Ethereum

**Three years ago today**, Ethereum completed The Merge - its historic transition from Proof-of-Work to Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism. **Key achievements:** - Energy consumption reduced by ~99.99% - Foundation established for future scalability improvements - Network security maintained through validator staking The upgrade marked a pivotal moment in blockchain technology, demonstrating that major networks can successfully transition to more sustainable consensus mechanisms. [Learn more about The Merge](https://ethereum.org/roadmap/merge/)

**Focus Tree**, a new productivity app, has launched on Starknet to help students maintain focus during study sessions. The app combines several key features: - **Timer-based focus sessions** that block distracting apps like TikTok and Instagram - **Community elements** for social accountability - **Digital rewards and NFTs** for completing sessions - **Virtual garden growth** as users progress Built on Ethereum's Layer 2 solution Starknet, Focus Tree aims to make productivity **open, social, and user-owned** through web3 integration. The app has shown strong early adoption with **65k unique active wallets** and consistent activity above 60k users in recent periods, making it one of the top traffic drivers on the Starknet network. Focus Tree represents a practical application of blockchain technology in the education and productivity space, gamifying study habits while giving users ownership of their achievements.

**Key Ethereum Developments:** - Pectra upgrade live with smart account features and 2x L2 capacity - Stripe launches stablecoin accounts in 101 countries - Uniswap reaches $3T all-time swap volume - Multiple L2s reach Stage 1: Base, Kinto, Scroll, and Starknet **Technical Achievements:** - ZKSync achieves full EVM equivalence - SuccinctLabs/RiscZero reduces block proving to 12s - Aztec launches public testnet for private L2 **Adoption Highlights:** - Coinbase integrates Farcaster social - AAVE partners with ANT for RWA marketplace - WorldID verifies 12.5M humans on L2 - MorphoLabs hits $1B TVL on Base

Microsoft Fabric users can now access Ethereum blockchain data through Space and Time's integration. This development marks a significant step in enterprise blockchain adoption. - The integration enables direct querying of Ethereum on-chain data - Space and Time, operating on ZKsync Chain, provides ZK-verified data - Enterprise users can now access trustless, queryable blockchain data for business analytics This collaboration bridges the gap between traditional enterprise systems and blockchain technology, making Web3 data more accessible to mainstream businesses.

A new 'Checkpoint' series has been introduced to provide condensed updates from Ethereum's weekly All Core Developer calls. - Series will cover 4-5 calls per update - Focus on high-level development progress - Aims to make technical discussions more accessible The initiative comes as Ethereum continues to evolve, with recent discussions including the Dencun upgrade coordination among core developers. *Follow the Checkpoint series to stay informed about Ethereum's technical development without getting overwhelmed by weekly details.*

The Ethereum Foundation emphasizes its dedication to treating information as a public good, highlighting two key initiatives: - **Research Grant Program**: Launched in 2022 to support academic research and knowledge sharing - **Next Billion Fellowship**: Focuses on documenting community impact stories and technological accessibility These programs align with the Foundation's core mission of keeping technology open and accessible while fostering community-driven development. *Learn more about ongoing research opportunities and fellowship applications through the Ethereum Foundation portal.*

Mulenga Kapwepwe, founder of the Women's History Museum of Zambia, initiated discussions with local tech experts about blockchain's potential role in cultural preservation. This exploration follows a growing trend of African cultural institutions seeking innovative technological solutions. The initiative connects with other regional movements like Bitcoin Dada in Kenya, which focuses on empowering African women in blockchain technology. Key points: - Museum founder exploring blockchain for heritage preservation - Local tech community engaged in discussions - Part of broader African tech adoption movement *This intersection of traditional cultural preservation and blockchain technology represents an emerging trend in African heritage institutions.*

The Ethereum Foundation's EcoDev Research Team has announced five six-month research fellowship positions. These fellowships aim to explore underutilized Ethereum use cases, offering participants a unique opportunity for in-depth research. Key points: - Five positions available - Six-month duration - Focus on underexplored Ethereum applications This initiative follows the recent Devconnect Scholars Program, which aimed to increase diversity in the Ethereum community. Both programs demonstrate the Foundation's commitment to fostering innovation and inclusivity in the Ethereum ecosystem. Interested candidates should check the Ethereum Foundation's website for application details and deadlines.

Ethereum's highly anticipated Cancun-Deneb upgrade has successfully launched, marking a significant milestone in the blockchain's evolution. Key improvements include: - Enhanced scalability and reduced transaction costs - Improved smart contract functionality - Increased network security measures The upgrade, part of Ethereum's ongoing development roadmap, aims to address previous limitations and pave the way for future innovations. While the immediate impact may be subtle, experts predict long-term benefits for developers, users, and the broader Ethereum ecosystem. As the community adapts to these changes, stay tuned for updates on how this upgrade shapes Ethereum's future.

In March 2024, Ethereum implemented EIP-4844 as part of the Dencun hardfork, strengthening its role as a data availability layer. This upgrade introduced "blobs" to enhance the network's capabilities. Key points: - EIP-4844 is a crucial component of the Dencun hardfork - The upgrade aims to improve Ethereum's data availability - "Blobs" were introduced as a new feature The Dencun hard fork, scheduled for March 2024, will activate multiple Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) on the mainnet. EIP-4844, also known as proto-danksharding, has garnered significant attention among these proposals. This upgrade represents a major step forward in Ethereum's ongoing development and scalability efforts.