More than a week after the implementation of the Shanghai Upgrade, Ethereum developers have set their eyes on subsequent code changes affecting both the network execution layer (EL) and consensus layer (CL).
Ethereum is undergoing a series of upgrades to improve scalability, security, and functionality, and the latest upgrade, Shanghai, took effect on April 12. Several code changes have been made to the blockchain implementation layer for transaction processing and smart contracts.
According to Ethereum researcher Christine Kim, Ethereum developers are not resting on their laurels and have already started planning the next batch of improvements.
Kim said that the network’s latest core developer consensus (AC DC), which took place on April 20, was mainly dedicated to the next upgrade, Cancun/Denb, which they expected to take place later this year after a series of test and audit networks.
Deneb upgraded to improve the consensus layer
The Deneb upgrade is a significant update to the Ethereum network that aims to improve scalability, security, and ease of use.
The upgrade has two parts: Cancun, which will focus on the Ethereum implementation layer, and Deneb, which will seek to improve its consensus layer: the network part that ensures agreement between all nodes on the state of the blockchain.
One of the main features of the Cancun/Denib upgrade is the implementation of Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4844.
This proposal introduces a new type of transaction called blob transaction, which is designed to enable more efficient data storage and retrieval on Ethereum.
Blob transactions will allow users to store large amounts of data on the blockchain without clogging up the network or paying high fees.
To test and coordinate implementation EIP 4844Ethereum developers have launched devnets, which are temporary testnets that run the latest code changes.
EIP 4788 and 6914 are on the agenda
In addition to EIP 4844, Ethereum developers are considering several other code modifications to upgrade Deneb.
(embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJULkA5YgP4 (/embed)
The first is EIP 4788, which will allow untrusted access to the CL via smart contracts running on the EL. Many expect it to be useful in storage pools, protocol recovery, and MEV mitigation, among other applications.
Another improvement proposal discussed at ACDC’s 107th session, according to Christine Kim, is EIP 6914, which would enable the reuse of index numbers for validators that have left the network and been inactive for some time.
The developers expect this EIP to help reduce the endless increase in the list of validators as validators leave and others join the network. However, some believe that the complexity of EIP 6914 warrants pushing the code change into the next hard fork after Deneb.
Comments are closed.