The Merge is Coming
supported on Alchemy.*
supported on Alchemy.
supported on Alchemy.
Testnets are one of the primary application developer-facing functions that will be impacted by The Merge.
FAQ
How should I prepare for The Merge?
We highly recommend transitioning all testnet activity to Goerli ASAP. On July 1st, Alchemy will no longer support Kovan and Ropsten. To maintain testnet access, switch to Goerli before July 1, and use our Goerli Faucet to grab some Goerli Eth! Please follow along in the #announcements channel of our Discord for questions or concerns.
What is The Merge?
Ethereum Mainnet continues to be secured by proof of work. Eventually, the current Ethereum Mainnet will "merge" with the beacon chain proof of stake system, marking the end of proof of work for Ethereum, and the full transition to proof of stake.
When is The Merge?
~Q3/Q4 2022. This upgrade will represent the official switch to proof-of-stake consensus.
What are the benefits of Goerli?
Goerli is the most stable testnet, which will provide the best testing environment for mainnet contracts.
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Goerli has a strong community using and maintaining the network, as well as a diverse validator client set.
By migrating to only Goerli, all testnet liquidity will be on the same testnet. This allows more composability to develop on testnets across protocols that might otherwise be hard to test together.
Why is Alchemy no longer going to support Ropsten and Kovan after July 1, 2022?
Since both of these networks are officially deprecated by the Ethereum Foundation, there is a high chance they fail without warning, as they are no longer actively maintained. We never want developers on Alchemy to be caught by surprise, so we’ve proactively set a concrete date for deprecation to allow for a smooth transition to Goerli, which will remain an actively supported testnet post-Merge.
Why are these timelines so short?
Ropsten and Kovan both have short term risk of major network issues, so migrating quickly to Goerli will minimize your exposure to possible network forks and stoppages. We don't want you to be surprised by failing testnets!
Why switch off of Kovan now?
Kovan has been officially deprecated by the EF for well over a year. It is not receiving any network upgrades. Only two validators remain on the network and they may turndown very soon, at which point the network will halt.
Why switch off Ropsten now?
Ropsten Testnet was the first major network to undergo the Proof of Work to Proof of Stake upgrade on June 8th. After merging to Proof of Stake, Ropsten is no longer supported by the Ethereum community, and there are risks of major network issues moving forward.
How can I migrate to Goerli?
Follow this short guide about moving traffic from one test network to another!
Where do I get Goerli ETH?
You can get 0.05 free Goerli ETHÂ (gETH) from Alchemy's Goerli faucet. If you need larger quantities, let us know. For more information, learn how to get test ETH from a Goerli faucet.
I rely on non-standard APIs on other testnets. Are these supported on Goerli?
All methods currently supported on Ropsten are also supported on Goerli.
