The “Merge” is complete: Ethereum’s long-awaited upgrade, which cuts the crypto’s energy use by 99%, is here: The network just finished the biggest and most ambitious software upgrade in the crypto world to date, Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of the blockchain network, announced today. An upheaval of this magnitude has never been attempted in the history of crypto, much less on Ethereum, which is home to around 3.5k active decentralized apps, ranging from exchanges to games and processing bns of USDs-worth of crypto, Bloomberg reported. The game-changing, greener technology, which has been in the works for years, doesn’t alter how Ethereum operates for end users, but is a crucial first step toward additional enhancements that will make the network faster and less expensive and should further boost its reputation and adoption.

Want to dig deeper into the Merge and what it means for the crypto world? We’ve got you covered.

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Open floor plans are dead. Say hello to “seated privacy.” One of the biggest trends in office layouts of the 2000s, open floor plans which gave the illusion of openness are finally being laid to rest, as employees that learned to value their privacy in work-from-home settings are making their way back to the office, The Wall Street Journal writes. While office designers aren’t bringing back 90s-era cubicles, they are using a combination of cubicles, some with glass tops, offices, and quiet zones to create more personal space and privacy at work. Office dwellers have been reporting difficulties with working in open-layout offices, including not wanting to disturb their colleagues while also wanting some level of visibility that lends itself to the collaborative work that office spaces are meant to allow for.

Your smart fridge could need to comply with cybersecurity rules in Europe: Concerns over a rise in cyber attacks prompted the EU to unveil draft cybersecurity regulations today that would apply to all internet-connected products, from computers to refrigerators to mobile apps. Companies could save as much as EUR 290 bn annually in cyber incidents, compared to the roughly EUR 29 bn needed to comply with regulations, Reuters quoted an EU executive as saying. Concerns about security flaws in operating systems, network equipment, and software have increased in recent years as a result of a string of high-profile instances involving hackers causing damage to businesses and demanding large ransoms. The proposed rules would make manufacturers responsible for assessing the cybersecurity risks associated with the product and implementing procedures to rectify concerns for the first five years after a product is released, or for the duration of the product’s estimated lifetime.