The Ethereum ‘merge’ is coming: What competitors Solana, Avalanche, and Tezos think of the upgrade
In the world of Ethereum, groups of developers, engineers, and so-called “proof-of-stake implementers” come together each week to chat via Zoom. Time after time, call after call, the biggest topic for discussion has been the timeline for the “merge,” a massive years-in-the-making upgrade for Ethereum that will dramatically improve its efficiency while reducing its environmental impact. On the calls, opinions had been split over whether to announce a specific timeline for the merge: a step that would generate buzz and excitement but, given the complexity of the upgrade, could lead to undue pressure and dashed expectations. But, on July 14, the influential Ethereum developer Tim Beiko released an estimated date for the merge: the week of September 19. Ether rallied in response.
