Ethereum Shapella Upgrade: Full Withdrawals Now Live on Mainnet

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The long-awaited Ethereum Shapella upgrade has officially gone live on the mainnet, marking a transformative milestone in Ethereum’s evolution. At epoch 194048 — precisely at 06:27:35 UTC+8 on April 13, 2023 — validators gained the ability to withdraw their staked ETH and accumulated rewards from the Beacon Chain. This upgrade ushers in full functionality for staking withdrawals, completing a critical phase of Ethereum’s transition to proof-of-stake (PoS).

The Shapella upgrade combines two major components: the Shanghai upgrade on the execution layer and the Capella upgrade on the consensus layer. Together, they unlock new capabilities for developers, validators, and users across the network.

👉 Discover how Ethereum’s latest upgrade enhances staking flexibility and network security.

What Is the Shapella Upgrade?

"Shapella" is a portmanteau of Shanghai and Capella, representing the dual-layer nature of this network enhancement. The name follows Ethereum’s tradition: execution-layer upgrades are named after Devcon host cities (Shanghai hosted Devcon 2), while consensus-layer upgrades take inspiration from stars (Capella is the brightest star in the Auriga constellation).

This upgrade follows The Merge, which transitioned Ethereum from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake. While The Merge enabled staking, it did not allow for withdrawals — a limitation now resolved by Shapella.

Key Features Enabled by Shapella

These changes collectively improve usability, security, and long-term sustainability of the Ethereum ecosystem.

Core Components of the Upgrade

Shanghai Upgrade (Execution Layer)

The Shanghai upgrade introduces several Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) that enhance smart contract execution and system efficiency:

While SELFDESTRUCT remains functional post-upgrade, developers are encouraged to prepare for its deprecation. Future network upgrades may alter or remove its behavior entirely.

Developers can now explore the complete set of changes in the Ethereum Execution Layer Specifications (EELS), a new Python-based reference implementation.

Capella Upgrade (Consensus Layer)

On the consensus side, Capella enables:

Validators must ensure their nodes support these features to remain compliant with the updated protocol rules.

Engine API Updates

Post-Merge, communication between execution and consensus clients occurs via the Engine API. Shapella enhances this interface with:

These modifications ensure seamless coordination between layers during withdrawal processing.

Client Software Requirements

To remain compatible with the upgraded network, all node operators must update their client software to supported versions.

Consensus Layer Clients

Validators must upgrade both their beacon node and validator client components:

Running outdated versions will result in chain incompatibility and potential loss of rewards.

Execution Layer Clients

Execution clients must also be updated:

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Node operators are advised to avoid running majority clients across either layer to reduce systemic risk. Client diversity strengthens network resilience against bugs or outages.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Do regular ETH holders need to take any action?

No action is required for most users. If you hold ETH via exchanges, hot wallets, or hardware wallets, your assets are unaffected unless your provider announces specific steps.

What should non-staking node operators do?

Update your execution and consensus clients to the versions listed above to stay synchronized with the mainnet post-upgrade.

As a staker, what preparations are needed?

Ensure both your consensus and execution clients are updated. Review the official Withdrawals FAQ to understand withdrawal mechanics, timing, and best practices.

What happens if I don’t upgrade my node?

Nodes running outdated software will follow a legacy chain that does not recognize Shapella rules. This results in isolation from the active network, inability to validate transactions, and potential loss of staking rewards.

Are there breaking changes for dApp developers?

No backward-incompatible changes affect existing smart contracts. However, developers should note that SELFDESTRUCT is now deprecated (EIP-6049) and plan accordingly for future upgrades.

Why is client diversity important?

Running a diverse mix of clients prevents single points of failure. If a majority client encounters a critical bug, it could lead to network-wide disruptions. Diversification protects the network's health and decentralization.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Ethereum Staking

With full withdrawals now enabled, Ethereum enters a new era of staking maturity. Users can now freely enter and exit staking positions, increasing liquidity and flexibility. This change is expected to boost participation by reducing perceived lock-up risks.

Future upgrades will continue refining scalability, security, and usability — including further improvements to withdrawal queues, restaking mechanisms, and Layer 2 integration.

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Final Thoughts

The successful deployment of the Shapella upgrade reflects Ethereum’s robust development culture and community coordination. From enabling full staking withdrawals to enhancing protocol efficiency, this upgrade strengthens Ethereum’s position as a leading smart contract platform.

Node operators, stakers, and developers alike are encouraged to stay informed, maintain updated software, and participate in ongoing network improvements.

We extend our gratitude to all contributors — core developers, client teams, testers, and community members — whose dedication made this milestone possible.

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