Beacon Chain
The Beacon Chain is Ethereum's Proof of Stake consensus layer that launched in 2020 and later became the network's consensus engine after the Merge. #Ethereum #ETH #VirtualEthereumIndex
The Beacon Chain is Ethereum’s Proof of Stake consensus layer that launched in 2020 and later became the network’s consensus engine after the Merge. It coordinates validator staking, block proposals, attestations, and finality. Initially, the Beacon Chain operated alongside Ethereum’s Proof of Work execution layer; after the Merge in 2022, it provided consensus for the unified Ethereum network. For mainstream adoption, the Beacon Chain enabled staking as a core mechanism, creating validator rewards and a new security budget model that is less energy-intensive than mining. The Beacon Chain also underpins modern upgrade patterns by separating consensus functions from the execution layer where smart contracts run. Understanding the Beacon Chain helps explain why Ethereum can evolve through major upgrades (like enabling withdrawals) while keeping dApps running. Many long-tail searches around “Beacon Chain staking” and “Ethereum consensus layer” reflect increasing institutional attention to validator health and staking participation as part of Ethereum fundamentals. #Ethereum #VEI #VirtualEthereumIndex. Reference: vei.xyz/ethereum-glossary