As part of CoinDesk’s former Valid Points Newsletter, CoinDesk set up its own Ethereum validator, “Zelda,” in 2020 to have a front-row seat into the blockchain’s shift from a proof-of-work (PoW) to a proof-of-stake (PoS) consensus mechanism. The goal was to learn about the historic engineering feat, and to report from the front lines.

But with Ethereum’s full transition to PoS complete and with the Shapella upgrade enabling staked ether (ETH) withdrawals, Zelda’s time has come to an end.

According to blockchain explorer beaconcha.in, Zelda exited the Beacon Chain on April 24 at 12:16 pm ET, and our staked ETH became withdrawable on April 25th at 3:34 pm ET. The timeline of Zelda’s exit is similar to what had been reported at the time: the day after Shapella went live, the exit queue for validators looking to leave the chain was at about two weeks.

(by Bradley Keoun)