Merlin’s upcoming Fork 12 upgrade, launching in 1-2 months, will increase transaction throughput by 50-60x, eliminating mempool congestion and ensuring near-instant finality during high-traffic events. Powered by recursive ZK proofs and modular data availability layers, this upgrade promises faster syncing, improved transaction efficiency, and full compatibility with Ethereum tools. The proving system has been enhanced to handle more complex transactions, and developer tooling is simplified with a new CLI and updated documentation. Full execution proofs ensure state transitions comply with protocol specs, supporting both rollup and validium modes for scalability and security.

Merlin’s Proof of Stake (PoS) upgrade, will allow users to stake MERL, with the withdrawal period subject to 7 days. This upgrade will increase the number of validator nodes, making it easier for more individuals to participate in securing the network, driving decentralization, and providing greater opportunities for MERL holders and the community. PoS lowers entry barriers, enabling participation through staking pools and allowing validator nodes to run on everyday devices. By reducing the need for large token issuance, PoS creates a more sustainable, community-driven model that strengthens the network and empowers MERL holders with new opportunities for growth.