Only These Ethereum Testnets Will Survive The Upcoming Merge

The much awaited Ethereum (ETH) merge is just around the corner. The developers have decided to shift their focus to maintain just two testnets after the shift to proof-of-stake.

The testnets labeled as ‘suitable’ for the merge are Goerli and Sepolia. The client developers have also decided to deprecate other testnets to stay focused on just the two mentioned testnets in a long run.

The merge is expected to take place around the third quarter of this year. As per the Ethereum foundation, the Gray Glacier Upgrade for block 15,050,000 is expected to take place by the end of June 2022.

The blockchain recently launched the merge on the Sepolia testnet, after a succesful Ropsten launch earlier this year.

These Testnets Will Not Survive The Merge

The foundation has made it clear in its latest blog that it will be deprecating the other testnets except for Goerli and Sepolia.

Hence, Kiln, Rinkeby, and Ropsten will not be working as the testnets after the merge.

Kiln is expected to be deprecated first. It will be shut down shortly after Ethereum’s mainnet transitions to proof-of-stake in the second half of 2022.

After Kiln, Rinkeby which ran through the merge on 8th June 2022 will shut down in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Ethereum foundation has suggested the developers who are currently using the testnet should migrate to Goerli or Sepolia.

However, the third testnet Ropsten will not be running in the merge at all and will be replaced by Sepolia.

It is expected to shut down in the second or third quarter of next year, a year after Sepolia has completed its transition to proof-of-stake.

Post Merge Maintenance Of Developers

After the successful upgrade of the Ethereum blockchain, the client developers will be responsible for maintaining the testnets Goerli and Sepolia.

Goerli will be merged with Prater Beacon Chain testnet. Its chain will remain open for the users who are willing to run the testnet validator.

While a new Beacon chain has been created for the transition of Sepolia to proof-at-stake. This chain will work in a way similar to the other testnets operating today. It can be operated only with the permission of a validated set.