The Ethereum network is set to experience a planned enhancement at block number 13,773,000, which is expected to happen on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. The specific date may vary due to fluctuating block times and timezones. We kindly ask that you upgrade your node by Sunday, December 5, 2021, to accommodate for the varying block times.
What is Arrow Glacier?
The Arrow Glacier network enhancement, much like the Muir Glacier, modifies the parameters of the Ice Age/Difficulty Bomb, postponing it by several months. This has similarly been executed during the Byzantium, Constantinople, and London network improvements. No additional changes are incorporated as part of Arrow Glacier.
The difficulty bomb impacts only Proof of Work networks, and is therefore present solely on the Ethereum mainnet and the Ropsten test network. With the recent developments towards Ethereum’s shift to Proof of Stake, it was concluded to temporarily delay the bomb on mainnet and aim to execute the Proof of Stake transition on Ropsten prior to the bomb’s activation on that network.
For additional information on Arrow Glacier and the background of the difficulty bomb, consult the Ethereum Cat Herders’ explanatory blog article.
Client Versions
To ensure compatibility with the Arrow Glacier enhancement, node operators must update their client version to one of those specified below:
Note: OpenEthereum, which was announced as deprecated earlier this year, has rolled out support for Arrow Glacier under version number 3.3.0-rc.14, which can be downloaded here.
For the moment, we still advise adhering to the earlier deprecation alerts and opting for an alternative client software. Should you decide to utilize OE for the Arrow Glacier enhancement, please proceed with caution and conduct an independent review of alterations to the codebase before deploying in a production environment.
Upgrade Specification and EIPs
The comprehensive specification for the upgrade is available in the execution-specs repository here.
One EIP is included in this upgrade: EIP-4345: Difficulty Bomb Delay to June 2022.
As an Ethereum user or ether holder, is there anything I need to do?
If you utilize an exchange, a web wallet service, a mobile wallet service, or a hardware wallet, you do not need to take any action unless your exchange or wallet service notifies you to undertake additional measures.
As a node operator or miner, what do I need to do?
Download the latest version of your Ethereum client, as depicted in the table above.
What happens if I am a miner or node operator and I do not participate in the upgrade?
If you are utilizing an Ethereum client that has not been updated to the most recent version (as listed above), your client will sync to the pre-fork blockchain when the upgrade occurs. You will remain on an incompatible chain following the prior rules and will be unable to send Ether or function on the post-upgrade Ethereum network.
What is a network upgrade in Ethereum-land?
A network upgrade signifies a modification to the fundamental Ethereum protocol, establishing new protocols to enhance the system. The decentralized character of blockchain systems renders a network upgrade more complex. Upgrades in a blockchain necessitate collaboration and dialogue within the community, as well as with developers of the different Ethereum clients, to ensure a smooth transition.
What occurs during a network upgrade?
After the community reaches a consensus regarding which modifications should be incorporated into the upgrade, alterations to the protocol are inscribed into the various Ethereum clients like geth, Erigon, Besu, and Nethermind. The changes to the protocol are activated at a designated block number. Any nodes that have not been updated to the new set of rules will be left behind on the old chain where the former regulations persist.
Why “Arrow Glacier”?
While we have recently adopted Devcon names for network upgrades, when we had an earlier enhancement that exclusively delayed the bomb, we opted to alter the naming convention. To emphasize the nature of the upgrade (delaying the “Ice Age”), we selected a glacier name, hence Muir Glacier.
This upgrade follows a corresponding pattern. As the transition to Proof of Stake approaches, a receding glacier was chosen, thus Arrow Glacier 🏔!
Thank You!
A heartfelt appreciation to the Ethereum community and to all Ethereum developers across various clients and platforms who come together to provide input, perspectives, and contributions. This may possibly be the final network upgrade on Ethereum before the transition to Proof of Stake. Let’s go!
Additionally, many thanks to Harshil Gudka for the cover illustration.
This is a dynamic and evolving highly technical domain. If you decide to follow the recommendations in this post and continue your participation, ensure you grasp how it influences you. You should recognize that there are associated risks, including but not limited to unexpected bugs. By opting to implement these recommendations, you alone accept responsibility for any consequences that arise. This post and its recommendations are not a sale of any type, and do not establish any warranties of any nature, including but not limited to anything pertaining to the Ethereum network or the Ethereum clients mentioned herein.