The Ethereum developers have started implementing Constantinople code for a new hardfork of the network. This became known at the team meeting on July 27.
Why it is important
- Constantinople is the second stage of the Metropolis hardfork. It should improve efficiency of the Ethereum network and reduce transaction fees.
- According to the developers, most changes have already been implemented, including EIP 210 and EIP 145, which reorganize the storage of block hashes and increase speed of arithmetic operations. They are working on innovations that are responsible for adding status channels and compressing the amount of data in interacting contracts. A few more offers are still being discussed.
- The code implementation will last until August 13, after which the network will be tested and launched. The code will be activated before the Devcon4 conference, which will be held in Prague from October 30 to November 2.
In October 2017, was held the first part of a two-phase Metropolis hardfork under the name of Byzantium. The developers have optimized expenditure of Ether, increased network speed and solved several problems with smart contracts. Later, the Creator of Ethereum Vitalik Buterin told how the network would change in the next 3-5 years. | 
