Beacon Chain (Ethereum 2.0 Consensus Chain)
Also known as: Ethereum 2.0 Consensus Layer, PoS Beacon, Ethereum Merge Layer
The foundational PoS consensus layer of Ethereum 2.0, coordinating validators and block proposals across the network.
The Beacon Chain was the core component of Ethereum 2.0's upgrade to Proof of Stake (PoS), launched separately in December 2020. It managed validator registration, stake balances, and the consensus protocol that eventually replaced Ethereum’s Proof of Work system. The Beacon Chain introduced epoch-based finality, attestation duties, and randomness for validator selection. Following the Merge in 2022, the Beacon Chain became Ethereum’s main consensus layer. Its successful integration marked the transition to energy-efficient validation and paved the way for future scalability improvements like sharding and danksharding.