Ethereum 2.0 will launch a new testnet, Spadina, before launching, focusing on testing storage and genesis blocks

Ethereum 2.0 is about to start, and the long-awaited network upgrade will convert Ethereum from a proof of work (PoW) to a proof of stake (PoS) model, while implementing various other enhancements. But before it goes live, there will be a short maintenance.

On September 14, the Ethereum Foundation announced that it will launch another parallel testnet called Spadina, which will run in parallel with the currently active Medalla testnet.

Why run a second testnet? According to a blog post by developer Danny Ryan, the development team does not want to disrupt the pace of developers who are testing on Medalla, but they do need an updated version of the testnet to allow developers to Some specific functions are tested above.

The Spadina testnet has a configuration similar to the mainnet. It will be launched later this month and will only run for three days. Its focus is on testing storage and genesis blocks. These two aspects are interrelated. Before the new beacon chain can start its first block (the genesis block), at least 16,384 validators must stake more than 524,000 ETH among them.

The Spadina testnet will give everyone an opportunity to experience this process and test the launch of the “Genesis Block”. In other words, as Ryan said, for everyone, before this large-scale launch, this will be the second “dress rehearsal” of Ethereum 2.0. He wrote in the article:

“We realize that engineers and the community can release another public testnet to run these initiatives before the mainnet goes live. At the same time, we hope that the rhythm of the Medalla testnet will not be disrupted. If all goes well, later this year Before the official launch of the mainnet, this should give us more confidence.”

Ryan added that the testnet may continue to operate after the planned three-day cycle, but after this time period, they will no longer provide support.

Developer Raul Jordan recently wrote that the Ethereum 2.0 mainnet is scheduled to be officially released in November. However, the start-up has been delayed many times. Justin Drake, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, wrote in July that launching in January 2021 seems to be more realistic than launching in November.

The release of the second testnet shows that the Ethereum Foundation still sees some problems that need to be resolved before switching Ethereum 2.0 to the mainnet. Just last week, Jelurida developer Lior Yaffe (Lior Yaffe) described a potential vulnerability to Decrypt in detail.

The current Ethereum network is under huge throughput pressure, and on-chain transaction costs remain high. Now is the time to make changes.