Ethereum developers deploy Shanghai upgrade ‘shadow fork’

Ethereum (ETH) core developers successfully launched the shadow fork for the Shanghai update on Jan. 23.

Ethereum developer Marius Van Der Wijden said that the shadow fork started with a few issues because they didn’t correctly apply the configuration on Go Ethereum (GETH) — an Ethereum execution client.

However, when the corrections were made, all nodes were in agreement. Van Der Wijden added that he and another developer, Potuz, “would try to break it” to test its security for flaws.

A shadow fork is part of a multistage process that allows developers to run tests before creating a public testnet. Developers use this test version to perfect their codes and designs, enabling a seamless mainnet upgrade.

Shanghai upgrade

The Shanghai upgrade is the first significant upgrade Ethereum would undergo since it completed its migration to a proof-of-stake (PoS) network. The upgrade will allow the withdrawal of the over 16 million staked Ethereum.

Other developments expected with the upgrade include gas fee reduction for Layer 2 (L2) solutions and efficiency in data storage and access.

Developers have set a March target for the deployment of this upgrade.