Ethereum, the second largest cryptocurrency, has made the transition to “proof-of-stake” to lower its energy use. A majority of Ethereum users won't notice the change, which has been in the works since 2016, but it will eliminate the need for crypto miners.

The transition began on September 6th, when the new version of Bellatrix was made available to users. Now that the hard part’s over, all that’s left for us to do is sit back and see what Ethereum can become.

There may be glitches, hacks, and fluctuating rates for the next couple of days. This period of transition could possibly create some frustration for consumers but when the dust settles a new era for crypto will begin.

The release date of this Merge has been pushed back several times since 2017, leading to many jokes and jabs floating around the internet. However, now that the merger is complete, according to the Ethereum Foundation, the new system would reduce energy expenditures by 99 percent.