The upcoming launch of the Shanghai-Capella upgrade on the Ethereum mainnet has been eagerly anticipated as it will allow for the withdrawal of ether (ETH) from the deposit contract for the first time since the launch of the PoS-based Beacon Chain in December 2020. The upgrade, also known as Shapella, was tested on the Sepolia and Goerli testnets and was finally implemented on the third and final Goerli testnet on March 15, 2023. The mainnet hard fork is now scheduled to take place on April 12, 2023, at epoch 194048, as announced during the Ethereum All Core Developers Execution (ACDE) call on March 16, 2023.
It is anticipated that the Shanghai Capella Upgrade will implement EIP-4895, enabling the unstaking of ETH tokens and bringing the network one step closer to a completely functional proof-of-stake (PoS) blockchain network. This upgrade is crucial for those who wish to become validators on the Ethereum 2.0 network, as they were required to stake at least 32 ETH to the network, which was sealed indefinitely. With the Shapella enhancement, this issue will be resolved.
It should be noted that the Shanghai-Capella upgrade launch was delayed by one month due to Sepolia testnet execution delays. Nevertheless, the upgrade is eagerly anticipated, as it represents a major move forward in Ethereum’s evolution into a more efficient and scalable blockchain platform.
It is worthwhile to review Ethereum’s recent transition from proof-of-work consensus mechanisms to proof-of-stake consensus mechanisms. On September 15, 2022, Ethereum underwent the Merge, one of the most significant transitions in the history of cryptocurrencies. This is the first phase in Ethereum’s long-term plan to reduce gas fees, increase transaction speeds, and maintain its position as the world’s largest blockchain platform capable of smart contracts.
| ETHEREUM SHANGHAI UPGRADE (MAINNET) | April 12, 2023 |
| SHANGHAI UPGRADE ON GOERLI TESTNET (FINAL TESTNET) | March 14, 2023 |
| SHANGHAI UPGRADE ON SEPOLIA TESTNET | February 28, 2023 |
| FINAL ETHEREUM MAINNET MERGE | September 15, 2022 |
| BELLATRIX UPDATE | September 6, 2022 |
| SEPOLIA TESTNET UPDATE | August 22, 2022 |
| GOERLI TESTNET MERGE | August 11, 2022 |
| TENTH MAINNET SHADOW FORK | July 27, 2022 |
| SEPOLIA TESTNET MERGE | July 6, 2022 |
| MAINNET SHADOW FORKS | April 12, 2022 |
| KILN TESTNET MERGE | March 16, 2022 |
| ARROW GLACIER | December 9, 2021 |
| ALTAIR UPGRADE | October 21, 2021 |
| LONDON HARD FORK | August 5, 2021 |
Ethereum Shanghai Update:
The Ethereum Shanghai Upgrade is set to introduce significant updates and changes its blockchain EVM functionalities. The upgrade’s pre-release testnet, known as ‘Shandong,’ was launched on October 14, 2022, by the Ethereum Foundation to test and finalize Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) before their rollout in the actual Shanghai Upgrade.
The Significance of the Ethereum Shanghai Upgrade
One of the most significant changes expected from the Ethereum Shanghai Upgrade is the reduction in gas fees for layer-2 solutions running on top of Ethereum, such as Polygon and Optimism. These layer-2 solutions are crucial for making transactions on the Ethereum blockchain faster and cheaper, and the upgrade may potentially make them even more cost-effective.
Another crucial development that may come with the Shanghai Upgrade is the ability for those who have staked their ETH tokens to unstake them before its Merge. To become a validator in the new PoS Ethereum Beacon chain, individuals had to stake a specific amount of ETH in a deposit smart contract, which remained locked even after the merge. With the Shanghai upgrade, however, the lock-in may be released.
Finally, the Shanghai Upgrade is expected to bring updates to smart contract facilities, a critical development for Ethereum to stay ahead in terms of development. As the largest smart contract-capable blockchain network, Ethereum must maintain its competitive edge.
The Upgrade is an essential development for Ethereum’s growth and development. Its introduction is expected to reduce gas fees, enable the withdrawal of staked ETH tokens, and provide updates to smart contract facilities. These updates and changes will help Ethereum remain competitive and position itself as a leader in the blockchain space.
