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GlossaryEEpoch of Ethereum PoS

Epoch of Ethereum PoS

A fixed period in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake consensus, typically 32 slots, used for validator duties and finality.

What is Epoch of Ethereum PoS?

In Ethereum’s proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, introduced after The Merge in 2022, an epoch is a time period consisting of 32 slots, each lasting 12 seconds, totaling approximately 6.4 minutes. During an epoch, validators are assigned duties such as proposing blocks or attesting to the validity of blocks to secure the network. Epochs are critical for finalizing blockchain states, as they determine when a sufficient number of attestations are collected to mark a portion of the chain as “finalized,” ensuring its immutability. This structure supports Ethereum’s scalability and security.

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