Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin discusses the activation of the Dencun hard fork and the impact of blobs on the ecosystem, and discusses Ethereum’s long-term scaling roadmap and future direction.
In a recent post on his website, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin discusses the activation of the Dencun hard fork and the introduction of blobs to the Ethereum network. Buterin explains that the activation of this hard fork marks a crucial turning point in Ethereum’s scaling efforts.
Blobs, also known as proto-dankharding or EIP-4844, have led to a significant reduction in transaction costs for rollups. Initially, blobs were almost free, resulting in a drastic reduction in costs. However, when the blobscriptions protocol started using them, their volume increased and the reimbursement market was activated. Although not completely free, blobs remain significantly cheaper than call data.
This milestone marks a shift in Ethereum’s scaling strategy from addressing a ‘zero-to-one’ problem to a ‘one-to-N’ problem. While further work will be done to increase the number of blobs and optimize the use of each blob through rollups, the fundamental changes to Ethereum’s scaling paradigm are largely behind us. The focus is now gradually shifting from layer one (L1) issues, such as proof-of-stake (PoS) and scale-up, to application layer challenges.
Buterin explores the future of Ethereum scaling and highlights the transition to a layer two (L2) focused ecosystem. Large applications are already migrating from L1 to L2 and payments are increasingly being made on L2 by default. Wallets also adapt to this multi-L2 environment, improving the user experience.
A crucial aspect of Ethereum’s rolling-focused roadmap is the concept of a separate data availability space (DAS). This special section within a block allows layer two projects, such as rollups, to store data independently of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). Buterin explains that while EIP-4844 does not directly enable data availability sampling (DAS), it does lay the foundation for its implementation. DAS allows for significant expansion of blob space, aiming for 16 MB per slot.
Going forward, two key areas of development will shape the future of Ethereum. The first involves gradually increasing blob capacity to realize the full potential of DAS. The second focuses on improving L2 protocols to maximize the use of available data space. Buterin suggests the introduction of PeerDAS, a simplified version of DAS, and the exploration of techniques such as data compression and optimistic data approaches to improve L2 scalability.
In addition, Buterin emphasizes the importance of addressing execution-related limitations and improving security in L2 protocols. While progress has been made, more work is needed to ensure the robustness and protection of rollups. Stricter standards and security councils are suggested as possible solutions to increase the reliability of L2 implementations.
In conclusion, the activation of the Dencun hard fork and the introduction of blobs mark a major milestone in Ethereum’s scaling efforts. Buterin’s post provides insight into the future direction of Ethereum development, focusing on L2-focused solutions, data availability sampling, and the continuous improvement of L2 protocols. As the Ethereum ecosystem continues to evolve, these developments pave the way for a more scalable and secure blockchain platform.
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