以太坊是什么时候开始挖矿的英文

Ethereum, one of the most prominent cryptocurrencies after Bitcoin, was launched in 2015 with its mainnet going live on July 30th, 2015. The Ethereum network began to allow miners to validate transactions and secure its blockchain through a proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism from this date.

The genesis block of the Ethereum blockchain was mined by Gavin Wood, one of the co-founders of Ethereum, marking the official start of mining activities on the Ethereum network. This event triggered a significant shift in the crypto landscape, as it introduced smart contract functionality to blockchain technology, paving the way for decentralized applications (dApps), decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, and more.

Initially, Ethereum mining was accessible using CPU and GPU hardware similar to Bitcoin. However, as the popularity of Ethereum grew, specialized mining equipment known as ASICs (Application-Specific Integrated Circuits) were developed specifically for Ethereum mining, leading to a centralization concern within the community.

To address these concerns and transition towards a more decentralized consensus mechanism, Ethereum underwent a major upgrade called "The Merge" in September 2022. This upgrade moved the network from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake (PoS), rendering traditional mining obsolete on the Ethereum mainnet. However, prior to The Merge, Ethereum mining had been an active practice since its inception in July 2015.

In summary, Ethereum began allowing miners to participate in securing its blockchain shortly after the launch of its mainnet in mid-2015, marking the beginning of Ethereum mining and setting the stage for its evolution over the years.