Ethereum 2.0 Testnet “Spadina” Fails, “Zinken” Testnet Is Announced

  • Spadina was positioned to be the final dry run before the official release of Ethereum 2.0.
  • Due to various issues, most notably configuration parameters, “at least” one more testnet will be launched, Zinken, prior to Ethereum 2.0 genesis.
Ethereum founder and inventor Vitalik Buterin

Ethereum founder and inventor Vitalik Buterin speaks onstage during TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2017 at Pier 48 on September 18, 2017 in San Francisco, California. Steve Jennings/Getty Images for TechCrunch

On September 26, the development team behind Ethereum 2.0 announced the launch of a 3-day practice testnet Spadina, which was supposed to serve as a final testing ground before the public release of the mainnet. Spadina came as an extension of the last Ethereum 2.0 testnet, Medalla, which was released in the beginning of this August to prepare users for the launch of the long-awaited upgrade to the protocol, which is scheduled for later this year.

According to the announcement, Spadina, which was named after a subway stop in Toronto, functioned as a rapid-fire dress-rehearsal eth2 testnet that allowed users to submit deposits through the new client software. It supported a variety of new tools, with the developer team working continuously on audits for the Launchpad.

After rolling out several testnets since 2019, Ethereum 2.0 is currently maintained by five separate teams that have developed the same central specifications in different computer languages. The new proof-of-stake algorithm protocol is said to replace the current proof-of-work-based mainnet in three separate phases, with the so-called “Phase 0” starting later this year.

Phase 0 is comprised of the central coordinator of the soon-to-be Eth 2.0 network, the Beacon chain. After enough Ethereum investors have deposited their ETH into the new blockchain’s contract, the Beacon Chain can begin validating transactions. Although an official release date has not yet been announced, Spadina will not be the last testnet run that we will see before the 2.0 launch.

Danny Ryan, a core Ethereum developer, outlined some of the issues that have led to the announcement of “at least” one more testnet – Zinken. According to Ryan, the Zinken testnet is scheduled to run in “a week and a half”.

As the process of moving digital assets from the old network to the new one can prove troublesome for investors, Ethereum 2.0 developers’ decision to launch the dress-rehearsal testnet Spadina was made so that users can practice the deposition of their funds over to the new Beacon chain and not experience any difficulties after it goes live. While Spadina failed in its task to be the final testnet before Ethereum 2.0 genesis, it did show some problems with “configuration parameters which can be fixed with a release,” stated Prysmatic Labs, one of the Ethereum 2.0 clients.

Discussion
Related Coverage
MetaMask Launches Bridge Aggregator Feature
  • MetaMask Bridges was designed to aggregate multiple blockchain bridges in one place, making it easier and more secure for users to transfer their assets from one network to another.
  • The new feature currently supports the Ethereum, Avalanche, BNB Chain, and Polygon blockchains, as well as the Connext, Hop, Celer cBridge, and Polygon Bridge.
November 9, 2022, 5:11 PM
Hand holding mobile phone with MetaMask app running and MetaMask logo in background

Shutterstock

ETHW Replay Exploit Caused by Omni Contract Vulnerability
  • Over the weekend the Ethereum PoW network fell victim to a replay exploit, with the attacker executing the same transaction on two chains at the same time.
  • The exploit was caused by a contract vulnerability in the Omni cross-chain bridge, and did not affect the ETHW network itself.
The Merge is Finalized, Ethereum Switches to Proof-of-Stake
  • Ethereum’s PoS upgrade, also known as the Merge, was executed at 06:44 AM UTC on 15 September, combining the existing blockchain with the parallel Beacon Chain.
  • The move has reduced Ethereum’s energy consumption by more than 99%, which is equal to 0.2% of the global electricity consumption.