Ethereum is a decentralized, open-source blockchain platform that allows for the creation of smart contracts and decentralized applications (DApps). It was launched in 2015, and since then, it has become one of the largest and most well-known blockchain networks in the world.
One way that Ethereum maintains its network is through the process of mining, which is the process of verifying transactions and adding them to the Ethereum blockchain. Miners use specialized computers to solve complex mathematical problems, and in return, they are rewarded with small amounts of Ethereum.
As the Ethereum network has grown, the mining process has become more competitive, and the rewards for successful miners have decreased. This has led to the development of more advanced mining hardware and the centralization of mining operations in certain regions of the world.
In an effort to address these issues and improve the scalability of the Ethereum network, the Ethereum Foundation is planning to implement a major upgrade called the Ethereum merge. This upgrade will introduce a new mining algorithm called proof-of-stake (PoS), which will replace the current proof-of-work (PoW) algorithm.
Under the PoS algorithm, miners will be required to hold a certain amount of Ethereum in order to participate in the mining process. This is intended to reduce the energy consumption and centralization of mining, as it will no longer be necessary to use expensive hardware to solve complex mathematical problems.
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