Introduction
The Berlin upgrade represents a significant milestone in Ethereum's ongoing evolution. This announcement provides essential details for the Gitcoin community and all Ethereum stakeholders regarding the upcoming network improvements.
Key Highlights
- Berlin upgrade deployment: Ready for implementation across Ethereum networks
Rapid timeline:
- Ropsten testnet upgrade scheduled for March 10, 2021
- Mainnet upgrade scheduled for April 14, 2021
Node operator action required:
- Testnet upgrades should occur immediately
- Mainnet upgrades must complete before April 7, 2021
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Berlin Implementation Schedule
The upgrade will follow this carefully planned rollout:
| Network | Block Number | Expected Date |
|---|---|---|
| Ropsten | 9,812,189 | March 10, 2021 |
| Goerli | 4,460,644 | March 17, 2021 |
| Rinkeby | 8,290,928 | March 24, 2021 |
| Mainnet | 12,244,000 | April 14, 2021 |
Important: Due to block time variability, we recommend completing upgrades several days before each target date.
Client Compatibility Requirements
All node operators must upgrade to these Berlin-compatible client versions:
| Client | Version | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| go-ethereum (geth) | 1.10.1 | GitHub |
| OpenEthereum | 3.2.0 | GitHub |
| Nethermind | 1.10.31 | GitHub |
| Besu | 21.1.1 | GitHub |
Note: TurboGeth and EthereumJS will release updates before mainnet deployment. Trinity client is deprecated and won't support Berlin.
Technical Improvements in Berlin
The upgrade introduces four critical EIPs:
- EIP-2565: Reduces gas costs for ModExp precompile operations
- EIP-2929: Increases gas costs for first-time state access operations
- EIP-2718: Introduces typed transaction envelopes for better transaction type support
- EIP-2930: Adds optional access lists to mitigate EIP-2929's cost increases
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why the name "Berlin"?
Following Istanbul, Ethereum adopted Devcon city names for upgrades. Berlin hosted Devcon 0, and future upgrades will continue this naming convention.
What should regular users do?
Most users don't need to take action unless notified by their:
- Exchange platform
- Wallet provider
- Custodial service
What about node operators?
Node operators and miners must:
- Download the latest compatible client version
- Complete upgrades before the scheduled blocks
- Monitor network status during transition
What if I don't upgrade?
Non-upgraded nodes will:
- Continue running the old protocol rules
- Become incompatible with the main network
- Lose ability to transact on the upgraded chain
How do Ethereum upgrades work?
Network upgrades involve:
- Community consensus on changes
- Client implementation
- Coordinated activation at specific block numbers
- Non-upgraded nodes remaining on the old chain
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to:
- The Ethereum developer community
- Client teams across all platforms
- Contributors who provided technical input
- Everyone working to advance Ethereum's technology
The Berlin upgrade paves the way for future improvements, with London already in planning stages.
Important Disclaimer
Ethereum remains an evolving technical ecosystem. Participants should:
- Understand all technical implications
- Acknowledge potential risks including bugs
- Recognize this announcement creates no warranties
- Accept personal responsibility for upgrade decisions
This content represents the state of Ethereum development as of March 2021 and may be subject to change based on network conditions and further community decisions.