Announcing the London Upgrade on the Energy Web Chain

TL/DR:

• The London upgrade is coming to the Energy Web Chain (EWC) on November 10th.
• This update will modify the transaction fee market, 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 London-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 August 2021 the Ethereum mainnet implemented the London upgrade, which introduced five improvement proposals that modified the way transaction fees and gas refunds are handled. Combined, these updates improve the overall performance and usability of EVM blockchains (including the Energy Web Chain).

In September 2021, after observing the successful Ethereum upgrade, the EWC validators voted to adopt London 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 London upgrade will occur at block 14,735,788, which will occur on or around Wednesday, 10 November (the precise time will depend on block time variation). All full node operators must update their node to a London-compatible client and implement the London chainspec prior to the 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 London 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 London 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 London upgrade in September 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 chain specs. 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.

About Energy Web

Energy Web (EW) is a global nonprofit organization accelerating a low-carbon, customer-centric electricity system by unleashing the potential of open-source, decentralized technologies. Energy Web focuses on building core infrastructure and shared technology, speeding the adoption of commercial solutions, and fostering a community of practice.

Visit energyweb.org to find out more.
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