Ethereum Developers Give 'Tentative' Greenlight to ASIC-Blocking Code

Members of ethereum's open-source development community tentatively agreed Friday to implement a new algorithm that would block specialized mining hardware, or ASICs, pending further testing on the proposed code.

If accepted by the network of users that run the ethereum software, the code change, dubbed "ProgPoW," would block ASICs, such as those made by major mining firms like Bitmain.

ASICs were developed for ethereum as early as April 2018.

Speaking in the developer call today, security-lead Martin Holst Swende said that he prefers the switch as it will help ensure the safety of ethereum's eventual transition to proof-of-stake, a new system in which users mine the cryptocurrency not by burning electricity, but by setting aside coins they hold.

"We know today that Ethhash has flaws which are currently being targeted. So, that's why I would like to switch as soon as possible to give us time to move to proof-of-stake," Holst-Swende said.

Aside from ProgPoW, no other software changes will be included in the upgrade, developers said.

The news comes at a time when Constantinople, the platform's fifth major upgrade, is nearing activation.

Originally planned for November, Constantinople brings a host of design changes aimed at streamlining the platform's code.

Developers also said that a further hard fork, dubbed Istanbul, should be planned to occur in October, after a period of nine months.

Still, the timing for PropPoW, which will deviate from the periodic upgrade cycle, is still unclear, with developers agreeing to question of upgrade timing in the next developer call on January 18.