1. **#Geth v1.12.1 Release by Go Ethereum**: The #Ethereum Go language client, Go Ethereum, has unveiled Geth v1.12.1, marking a significant maintenance update that is being touted as one of the largest in its history. The developers strongly advise all users to upgrade to this version for improved performance.
2. **Preparation for Cancun Hard Fork**: Geth v1.12.1 centers its development efforts on the upcoming Cancun hard fork. While not fully compatible with Cancun yet, this release introduces essential components like foundational type definitions and state transition logic for EIP-4844 'Shard Blob Transactions'. It introduces a new memory pool named 'blobpool' for handling EIP-4844 #transactions, although it's currently undergoing testing on the Cancun development network.
3. **Changes and Removals**: Notably, Geth v1.12.1 discontinues support for the Rinkeby testnet (#27406), indicating a shift in focus. This suggests that the #development team is streamlining resources and #features in preparation for the forthcoming Cancun hard fork integration.
