Ethereum is a protocol that has experienced significant changes. Teams are continually updating the protocol in order to meet global demand. Beyond protocol development, a critical change in Ethereum terminology has been important. At the end of 2021, the terms Eth1 and Eth2 were dropped by core developers, choosing to use the expressions “execution layer” and “consensus layer” instead. Today, the same is featured in the first quarter roadmap of ethereum.org.
- Eth1 → execution layer
- Eth2 → consensus layer
- Execution layer + consensus layer = Ethereum
Let’s explore the reasons behind the change.
Tl;dr;
- The terms Eth1 (and Eth2/Ethereum 2.0) are being phased out
- The new terminologies are available for the execution layer.
- The scaling roadmap of Ethereum allows it to continue in a decentralized manner
- These changes are unnecessary
Where Did Ethereum 2.0 Come From?
Ethereum has always had scaling as a part of its roadmap. The network will be scaled in a decentralized manner. Ethereum and Proof-of-Stake merged their forces in 2018. All of the above can be combined to make a single roadmap, “Ethereum 2.0”.
As the existing proofs-of-work chain is also part of this roadmap, Eth1 was eventually made obsolete due to the difficulty bomb. All applications will be migrated to a new location, the Proof-of-Stake Ethereum chain, also known as Eth2.
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What Changed?
As the construction of the new beacon chain started, it became clear that the phased roadmap was not for them. Ethereum 2.0 will take many more years before it is fully realized. This prompted a revival in proof-of-work chain research initiatives such as Stateless Ethereum. This paradigm would allow the network to grow at a slower pace.
An “Early Merger
The Ethereum network recently underwent a rebranding process and as part of that, the term “ETH2” has been replaced. This change was made in order to reduce the risk of scams, as well as to provide more clarity in the Ethereum roadmap.
The rebranding process involved updating the website, ethereum.org, as well as translating the content into more than 40 languages. Additionally, the website Ethereum Staking Launchpad (previously known as Eth2 Launchpad) has been updated to reflect the new terminology.
It is important to note that the name change does not affect the timeline of the Ethereum Roadmap. The current features (such as Fusion and Fragmentation) as well as the upcoming features will continue to be released on the same timeline.
The rebranding process has been a complex one and there may be some issues that were overlooked. If users encounter any problems, they are encouraged to raise an issue or create a public Pull Request on ethereum.org.
Finally, Ethereum is inviting users to contribute to their Translation Program in order to ensure that the new terminology is accurately represented in all languages. This will help to ensure clarity throughout the ecosystem and make it easier for users to understand Ethereum updates.