Ethereum 2.0 developers release public testnet ahead of proof of stake upgrade

What 

Ethereum 2.0 testnet ‘Kintsugi’ goes live in preparation for proof of stake merge

Why 

The testnet is designed for developers and the general public to experiment with Ethereum 2.0 ahead of the move to proof of stake

What next

Provided Kintsugi is a success, it will pave the way for future testnets to help simulate the transition

The Story

Ethereum developers have released the Kintsugi testnet In preparation for the upcoming Ethereum 2.0 upgrade, the proof-of-stake platform designed to make the blockchain’s transactions faster, cheaper and less energy-intensive.

The testnet is an alternative bitcoin blockchain that allows developers or bitcoin testers to experiment, without having to use real bitcoins or worry about breaking the main bitcoin chain. 

The Kintsugi testnet, named from the japanese word for using gold to repair broken objects without attempting to hide the damage, is the first of four testnets designed to simulate how the network will work once it goes to proof of stake. 

Designed for both developers and members of the public, the hope is that testing progresses smoothly in order to set the foundation for the upcoming testnets so they can be used to further simulate the transition.

First announced on the Ethereum Foundation blog in a post by Tim Beiko who coordinates the Ethereum core developers, the author laid out the remaining goals for the transition. 

“Once these have upgraded and are stable,” Beiko wrote, “next up is Ethereum mainnet’s transition to proof of stake.”

To learn more about Ethereum 2.0, visit our learning resource here.