The Merge brings down Ethereum’s network power consumption by over 99.9%

The Merge, which is considered 1 of the astir important blockchain upgrades connected Ethereum (ETH) to date, brought down the network’s vigor depletion by 99.9% immediately.

On Sept. 15, the Ethereum blockchain migrated from proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) statement mechanics successful an effort to modulation into a greenish blockchain. What followed was an contiguous and steep driblet successful full vigor depletion of the Ethereum network.

The Ethereum Energy Consumption Index. Source: digiconomist.net

Before the Merge upgrade, successful 2022, the vigor depletion of Ethereum ranged betwixt 46.31 terawatt hr (TWh) per twelvemonth to 93.98 TWh per year. The lowest vigor depletion for Ethereum was recorded connected Dec. 26, 2019, astatine 4.75 TWh per year.

The estimated yearly vigor depletion successful TWh/yr for assorted industries. Source: ethereum.org

Starting from Oct. 15, the time of the Ethereum Merge, Ethereum’s vigor dropped down by implicit 99.9% and continues to support debased vigor usage. As a result, the network’s c footprint presently stands astatine 0.1 cardinal tonnes of CO2 (MtCO2) per year.

When translated to azygous Ethereum transactions, the electrical depletion is arsenic debased arsenic 0.03 kilowatt hr (kWh) and the c footprint stands astatine 0.01 kgCO2, which according to digiconomist, is equivalent to the vigor utilized erstwhile watching 2 hours of YouTube.

Related: Ethereum sets grounds ETH abbreviated liquidations, wiping retired $500 cardinal successful 2 days

Despite the celebrations astir Ethereum’s modulation to PoS, assemblage members raised concerns related to the blockchain’s centralization and higher regulatory scrutiny.

The centralization facet became evident close aft the Merge, arsenic 46.15% of the nodes for storing data, processing transactions and adding caller blockchain blocks could beryllium attributed to conscionable 2 addresses.

While Ethereum proponents assertion that anyone with 32 ETH tin go a validator, it is important to enactment that 32 ETH, oregon astir $41,416, is not a tiny magnitude for a newbie oregon communal trader.