The Ethereum merge, completed in September, transitioned the blockchain’s consensus mechanism from an energy-intensive proof-of-work (POW) to a proof-of-stake (POS) protocol. This has reduced energy consumption by more than 99.9%.1
The Ethereum merge, completed in September, transitioned the blockchain’s consensus mechanism from an energy-intensive proof-of-work (POW) to a proof-of-stake (POS) protocol. This has reduced energy consumption by more than 99.9%.1
For institutions, sustainability is a primary consideration when making investment decisions, as can be seen in the 5,000 signatories of the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment, including asset managers, pension funds, and banks.2
Sustainable investments are also a focus for individual investors: 53% of investors overall and 59% of millennials invest in companies or funds that have a strong profile of positive social or environmental impact.3 The improvement in Ethereum’s energy use enables it to act as a bellwether for broader investment into digital assets.
Proof-of-work protocols use computationally-intensive, and therefore energy-intensive, methods to validate and secure transactions. The cost of the energy and computer hardware required to gain control of 51% of the network, necessary for a hostile participant to have fraudulent transactions approved as valid, provides a preventative control.
With proof-of-stake, participants stake (pledge) 32 ETH, equivalent to around USD 41,0004 to become a validator. Validators are chosen at random to create a block of transactions or to verify (attest) blocks they do not create. They are rewarded for both. Since each node only validates a specified set of transactions, rather validating all new blocks under POW, the energy use is significantly reduced.
The staked ETH and rewards for validating and attesting are incentives for good behaviour. For bad behaviour, including collusion in attesting to malicious blocks or failing to validate when required, part or all of the staked ETH may be forfeited.
The Merge represents more than just a reduction in energy use and an improvement in the sustainability of the network. It also demonstrates that a decentralised blockchain community can come together to successfully implement change with the reliability and rigour expected of institutional-grade financial market infrastructure.
Unlike the traditional financial system, Ethereum does not have a central issuer or controlling body. Instead, it has a community which includes core protocol developers, validators/miners, application developers, market participants (exchanges, brokerages, and custodians), and holders of Ethereum.
The Merge has taken many years and the fact the final stage was implemented on a live global 24/7 network, which processes more than a million transactions per day5, without taking it offline is a significant achievement. The Merge has been likened by some to changing the engines of an aircraft, mid-flight. While time is needed to fully measure the outcomes, so far it is a success.
Looking to the future, it is time for the blockchain community more broadly to continue to do their part in improving the sustainability of digital assets, their energy use, and their energy sources, and for the Ethereum community to respond to other network challenges such as scalability or transaction costs.
This story covers three topics. First, as markets evolve, they often see a wave of new entrants who are subject to lower regulatory requirements than the incumbents, sometimes known as ‘regulatory arbitrage’.
Cryptoasset markets are often thought of as innovative, which is true in some cases, but not all. Slow processes and regulation can certainly be frustrating, but market participants should always be careful to not be blinded by neophilia, or a love of novelty.
The Ethereum merge, completed in September, transitioned the blockchain’s consensus mechanism from an energy-intensive proof-of-work (POW) to a proof-of-stake (POS) protocol. This has reduced energy consumption by more than 99.9%.1
Zodia Markets is proud to announce its signing of the Armed Forces Covenant, demonstrating its commitment to treat fairly those who serve, or have served in the military, and their families, and emphasising the company’s dedication to fulfilling its social responsibilities.
Brian McGleenon 14 June 2024·4-min read BlackRock (BLK) is leading the charge in the mass tokenisation of real-world assets on blockchains, according to Zodia Markets Ireland chair Michael Walsh.
The deal will strengthen Zodia Markets’ over-the-counter business while allowing Elwood to conentrate on its software-as-a-service activities.
The Securities and Exchange Commission is expected to follow the strategy employed in approving spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds for spot Ethereum ETFs, starting with rejections and ultimately granting approval on the initial final deadline on May 23, according to Standard Chartered Bank.
