### Table of Contents * <a href="#section1" class="btn"> Blockchain switches to a PoS mechanism </a> * <a href="#section2" class="btn"> What is Shadow Forking and PoS mechanism? </a> * <a href="#section3" class="btn"> Vitalik Buterin downplays Ethereum Forks After Merge </a> * <a href="#section4" class="btn"> What experts say? </a> <h1 class="section one" id="section1"> Blockchain switches to a PoS mechanism</h1> Blockchain plans to switch from [Proof-of-Work (PoW)](https://youtu.be/_bQifK3QvNY) to [Proof-of-Stake (PoS)](https://youtu.be/z5pw1sCHBQU) through "The Merge". This change from a PoW system will end a stream for Ethereum miners. They produced $620 million in July alone, data shows. Justin Sun founder of Tron has emerged as one of the most prominent investors supporting a hard fork. This Shift is scheduled for September, the entire community was sharing their take on this change. In a recent post on Ethereum's transition, The chainlink network said - ***“Users should be aware that forked versions of the Ethereum blockchain, including PoW forks, will not be supported by the Chainlink protocol. This is aligned with both the Ethereum Foundation’s and broader Ethereum community’s decision, achieved via social consensus, to upgrade the Ethereum blockchain to PoS consensus.”*** <h1 class="section two" id="section2"> What is Shadow Forking and PoS mechanism? </h1> [Shadow forking](https://etherworld.co/2022/04/20/ethereum-mainnet-shadow-forking-an-overview/#section1) refers to using data from a testnet or the mainnet to test sync assumptions for a network upgrade so that developers can test features before deploying the actual upgrade to the mainnet. It doesn't affect the canonical chain in any way. Since we reuse the chainID and the gossip channels are still connected. The basic idea of 'Proof of Stake' is the reliability of the players on the network. One node is randomly selected via a selection process also called "bonded validators" to validate the next block. It doesn't let people mine new block but mint or forge it. Validators aren't chosen randomly. To become a validator, the node has to deposit a certain amount of coins as a stake (security deposit). A validator has his deposit at stake, and if he misbehaves in an objectively verifiable manner, will end up losing it. In other words, Proof of Stake has direct control over the anti-Sybil mechanism because it is in the protocol itself. <h1 class="section three" id="section3"> Vitalik Buterin downplays Ethereum Forks After Merge </h1> Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said the upcoming blockchain’s merge to proof-of-stake consensus would not affect miners minting new tokens on Ethereum Classic. He said supporters of the PoW consensus design shifted to Ethereum Classic earlier in 2016 because it was known at that time and would eventually shift to proof-of-stake (PoS) while Ethereum classic would not. ***“I think Ethereum Classic already has a superior community and a superior product for people kind of with those pro-proof-of-work values and preferences, Pretty much everyone in the Ethereum ecosystem is supportive of the move to proof-of-stake validation and quite united."*** <h1 class="section three" id="section4"> What experts say? </h1> Chandler Guo one of the prominent Chinese miners has suggested a hard fork so that even Ethereum undergoes The Merge and becomes validated by stalkers and continues to support the PoW version of the chain. Sun committed a part of his ether holdings towards the development of the EthereumPoW network. Sun's Poloniex has already listed ETHW futures, a product that allows traders to bet on prices of the token issued to ether holders. He said - "I hope that whatever happens doesn't lead to people losing money. A couple of outsiders have exchanges and mostly just want to make a quick buck. So I'm not expecting it to have substantial, long-term adoption.” <font size="2" color=#a6a6a6> *Disclaimer: The information contained on this web page is for education purposes only. Readers are suggested to conduct their research, review, analyze and verify the content before relying on them.* To publish press releases, project updates, and guest posts with us, please email at contact@etherworld.co. Subscribe to EtherWorld [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnceAY-vAQsO8TgGAj5SGFA) for ELI5 content. Support us at [Gitcoin](https://gitcoin.co/grants/5287/etherworld) If you've something to share with the blockchain community, join us on [Discord](https://discord.io/EtherWorld)! Follow us at [Twitter](https://twitter.com/ether_world), [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/etherworld2017), [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/etherworld/), and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/etherworld.co/). </font>