“Shapella”: So reagierte der Ethereum-Kurs auf die Upgrades
Mit den in der Nacht auf Donnerstag implementierten Upgrades "Shanghai" und "Capella", oft kurz zu "Shapella" zusammengefasst, ist es nun möglich gestakte Ether-Token aus dem Netzwerk wieder auszahlen zu lassen.
Viel war im Vorfeld spekuliert worden über die Auswirkungen der “Shapella”-Upgrades bei Ethereum auf den ETH-Kurs (brutkasten berichtete). Kein Wunder: Damit ist es erstmals möglich, sich Ether-Token, die zum Staking hinterlegt sind, wieder auszahlen zu lassen. Die Befürchtung mancher: Viele Staker:innen würden die erstbeste Gelegenheit nutzen, um ihre Gewinne zu realisieren – und ihre Ether auf den Markt werfen. Und das könnte dann für enormen Druck auf den Preis sorgen.
In der Nacht auf Donnerstag sind die beiden Upgrades “Shanghai” und “Capella” – oft eben gleich zusammengefasst unter dem Begriff “Shapella” – nun erfolgreich über die Bühne gegangen. Technisch war es ein Meilenstein für das Ethereum-Ökosystem.
Allerdings: Der von manchen befürchtete Abverkauf blieb aus. Tatsächlich wirkten sich die Upgrades unmittelbar kaum auf den ETH-Kurs aus. Er lag am Donnerstag in der Früh weiterhin bei rund 1.900 US-Dollar – ungefähr am Niveau vom Vortag.
Ethereum-Umstieg auf “Proof of Stake” erfolgte im vergangenen September
Ethereum ist im vergangenen September von dem auf Mining basierenden Konsensmechanismus “Proof of Work” auf den “Proof of Stake”-Ansatz umgestiegen. Validator:innen, die Blocks zur Chain hinzufügen wollen, müssen dabei kein rechenintensives Mining mehr betreiben. Stattdessen kommt Staking zum Einsatz: Die Validator:innen hinterlegen eine bestimmte Anzahl an Token in einem Smart Contract und erhalten dafür zinsähnliche Erträge.
Bei Ethereum war dies bereits seit Dezember 2020 möglich – auf der sogenannten Beacon Chain, die bis September 2022 parallel zum Ethereum-Mainnet lief und bereits auf “Proof of Stake” lief. Allerdings: Man konnte bisher zwar ETH staken – sie dann aber nicht wieder abziehen. Auch nicht, nachdem das Ethereum-Mainnet auf “Proof of Stake” umgestellt worden war. Die Funktionalität für Auszahlungen war technisch einfach nicht implementiert.
Dies geschah nun mit den Upgrades “Shanghai” und “Capella”. Aktuell sind ETH im Gegenwert von rund 35 Mrd. US-Dollar gestakt. Auch nach der Implementierung der Upgrades können die gestakten Ether aber nicht unbegrenzt abgezogen werden: Nach Berechnungen des US-Magazins Protos würde es 18 Monate dauern, bis sämtliche aktuell gestakten ETH ausgezahlt und verkauft wären.
aws First Incubator: Austria as a Launchpad for International Startup Teams
Austria is becoming a hub for international startup teams. The aws First Incubator, starting again in spring 2025 with a special focus call for international founders, offers financial support, mentoring, and networking to help them succeed — as proven by success stories like the Styrian startup Redeem Solar Technologies.
aws First Incubator: Austria as a Launchpad for International Startup Teams
Austria is becoming a hub for international startup teams. The aws First Incubator, starting again in spring 2025 with a special focus call for international founders, offers financial support, mentoring, and networking to help them succeed — as proven by success stories like the Styrian startup Redeem Solar Technologies.
Austria is increasingly positioning itself as an international hub for innovative entrepreneurs. A significant contributor to this development is the aws First Incubator, which will kick off a new round with a special focus call for international founders in spring 2025. This program, run by the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws), is designed for startup founders and founding teams, and students who want to establish a startup in Austria or have recently done so.
The aws First Incubator offers a combination of financial support, targeted mentoring, and a dynamic network – a package that helps international founders integrate into Austria’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
Financial Support for Early-Stage Startups
Financial barriers are among the biggest challenges for early-stage founders. The aws First Incubator addresses this by providing monthly personnel cost subsidies and grants for project, rental, and travel expenses. This financial support allows founders to focus fully on developing their business ideas.
However, the program goes beyond financial aid. It offers a comprehensive package of workshops, project-specific mentoring, and specialized coaching sessions. These resources ensure that startups receive not only financial support but also strategic and operational guidance.
Knowledge Transfer Through Practical Workshops
The program’s workshops deliver targeted knowledge on topics critical to startups, such as business model development, marketing strategies, patent law, and funding planning. The practical approach ensures that the content is directly tailored to the needs of the founders.
A key highlight of the program is the direct access to experts and mentors who share their years of experience in the startup and business world. This individualized support helps participants overcome specific challenges and refine their business ideas.
Success Story: Redeem Solar Technologies
An example of the program’s success is the startup Redeem Solar Technologies. Founded by Florian Ehrlich-Sommer (COO) and his international team, the company develops photocatalytic reactors for sustainable hydrogen production. Ehrlich-Sommer explains how the program helped his team sharpen their vision and gain new perspectives: “Interacting with founders from different industries and countries gave us fresh perspectives and helped refine our business model. As engineers, we tend to communicate in technical language. Through the program, we learned to present our idea clearly and understandably.”
Redeem Solar Technologies uses light energy to enable chemical reactions, in order to produce hydrogen in an environmentally friendly way. The startup’s solutions are particularly relevant to the pharmaceutical and fine chemicals industries. Through the aws program, the team not only secured financial support but also made valuable connections in the Austrian startup scene.
Interdisciplinary and International Exchange
One of the most significant benefits of the aws First Incubator’s special international call is the interdisciplinary and international exchange. The participating teams come from various industries – from software startups to sustainability technologies and innovative food products. This diversity allows founders to gain insights beyond their own fields and learn from each other.
Ehrlich-Sommer highlights this exchange as a critical factor: “It was fascinating to talk to founders developing completely different solutions. This helped us question and improve our own approaches.”
Program Structure
The program lasts up to 12 months and includes regular workshops and coaching sessions. Participants meet in Vienna to attend these sessions and learn from experts. Teams rooted outside the city will need to commute to attend the program. This, however, is far worth the effort, as co-founder Ehrlich-Sommer emphasizes: “Being in Vienna helped us get to know the local startup scene and establish valuable connections.”
An essential part of the program is the intensive selection process. During this phase, founders work with mentors and experts to refine their ideas and prepare for the program. This preparation is crucial for consecutive success.
Austria as a Startup Hub for International Founders
The aws First Incubator plays a significant role in positioning Austria as an attractive destination for international founders. The combination of financial support, targeted knowledge transfer, and a dynamic network creates optimal conditions for innovative business ideas.
The program not only supports the individual development of participating startups but also strengthens Austria’s startup ecosystem as a whole. International founders bring new impulses, ideas, and perspectives to Austria, helping to enhance the country’s innovation potential.
Applications for 2025
The next round of the aws First Incubator’s international call starts in spring 2025. Founders with an international team who want to establish their startup in Austria or have recently done so should not miss this opportunity. Applications will soon be open – a chance that could be a crucial step for a startup’s future.
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