the Shanghai (Shapella) upgrade in April 2023, stakers can withdraw both principal and rewards. Withdrawals are processed in queue and typically take hours to days.
Risks: Validators face penalties for downtime or incorrect attestations. Slashing is rare but possible in cases of malicious behavior or prolonged inactivity.
Network Health: As of August 2025, over 1 million validators are active, and more than 30 million ETH is staked. Participation rates consistently exceed 99%, ensuring robust security.
Liquid Staking Options: For users with less than 32 ETH or those seeking flexibility, platforms like Lido, Rocket Pool, and Coinbase offer tokenized staking (e.g. stETH, rETH) with instant liquidity and pooled validation.
The Ethereum staking deposit contract was officially released on November 4, 2020, marking the beginning of Phase 0 and enabling users to stake ETH and become validators. While the original launch required careful navigation through the Ethereum Launchpad, staking has since become more streamlined and widely accessible.
As of 2025:
Deposit Contract Still Active: The original deposit contract remains the gateway for validator activation. Users must still follow the Launchpad process to generate keys and deposit 32 ETH securely.
Withdrawals Enabled: Since the Shanghai (Shapella) upgrade in April 2023, stakers can withdraw both rewards and principal. This has made staking more flexible and liquid.
Validator Growth: Over 1 million validators are now active, with more than 30 million ETH staked. Participation rates consistently exceed 99%, ensuring strong network security.
Liquid Staking Alternatives: Platforms like Lido, Rocket Pool, and Coinbase offer pooled staking and tokenized derivatives (e.g., stETH, rETH), allowing users to stake without the full 32 ETH requirement.
Security Reminder: Sending ETH directly to the deposit contract without using the Launchpad will still result in a failed transaction. Proper setup remains essential to avoid loss of funds or penalties.
Ethereum Staking Update: Yields?
Ethereum staking yields have stabilized following the full rollout of Proof-of-Stake and the Shanghai upgrade, which enabled withdrawals in April 2023.
Risk Factors: While slashing remains rare, validators must maintain uptime and correct behavior to avoid penalties. Liquid staking platforms typically abstract these risks for users.
Current APR: As of August 2025, the average annual percentage return (APR) for staking ETH ranges between 3.5% and 4.2%, depending on validator performance and network activity.
Yield Trends: Early stakers enjoyed higher returns (up to 16% pre-Merge), but yields have normalized as validator participation increased. Over 30 million ETH is currently staked, with more than 1 million active validators.
Liquid Staking: Tokenized staking options like stETH (Lido), rETH (Rocket Pool), and cbETH (Coinbase) offer competitive yields and instant liquidity, making them popular among users with less than 32 ETH.
Rewards Distribution: Staking rewards are paid in ETH and accumulate continuously. Validators earn from proposing blocks, attesting to others, and participating in sync committees.
You can check the current APR, total ETH staked, and number of validators here.
Progress of Ethereum 2.0 so far
Ethereum 2.0—now simply Ethereum—has completed its major upgrade phases and transitioned into a scalable, energy-efficient, and decentralized network. Here’s a summary of its progress:
Beacon Chain (Phase 0): Launched in December 2020, introducing Proof-of-Stake and laying the foundation for future upgrades.
The Merge (Phase 1): Completed in September 2022, merging the Beacon Chain with Ethereum’s mainnet and eliminating Proof-of-Work. This reduced energy consumption by over 99.9%.
Sharding (Phase 2): Rolled out in late 2024, Ethereum now operates with 64 shards, enabling lightweight node operation and dramatically increasing data throughput.
Post-Merge Upgrades: Ethereum has entered the “Surge,” “Scourge,” “Verge,” “Purge,” and “Splurge” phases—targeting scalability, censorship resistance, stateless clients, historical data cleanup, and protocol refinement.
Network Metrics: As of August 2025, over 30 million ETH is staked across more than 1 million validators. Participation rates remain above 99%, ensuring strong consensus and security.
Rollup-Centric Architecture: Most user activity now occurs on Layer 2 rollups, which leverage blob transactions for efficient data posting. Ethereum supports over 100,000 transactions per second.
What’s next in the development of Ethereum 2.0?
With the Merge and Sharding now complete, Ethereum has entered the post-2.0 era, focusing on refinement, decentralization, and long-term sustainability.
Ethereum 2.0 setup and architecture
The roadmap outlined by Vitalik Buterin continues through five major upgrade phases:
The Surge: Completed in late 2024, this phase introduced sharding and significantly boosted scalability. Ethereum now supports over 100,000 transactions per second, primarily through rollups.
The Scourge: Currently underway, this phase addresses MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) risks and aims to ensure fair, neutral transaction inclusion. Protocol-level changes are being tested to reduce centralization in block production.
The Verge: Focused on stateless clients and Verkle trees, this phase will allow validators to operate without storing full blockchain data. It’s expected to launch in stages through 2026, improving decentralization and node efficiency.
The Purge: Aimed at reducing historical data bloat, this phase will simplify node operation by removing unnecessary legacy data. It will also streamline the Ethereum protocol for developers.
The Splurge: A collection of smaller upgrades and optimizations, including EVM improvements, fee market refinements, and UX enhancements. These updates are ongoing and released incrementally.
Ethereum 2.0 is no longer a future milestone—it’s now fully integrated into the Ethereum protocol. The network has transitioned from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake, implemented sharding, and embraced a rollup-centric architecture. Here’s what has unfolded since the launch:
Scalability Achieved: Ethereum now supports over 100,000 transactions per second through a combination of sharding and Layer 2 rollups. This has eliminated congestion and dramatically reduced gas fees.
Energy Efficiency: The network consumes over 99.9% less energy than it did under Proof-of-Work, making Ethereum one of the most sustainable major blockchains.
Validator Participation: Over 1 million validators are active, securing the network with more than 30 million ETH staked. Lightweight node requirements have enabled broader participation.
Rollup Dominance: Most user activity now occurs on Layer 2 platforms like Arbitrum, Optimism, and zkSync. Ethereum Layer 1 serves primarily as a settlement and data availability layer.
Reduced Competition from “Ethereum Killers”: With its scalability and efficiency challenges resolved, Ethereum has maintained its dominance in DeFi, NFTs, and Web3 infrastructure. Competing chains have shifted focus to niche use cases or interoperability.
Ongoing Upgrades: Ethereum is now progressing through the “Scourge,” “Verge,” “Purge,” and “Splurge” phases, which aim to improve censorship resistance, decentralization, protocol simplicity, and developer experience.
Eventually, the number of transactions per second will drastically increase to over 100,000 tps. So, the question would be, what would happen to the competition i.e. the “Ethereum killers”? Find out more in our article: Ethereum Merge is coming, is this the end of Ethereum killers?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Will Ethereum 2.0 replace Ethereum?
No. Ethereum 2.0 was a series of upgrades that merged into the existing Ethereum network. The term is now outdated—Ethereum runs on Proof-of-Stake and sharding, but it’s still the same ETH.
Is there a new ETH coin?
No new coin was created. ETH remains the native currency. Beware of scams offering “ETH2” tokens—they don’t exist.
Can I withdraw staked ETH?
Yes. Since the Shanghai (Shapella) upgrade in April 2023, both staking rewards and principal can be withdrawn.
What’s the current staking yield?
As of August 2025, staking yields range from 3.5% to 4.2% annually, depending on network activity and validator performance.
Do I need 32 ETH to stake?
Not necessarily. While 32 ETH is required to run a validator node, liquid staking platforms like Lido, Rocket Pool, and Coinbase allow staking with smaller amounts.
Is staking risky?
Staking is generally safe, but validators can be penalized for downtime or malicious behavior. Liquid staking abstracts most of these risks for casual users.
Will Ethereum gas fees be lower now?
Yes. With sharding and rollups fully deployed, Ethereum can process over 100,000 transactions per second, significantly reducing gas fees.
Can I run a validator on a regular device?
Yes. Thanks to sharding and protocol optimizations, validators can now run on laptops or even mobile devices.
What happened to Ethereum mining?
Mining ended with the Merge in September 2022. Ethereum now uses Proof-of-Stake, and mining is no longer part of the protocol.
Will exchanges or dApps be affected?
No major disruptions occurred. Most exchanges and dApps transitioned smoothly during the upgrades.
Is ETH staking taxable?
Tax implications vary by country. In general, staking rewards are considered income and may be taxable when received.
What’s next for Ethereum?
Ethereum is progressing through the Verge, Purge, Scourge, and Splurge phases—focused on decentralization, data cleanup, MEV mitigation, and protocol refinement.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks and may result in the loss of your capital. You should carefully consider whether trading cryptocurrencies is right for you in light of your financial condition and ability to bear financial risks. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate widely in a short period of time. As such, trading cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, storing cryptocurrencies on a centralized exchange carries inherent risks, including the potential for loss due to hacking, exchange collapse, or other security breaches. We strongly advise that you seek independent professional advice before engaging in any cryptocurrency trading activities and carefully consider the security measures in place when choosing or storing your cryptocurrencies on a cryptocurrency exchange.
Staking on Ethereum 2.0 is finally live. However, the process of connecting your Ethereum (ETH) coins can be a bit tricky. It’s not all about sending 32 ETH to the contract. Doing so would end up with you losing your funds. In this tutorial, we will cover how to connect to the ETH staking contract through a validator node. Furthermore, we shall be using Allnodes, a non-custodial platform for hosting nodes.
How To Set up an ETH 2.0 Validator?
Setting up an Ethereum 2.0 validator remains a technical but increasingly accessible process. The following steps reflect the latest requirements and best practices.
Step 1: Prepare Your ETH and Wallet
You will need 32 ETH to activate a validator. Use a secure wallet such as MetaMask, ideally connected to a hardware wallet like Ledger or Trezor. Ensure your wallet is connected to the Ethereum mainnet and has enough ETH to cover gas fees.
Step 2: Hardware Requirements
With the rollout of Danksharding and increased network throughput, validator nodes now require more robust hardware:
SSD storage of at least 2TB, with 4TB recommended
Minimum 32GB RAM, preferably 64GB
Multi-core CPU with virtualization support
Reliable internet connection with at least 1GB/hour bandwidth for both upload and download
Step 3: Choose Your Hosting Platform
Allnodes continues to be a popular non-custodial hosting option. Monthly fees range from $5 to $10 depending on your configuration. Other platforms include DappNode, Avado, and Stakely.
Step 4: Use the ETH 2.0 Launchpad
Visit the Ethereum Launchpad to begin validator registration. Review the updated validator responsibilities, which include attesting to blocks, maintaining uptime to avoid slashing, and committing to long-term participation in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake system.
Step 5: Generate Validator Keys
Use the official Ethereum CLI tool to generate your validator and withdrawal keys. Choose your operating system and follow the instructions. Store your mnemonic phrase securely and offline.
CLI window
Step 6: Upload Deposit Data
Upload the deposit_data.json file to the Launchpad. Connect your wallet and confirm the transaction. You can verify your validator status on the Beacon Chain Explorer using your validator address.
Step 7: Finalize Hosting on Allnodes
Log into Allnodes and select the ETH 2.0 hosting option. Upload your deposit data, keystore file, and CLI-generated password. Monitor your validator’s performance through the Allnodes dashboard.
Step 8: Maintenance and Monitoring
Keep your node online at all times to avoid penalties. Use monitoring tools such as Grafana, Prometheus, or Allnodes’ built-in analytics. Annual returns for validators currently range between 3 and 4 percent, depending on network conditions.
Manage your Allnodes account
Keeping your Ethereum validator running on Allnodes is simple and secure:
Hosting Fees: Around $5–$8/month per validator. Pay with crypto or credit card.
Validator Rewards: Earn ~2.7–3.2% APR in ETH. Rewards auto-send to your withdrawal address.
Monitoring Tools: Real-time status, performance alerts, and uptime tracking via dashboard or external integrations.
Security: Allnodes is non-custodial. You manage your mnemonic and withdrawal keys—never share them.
Maintenance: Stay online 24/7, pay hosting fees on time, and monitor alerts to avoid penalties or slashing.
Update: Returns on my Allnodes node?
As of June 2022, my validator node balance is at 35.45202. This means I have earned a total of around 3.45 ETH since I set it up 2 years ago in 2020. Note that results may vary and those who set up their node earlier (as was in my case) were able to enjoy a 16% APY.
Conclusion
Ethereum 2.0 is being continuously developed by the Ethereum Foundation to be able to run on a wide range of computing devices. The above tutorial on how to set up an ETH 2.0 validator node using Allnodes covers every corner of the process. However, critical details such as mnemonics and passwords should be kept secure since they determine access to the deposited coins.
In addition, it’s worth noting that the process happens on three platforms, Allnodes, ETH 2.0 Launchpad, and CLI. Therefore, the three systems must harmoniously work together to get the desired outcome.
FAQs:
What if You Don’t Have the Full Amount?
Good question. First, NO. a validator node needs the full amount.
Can the ETH 2.0 Staking Contract Take Less Than 32 ETH?
However, you can still stake a lower amount only that it will be through third parties such as participating cryptocurrency exchanges such as Binance and Coinbase.
Can I withdraw the rewards I earn from staking?
NO, not until ETH 2.0 reaches Phase 1, which is likely to be in 1 year or possibly more.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency trading involves significant risks and may result in the loss of your capital. You should carefully consider whether trading cryptocurrencies is right for you in light of your financial condition and ability to bear financial risks. Cryptocurrency prices are highly volatile and can fluctuate widely in a short period of time. As such, trading cryptocurrencies may not be suitable for everyone. Additionally, storing cryptocurrencies on a centralized exchange carries inherent risks, including the potential for loss due to hacking, exchange collapse, or other security breaches. We strongly advise that you seek independent professional advice before engaging in any cryptocurrency trading activities and carefully consider the security measures in place when choosing or storing your cryptocurrencies on a cryptocurrency exchange.
Ethereum 2.0 is coming soon and the question everyone wants to know is “will it cause crypto prices to crash?” This is particularly as markets around the globe are not looking great, and that includes the crypto industry. Everything has been bleeding heavily for months without a sign of stopping, as central banks keep hiking rates, global supply chains struggle, and spending and investment dry up. Stagflation is a very real possibility, and there is no telling how long it will take for us to cool down the overheated markets that have been going only up since the last recession more than ten years ago.
The aforementioned notwithstanding, active development in the blockchain space continues to march forward. Although investments might drop significantly, many builders keep on building no matter the state of the markets. As Ethereum is steadily approaching the long-awaited transition from proof-of-work (PoW) to proof-of-stake (PoS), dubbed The Merge, it might be interesting to think about potential impacts of The Merge on the crypto market prices, especially in the context of a potential extended bear market.
In short, The Merge will result in Eth2.0’s Beacon chain (the coordination mechanism of the new network) merging with the current Ethereum mainnet, signifying the move to a fully PoS chain. To secure the network, enormous amounts of ETH will be staked in addition to the ETH already staked in the Beacon chain, making all of this locked ETH illiquid. Combined with the EIP-1559 upgrade, which now burns 70-80% of the fees, The Merge is expected to cause the equivalent of 3 bitcoin halvenings, dropping Ethereum’s inflation rate to 0.43% and locking up a lot of ETH, potentially reducing sell pressure by up to 90%. In addition, the PoS mechanism will reduce Ethereum’s energy consumption by up to 99.95%.
So all is looking great for Ethereum and projects building on top of it, right? Possibly. However, there is still a decent chance that, given the current market conditions, ETH’s price pump might be short-lived, and would continue to drop, bringing down a lot of other projects with it.
The Potential Impacts of The Merge
There are two possible scenarios to look at when discussing the downside impact of The Merge on crypto prices:
The external effect would be caused by Ethereum sucking out liquidity from other PoS alt-L1s and the projects built on top of them (especially if they’re EVM-compatible), as one of the more critical selling points compared to Ethereum is environmental sustainability.
Beacon chain staked ETH unlocks, extended bear market, and poor treasury management of Ethereum-backed projects could see more capitulation events as HODLers and projects sell off their ETH to stay afloat as new investments dry up and stagflation looms.
1. Ethereum Sucks Liquidity From Other PoS alt-L1’s
By offering lower gas fees, fast transactions, and relatively high throughput at the expense of decentralization and economic sustainability, many PoS chains have attracted developers, investors, and NFT ecosystems to their networks away from Ethereum. Ethereum’s high demand (=high fees), poor L1 scalability, and the concerning PoW mechanism have severely limited its growth. (https://rpdrlatino.com) Understandably, regular people simply do not want to pay exorbitant fees when minting and trading NFTs, and developing inaccessible dApps on a network that is supposedly destroying trees and warming up the planet.
The environmental argument will be completely invalid after the merge. Coupled with the enormous innovations in Ethereum’s L2 ecosystem, which have already reduced transaction fees to sub-$1 with no signs of stopping, Ethereum is set to once again become the most sought-after smart contract development platform. As post-Merge buy pressure of ETH increases and scalability improves, alt-L1’s could struggle to offer any significant unique selling points, making new projects opt to build on top of the most secure, established and decentralized smart contract chain out there.
As more and more people flock to Ethereum, established projects might also decide to migrate to the platform with the most demand and upside potential, effectively sucking out liquidity from other chains, and leaving them dry with evaporated treasuries, limited runway, and reduced demand. The strategy of subsidizing transaction fees during a bull market when funds are plentiful will likely not work when no new investments are coming in during a bear market, and an exodus of users is reducing demand and network revenues.
Of course, there is plenty of room for growth in this space, and projects existing on other chains might not find it too beneficial to move to Ethereum even though short-term liquidity issues might prove challenging.
2. Beacon Chain ETH Unlocks in Extended Bear Market Cause Mass Capitulation
The Merge will unlock a lot of ETH, resulting in a potential aggressive selling spree that might have trickle-down effects on a lot of other coins, especially those that have tight correlation with their ETH pair, are ERC-20 tokens, or have been sitting on ETH treasuries to fund their development. A lot more downside risk due to a selloff is also a very real possibility for ETH and other coins simply due to bad timing (i.e. bear market – with recession slowly creeping into our daily lives due to central banks raising interest rates, supply chain issues, energy crises etc.), the unlocked ETH might serve as a critical lifeline for those who had confidently staked their ETH during the bull market.
During the bear market, investments will be scarce, and projects that during the bull market had made the decision to not convert their treasury ETH to stablecoins are now seeing their wallets drop in value significantly, forcing them to capitulate by selling at low prices to cover their expenses.
However, it is important to note that the ETH unlocked from the ETH staked on the Beacon chain will not be immediately available right after The Merge. Rather, this feature – EIP-4895: “Beacon chain push withdrawals as operations”, will be enabled during the Shanghai upgrade. It will probably be deployed much later after The Merge, with estimates ranging from a month to 6 months. This means that any amount of potential sell-off of unlocked ETH would come with a significant delay post-Merge, at which point it’s impossible to predict where the market might be in 6-12 months and how it will behave, with contradicting bullish and bearish narratives clashing against one another in an attempt to drive price in either direction.
This option does seem a bit far-fetched, however, and no one knows how much more pain we will have to suffer before the momentum shifts towards the upside, so it’s best to be prepared for both the upside and downside, and not fall prey to only bullish narratives.
Conclusion
As outlined in the two main points, post-Merge many alt-L1 coins could face a risk of crashing even further due to risks associated with reduced liquidity in a bear market (for non-Ethereum coins), liquidity that might flow towards the Ethereum ecosystem due to its established security, track record, and newly acquired environmental sustainability.
On the other hand, ETH and other ERC-20 tokens living on Ethereum also run a risk of crashing, if the post-Merge ETH unlock from the Beacon chain results in a mass sell-off of ETH, which could crash other coins and project treasuries.
As this will be the first time the crypto industry experiences a recession or a stagflation, there is a lot of uncertainty about how low the market could go and, most importantly, how long it could stay so low. This is uncharted territory, so making comparisons with past cycles might not be particularly useful. Nations and companies will keep tightening their belts, and spending will significantly decrease across the board, leaving risk-on markets such as crypto vulnerable to a continued mass exodus to safer investments.
The highly anticipated Ethereum London Hard Fork upgrade went live on August 5th, 2021, which sent the price of ETH rallying to above $2,800 for the first time since June 7th on bullish sentiment.
The upgrade includes a fee reduction feature called EIP 1559, which burned more than 3,000 ETH in only a few hours since taking effect.
The latest backward-incompatible upgrade to the Ethereum blockchain introduced five new Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), ushering in a new era for the transition to Ethereum 2.0.
EIP 1559, EIP 3554, EIP 3529, EIP 3198 and EIP 3541 are code upgrades that aim to improve the network’s user experience and value proposition.
It is fair to say that the London upgrade received more media attention than previous upgrades, but rightfully so as this upgrade represents an important step forward for the cryptocurrency, proving that the Ethereum ecosystem is able to make significant changes.
That’s in stark contrast to Bitcoin, which is so decentralized that changes to its blockchain network are incredibly difficult.
The Ethereum blockchain still has major changes ahead, most notably its transition to a proof-of-stake (POS) system from a proof-of-work (POW) system. One of the biggest criticisms faced by Ethereum is its heavy energy usage and carbon emissions released during ether mining through proof-of-work.
A proof-of-work system relies on a network of computers around the world constantly running to solve complex problems to support and validate the blockchain. A proof-of-stake platform, which does not incentivize heavy energy consumption, allows users to put up their own tokens as collateral to support the blockchain network.
According to its founder Vitalik Buterin in an interview with Bloomberg, the change to proof-of-stake will reduce carbon emissions related to the mining of ether by 99%. Buterin expects the merge to Ethereum 2.0 to take place in early 2022 but it could come as early as late 2021.
The London hard fork “definitely makes me feel more confident about the merge.” Buterin told Bloomberg, going on to add that the transition to a proof-of-stake system would eventually change the economics of ether, such as a supply cap similar to bitcoin’s 21 million coin limit.
EIP 1559 – Making Ethereum less inflationary
The EIP 1559 upgrade is the most discussed code change of the London hard fork, altering the transaction fee structure for the Ethereum network. Instead of fees going directly to the miners that process and validate transactions, a base fee would instead go to the miners and to the network before being burned and removed from circulation.
EIP 1559 removed the first-price auction as the main gas fee calculation, where users typically bid a dedicated amount of money to pay for their transaction to be processed on the Ethereum blockchain.
Gas fees are fee payments required from users who create transfers or transactions on the Ethereum blockchain. Previously, users paid these fees without knowing the exact price to pay beforehand. In order to make sure the transaction gets processed, some users overpaid to ensure the transaction went ahead smoothly. Other users who paid less faced the uncertainty of whether the transaction will get processed in a timely manner.
The EIP 1559 changed the method by which transactions are processed on the blockchain by enabling clear pricing on a base transaction fee paid to miners in ETH to validate the transfers. A small amount of the tokens will be burnt and taken out of the circulating supply permanently. Users may also choose to include an optional tip, a “priority fee,” along with their base fee to incentivize miners for a quicker process if desired.
As a result of its activation, EIP 1559 improved user experience by automating transaction prices and taking the guesswork out of an opaque auction process, while still allowing miners to earn from tips and block rewards.
EIP 3554 – Defusing the difficulty bomb
EIP 3554 delays the “difficulty bomb” that is coded to make mining more difficult, essentially “freezing” it in preparation for Ethereum’s transition away from a proof-of-work model.
Also called the “Ice Age,” the difficulty bomb is intended to disincentivize miners from using proof-of-work once Ethereum 2.0 is ready by making block rewards much harder to come by. EIP 3354 pushes the Ice Age back to December 1st, 2021, hinting that the merge with Ethereum 2.0 may happen at the end of the year.
This is the fourth time that the difficulty bomb has been delayed, and unless the network is finally ready to move to proof-of-stake by the end of the year, it’s likely to be delayed once again in yet another network upgrade.
EIP 3529 – Reducing impact-less refunds
EIP 3529 reduces gas refunds, which were typically used to incentivize developers to reduce or delete unused smart contracts and addresses on Ethereum.
“Gas tokens” like Chi and GST2 gamed the system by taking up space on the network when gas fees were low and reaping the benefits by deleting their data when gas fees were high. With the implementation of EIP 3529, these tokens will become obsolete.
EIP 3198 – Improving smart contract UX
EIP 3198 improves the user experience of smart contracts by adding an operation code (opcode) that gives the EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) access to the block’s base fee.
The base fee is a small amount of Ether paid for each block created which can help with gas efficiency and reduction in transaction costs. Some applications will be able to use this fee, and other applications may choose not to use this opcode in their smart contract code if they do not need it.
This improves the user experience of smart contracts by increasing the security for state channels, plasma, optimistic rollups and other solutions that prevent fraud.
EIP 3541 – Making future updates easier
EIP 3541 sets up future upgrades to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) by removing the ability to start new contracts with “0xEF or Executable Format.”
Although it won’t have an immediate effect on the network, it sets up future changes and restricts the EVM from consuming specific data types.
ETH 2.0 Becomes The Leading Holder of Ether
At present, the staking contract of Ethereum 2.0 has become the largest holder of Ether (ETH).
According to blockchain analytics provider Nansen, the ETH 2.0 staking contract has surpassed Wrapped Ethereum (wETH) to become the single largest holder of ETH. Unlike Ether, Wrapped Ether adheres to the ERC-20 standard, making it the favored representation of ETH among decentralized finance protocols that use ERC-20 tokens.
Alex Svanevik, the CEO of Nansen, put up his findings on Twitter on August 16th, 2021. According to the available data, the Beacon Chain’s deposit contract holds 6.73 million ETH – worth roughly $21.5 billion at current prices.
Nansen analytics data
By contrast, Nansen’s data suggests the Wrapped Ethereum contract holds 6.7 million ETH ($21.4 billion), followed by Binance with 2.29 million ETH ($7.3 billion).
The quantity of Ether locked and staked on ETH 2.0 currently represents 5.7% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, according to CoinMarketCap. There are now 210,000 validators for the ETH 2.0 network, according to Beaconcha.in.
Currently, Ether staked on ETH 2.0 is locked up and cannot be withdrawn from the contract until Ethereum’s forthcoming chain merge, which will meld the Ethereum and ETH 2.0 networks.
According to Staking Rewards, ETH 2.0 is currently the third-largest proof-of-stake network by staked capitalization, ranking behind Cardano’s $49 billion and Solana’s $27.5 billion.
FAQ
What is the London hard fork?
Ethereum’s London hard fork is an irreversible network upgrade consisting of five Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs), all of which are code upgrades paving the way for the network’s transition in the future from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake.
What is EIP 1559?
EIP 1559 changes how transaction fees work on the Ethereum blockchain in two ways. First, it adds a base fee to every transaction that takes place on Ethereum. This base fee aims to lower overall costs to the user, because it will improve gas fee estimations.
Second, transaction fees will no longer go to miners, but to the Ethereum network itself, before being burned and taken out of circulation. These base fees are set using an algorithm and there will be an additional option to pay a tip to the miners to prioritize a transaction.
Burning base fees could result in a decreased supply of Ethereum, making ETH a deflationary currency.
What are the other key takeaways from the London hard fork?
The upgrades will provide a better smart contract use experience. Future updates of the network will become easier with the new proposals.
The network delayed the difficulty bomb to provide more time for the transition towards Ethereum 2.0.
Did the London hard fork create another token?
No. Often hard forks will lead to the creation of another token (such as the fork that created Ethereum Classic in 2016). However, in this case, the London hard fork can be considered as a network upgrade. Ethereum protocols will change, but it will still be the one and only Ethereum.
When is the transition to Ethereum 2.0?
The merge to Ethereum 2.0 is expected to take place in early 2022 or possibly in late 2021.
