Announcing the Berlin Upgrade on the Energy Web Chain
TL/DR:
- The Berlin upgrade is coming to the Energy Web Chain (EWC) on July 6th.
- This update will improve EWC performance and security, and keep the EWC aligned with the latest developments in the Ethereum ecosystem.
- If you are running an EWC node, you must update it to a Berlin-compatible client and update the chainspec as soon as possible. EWC validators have already completed all the necessary updates.
- If you are an EWC user or EWT holder, no action is required.
In April 2021 the Ethereum mainnet implemented the Berlin upgrade, which introduced four improvement proposals (i.e., EIP-2565, EIP-2718, EIP-2929, and EIP-2930) that modified gas prices and created new transaction types. Combined, these updates improve the overall performance and security of EVM blockchains (including the Energy Web Chain).
In May 2021, after observing the successful Ethereum upgrade, the EWC validators voted to adopt Berlin on the EWC as well. Since then the EWC validators have successfully implemented the upgrade on the Volta test network and are now preparing for the upgrade to occur on the main EWC.
The EWC Berlin upgrade will occur at block 12,649,625, which will occur on or around Tuesday, 6 July (the precise time will depend on block time variation). All full node operators must update their node to a Berlin-compatible client and implement the Berlin chainspec prior to the hard fork transition block. Due to subtle variations in the EWC block time, it is recommended to perform the update several days prior to the expected transition date.
FAQ
Who does this announcement impact?
This announcement only impacts people or organizations that are operating a full node on the EWC. All EWC node operators should update the client and chainspec as soon as possible. As of the time of publication, all EWC validators have already completed the necessary updates to successfully implement the Berlin upgrades.
If I’m an EWT holder but I’m not operating my own full node, is there anything I need to do?
No, if you connect to the EWC via the public RPC and Metamask, an exchange (including Kucoin, Kraken, Liquid, Bitmart, or Hotbit), a web wallet (e.g., MyCrypto), or hardware wallet (e.g., Trezor, Ledger) then you do not need to take any action.
Why is the Berlin upgrade happening on the EWC?
The EWC is a public, proof-of-authority EVM blockchain and it benefits from adopting the latest upgrades and improvements from the wider Ethereum community. The EWC validators voted to adopt the upgrades contained in the Berlin fork in May 2021.
What will happen before, during, and after the upgrade?
As mentioned above, the decision to proceed with the upgrade is made by the EWC validators via the established governance process. After the decision is approved and before the upgrade occurs, all EWC validators and other node operators will update their node clients and chainspecs. During the upgrade (i.e., at the specified transition block), the new rules defined within the improvement proposals will take effect, creating a “new and improved” version of the EWC. There are no expected operational or performance impacts to the EWC during the upgrade. Following the upgrade, users and node operators can continue to interact with the EWC as normal.
If you have any questions or encounter any issues, please get in touch via our Telegram or Discord channels.
