For the transition from proof of work to proof of stake, the most useful starting points are The Merge, validators replacing miners and historical Ethash mining; each answers a different part of the question.
Ethereum Mainnet mining ended with The Merge in September 2022. Current Ethereum participation uses proof of stake, so historical Ethash terminology must not be presented as a current Mainnet mining method.
The Merge
Evaluate The Merge with a small evidence chain: source, timestamp, unit, boundary and calculation. Follow the same chain for validators replacing miners. This prevents a precise-looking result from combining incompatible observations and makes future updates less dependent on undocumented assumptions.
- Evidence: a dated record for The Merge.
- Cross-check: compare it with validators replacing miners.
- Review trigger: repeat the check after a material change affecting The Merge.
Validators Replacing Miners
When reviewing validators replacing miners, preserve the raw observation before creating an average or percentage. A raw record makes later troubleshooting possible and shows whether a change coincided with historical Ethash mining. Note configuration, network or environmental events that occurred during the same interval.
- Evidence: a dated record for validators replacing miners.
- Cross-check: compare it with historical Ethash mining.
- Review trigger: repeat the check after a material change affecting validators replacing miners.
Historical Ethash Mining
A decision involving historical Ethash mining should include a baseline and a review trigger. The baseline describes ordinary conditions; the trigger defines when the analysis must be repeated. Include The Merge in that trigger when it can materially change the interpretation of historical Ethash mining.
- Evidence: a dated record for historical Ethash mining.
- Cross-check: compare it with The Merge.
- Review trigger: repeat the check after a material change affecting historical Ethash mining.
The transition from proof of work to proof of stake: evaluation sequence
- Write the exact decision involving The Merge.
- Collect validators replacing miners using the same observation period.
- Test how the conclusion changes when historical Ethash mining moves.
- Save the source values, conversions and date of review.
Reference for Ethereum Mining History
Verify the underlying context with Ethereum.org: historical mining. For values that change over time, use a current source and record its retrieval date.
