Ethereum is celebrating a decade of innovation with both a symbolic digital token and a forward-looking network enhancement.
Ethereum Torch NFT: A Decade Celebration
On July 20th, the Ethereum community unveiled a commemorative “Torch” NFT, designed to recognize the people and core values that have driven the decentralized platform since its launch on July 30th, 2015.
The Ethereum website explains:
“Mirroring a traditional flame passed between communities, the Ethereum Torch will travel throughout the global Ethereum ecosystem. This unique NFT will be relayed from one digital wallet to another, among carefully chosen community members, developers, and builders who have been pivotal in shaping Ethereum’s story over the past 10 years.”
The inaugural holder of the Torch was Ethereum co-creator Joseph Lubin, who maintained possession for a full day before handing it over to Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s Digital Minister. Tang will also safeguard the digital Torch for 24 hours before transferring it to another significant figure within the Ethereum sphere.
This relay process will continue until July 30th, at which point the NFT will be “burned,” unlocking a special commemorative token that will be freely available for anyone to mint.
Fusaka Hard Fork: Enhancing the Future
While reflecting on its history, Ethereum’s development teams are also actively preparing for the next major protocol upgrade, known as Fusaka, slated for release in November 2025.
This upgrade builds upon the recent Pectra fork and incorporates several improvements focused on enhancing both the network’s scalability and its overall resilience.
On July 17th, Tim Beiko, representing the Ethereum Foundation, announced that Devnet-3 for Fusaka is scheduled to launch on July 23rd.
The upgrade will put approximately eleven Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) through rigorous testing. However, one particular proposal, EIP-7907, intended to expand the maximum size of smart contracts, was withdrawn following feedback from the core development teams.
Beiko further emphasized that the target window for Fusaka’s activation on the main Ethereum network is between November 5th and 12th.
He detailed that the upgrade process includes two successful test networks, proactive bug bounty initiatives, and thorough stress testing conducted via the Holesky testnet.
However, concerns persist regarding the stability of the testnet environment and the network’s readiness for audits.
The Holesky upgrade is considered a crucial indicator of the network’s overall preparedness for full deployment. It will provide developers with critical insights while minimizing the risk of significant disruptions for users.