<div id="the-merge" class="jump">What is The Merge</div>

As many crypto enthusiasts are aware, the Ethereum mainnet will merge with the Beacon Chain [around September 15th or 16th](https://twitter.com/VitalikButerin/status/1558072902972473344). This move will increase the security, scalability, and sustainability of the Ethereum blockchain. Ahead of this move, Ethereum contributors and speculators are having all kinds of reactions. In this post, we will analyze the quantifiable GitHub and Community metrics ahead of ETH 2.0.

## Developer Reactions<div id="developer-reactions" class="jump">Developer Reactions to The Merge</div>

### How do nodes have to adapt to The Merge?<div id="node-and-the-merge" class="jump">Nodes Adapting to the Merge</div>

Most Ethereum nodes use [Go Ethereum (aka Geth)](https://github.com/ethereum/go-ethereum) as their execution client. Historically, an execution client alone has been enough to run a full Ethereum node. However, due to the merge with [Beacon Chain](https://ethereum.org/en/upgrades/beacon-chain/), an execution client alone will no longer be sufficient to run a full Ethereum node. Because Ethereum is [moving from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake](https://www.coindesk.com/learn/proof-of-work-vs-proof-of-stake-what-is-the-difference/), Geth will no longer be responsible for block building, block gossiping, or handling consensus logic. Geth will need to be coupled to another piece of software called a “consensus client”. 

Any full nodes that are currently running Geth are [encouraged by Ethereum](https://geth.ethereum.org/docs/interface/merge#:~:text=For%20Geth%20users,Clients%20page.) to run a consensus client in advance, so that The Merge can happen smoothly. 

## What's happening on GitHub?<div id="ethereum-github-reactions" class="jump">Etheruem GitHub Reaction</div>

### Ethereum GitHub Active Issues<div id="ethereum-github-active-issues" class="jump">Ethereum GitHub Active Issues</div>

The first thing that I look at is [active issues](https://app.invezo.com/assets/eth/explorer?metric=developer.github.ActiveIssues). Are the issues that are being opened in the Ethereum repository being solved? How quickly are issues being solved? Are they piling up on each other or is there a nice cadence in solutions vs. new problems.

As of August 18, 2022 (approx. one month before The Merge) here is the Ethereum active issues chart:

![invezo ethereum-github-active-issues](//images.ctfassets.net/ke8bf73waw7w/5Sy5hE0sIGJb0KkdPTylOE/faf0372a2209bf66a4efe5ee6f4c7e55/invezo_ethereum-github-active-issues.png)

It looks like this repository has a great cadence of solving active issues, with a general decline from the end of 2019 to early 2021, then remaining somewhat constant since Jan ‘21.

### Ethereum GitHub Commits<div id="ethereum-github-commits" class="jump">Ethereum GitHub Commits</div>

Commits are always an important metric to analyze. As [GitHub commits](https://app.invezo.com/assets/btc/explorer?metric=developer.github.Commits) track code changes across files as edits are made, this metric can give incredible insight as to the value of an asset’s source code.

As of August 18, 2022 here is the Ethereum commit chart.

![invezo ethereum-github-commits](//images.ctfassets.net/ke8bf73waw7w/3I5ohAiwEW6xS64R20ZPbP/2f45ad3c393c36c7ef82c799a0f1778c/invezo_ethereum-github-commits.png)

There seems to be no noticeable change in new commits for the past couple years.

### Ethereum GitHub Watchers<div id="ethereum-github-watchers" class="jump">Ethereum GitHub Watchers</div>

Although [GitHub watchers](https://app.invezo.com/assets/btc/explorer?metric=developer.github.Watchers) does not track any changes to source code, it’s a fantastic metric for measuring general community interest. Ahead of the merge, here is the most recent chart for GitHub watcher growth.

![invezo ethereum-github-watchers](//images.ctfassets.net/ke8bf73waw7w/64Bx19nZt5R33u3KP3Gaj/ad213b6934399a08f573c5cdc21f4c8c/invezo_ethereum-github-watchers.png)

We see a slight spike at the end of June ‘22, but it seems to largely return to the same growth rate.

Want to see more developer metrics? [Launch the Invezo ETH developer analysis dashboard](https://app.invezo.com/gitbot/eth).

## Community Reactions<div id="ethereum-community-reactions" class="jump">Ethereum Community Reactions</div>

### What are people saying?<div id="ethereum-tweets" class="jump">Ethereum Tweets</div>

Some are pessimistic.

<div class="twitter-post" status="1559350621714653192"></div>

Some are slightly more excited.

<div class="twitter-post" status="1560270543500509185"></div>

I tend to watch [reddit subscribers, twitter followers, and tweet volume](https://app.invezo.com/buzz) to asses the community reaction to asset news. While [NEAR](https://app.invezo.com/buzz/near) and [SOL](https://www.notion.so/Analyzing-Reactions-Ahead-of-The-Merge-d9657f7627c0401c99e724bc535c3226) are dominating buzz tables, ETH is having some major community spikes (relative to its size).

## Ethereum Reddit Subscribers<div id="ethereum-reddit-subscriber-growth" class="jump">Ethereum Reddit Subscriber Growth</div>

Ethereum ([https://reddit.com/r/Ethereum](https://reddit.com/r/Ethereum)) [Reddit subscribers](https://app.invezo.com/assets/sol/explorer?metric=social.reddit.SubscribersChange) have been on an accelerated growth pace since the end of May. 

![invezo ethereum-reddit-subscribers-total](//images.ctfassets.net/ke8bf73waw7w/39xyT7mlzPIHDciF4OSvoP/75dde1e5911e2082c55b61279b095c55/invezo_ethereum-reddit-subscribers-total.png)

## Ethereum Twitter Followers<div id="ethereum-twitter-follower-growth" class="jump">Ethereum Reddit Twitter Follower Growth</div>

Ethereum’s ([https://twitter.com/ethereum](https://twitter.com/ethereum)) Twitter [follower growth](https://app.invezo.com/assets/sol/explorer?metric=social.twitter.FollowersTotal) has been on an accelerated pace starting with a big jump in May ‘22. This seems very similar to Reddit subscriber growth.

![invezo ethereum-twitter-followers-total](//images.ctfassets.net/ke8bf73waw7w/qz1peZ3REAi9Sqqgymy0A/b07910a23d782fc26c6c626658c94d0d/invezo_ethereum-twitter-followers-total.png)

## Ethereum Tweet Volume<div id="ethereum-twitter-volume" class="jump">Ethereum Reddit Twitter Volume</div>

Ethereum [tweet volume](https://app.invezo.com/assets/sol/explorer?metric=social.twitter.Volume) is peaking at around 12k mentions per hour everyday. We also see a massive spike towards the beginning of August. I expect that leading up to The Merge, discussion about ETH will only trend upwards. This is a metric we will be watching closely. 

![invezo ethereum-tweet-volume](//images.ctfassets.net/ke8bf73waw7w/2C126umWzKubexcURWQwoM/c16cabbfb4dbdb6ec42a98e0d02f2800/invezo_ethereum-tweet-volume.png)

## Conclusion

As the Ethereum team gears up for The Merge, there will undoubtedly be positive and negative reactions from the entire crypto community. By and large, it seems that developers are indifferent to The Merge, while investing communities seem more torn. Only time will tell what effect The Merge will have on the future of Ethereum and Ethereum investing.


Invezo Research

Analyzing Reactions Ahead of The Merge