What is the Ethereum Merge and when is it happening?

Welcome to the Cryptohunt Jam, where we spend one minute a day to explain crypto. In plain English.

The so-called Ethereum Merge has been all over the crypto news lately - but what is that and why are people so excited?

The Merge is the name of a major update to Ethereum, and it looks like that is going to happen around the middle of September.

And this update is a really significant one: It makes Ethereum much more energy efficient, and with that, much better for the environment.

Let's take a step back and see what makes that work: Up until now, Ethereum is using the same method to validate transactions as Bitcoin does, called Proof of Work. This method has major downsides, most importantly that miners have to waste a lot of energy. That's so bad for the planet that even governments have been thinking of banning it.

At the time of the Merge, Ethereum will switch to Proof of Stake. This alternative method to validate transactions is a big deal, because it reduces its energy consumption by over 99.9 percent. And as a nice side effect, things are also going to get much faster.

So, keep an eye on this - with Ethereum being the second largest crypto currency, the Merge is an important event. We are all for making our planet a bit healthier.

Disclaimer: This podcast references our opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Do your own research and seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.