Ethereum’s core development community is operating at a brisk pace, marked by the successful deployment of the Fusaka upgrade, significant progress on the upcoming Glamsterdam upgrade, and the initiation of the proposal phase for Hegotà, the subsequent network enhancement. These developments represent crucial steps in Ethereum’s ongoing evolution, focusing on scalability, efficiency, and enhanced network capabilities. This "Checkpoint" series aims to provide high-level updates on these advancements, typically every 4-8 weeks, reflecting the dynamic nature of core development. For those keen to delve deeper, Forkcast now offers comprehensive summaries, chats, and transcripts of All Core Developer (ACD) calls, usually available within hours of their conclusion.
tl;dr: A Snapshot of Ethereum’s Evolving Landscape
The recently deployed Fusaka upgrade has already brought substantial scaling enhancements to the Ethereum network, notably through the integration of Data Availability Sampling (DAS). This upgrade also introduced the crucial ability to adjust blob parameters independently from traditional fork cycles, a significant step towards dynamic network resource management. Concurrently, the Glamsterdam upgrade is fully scoped, with development efforts actively underway. Its successor, Hegotà, is now entering its proposal phase, with a critical deadline for feature submissions set for February 4th. The network’s progression underscores a commitment to iterative improvements and a forward-looking approach to blockchain architecture.
Fusaka: Delivering Scalability Through Data Availability Sampling
The Fusaka upgrade, a pivotal moment in Ethereum’s scaling roadmap, has successfully integrated Data Availability Sampling (DAS) into the network. This groundbreaking technology, detailed in EIP-7594, significantly enhances Ethereum’s ability to handle increased data loads, particularly benefiting Layer 2 (L2) scaling solutions. By enabling validators to sample data from blocks without needing to download the entire block, DAS drastically reduces bandwidth requirements for node operators, making it more feasible to run nodes and contributing to greater network decentralization.
The importance of PeerDAS, the implementation of DAS, was highlighted through widespread communication efforts. The official @ethereum Twitter account and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin took to social media to explain the technology’s significance. Tweets elucidated the intricacies of PeerDAS, emphasized the paramount importance of secure scaling, and contextualized these advancements within Ethereum’s long-term vision for a robust and scalable blockchain infrastructure. These explanations aimed to demystify complex technical upgrades for a broader audience, underscoring the community’s dedication to transparency and education.
Blob Parameter Only (BPO) Forks: Enabling Dynamic Scaling
A significant innovation accompanying Fusaka is the introduction of Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks. This mechanism allows for adjustments to the number of blobs available per block to be implemented without requiring a full network-wide fork. This represents a paradigm shift in how Ethereum manages its data capacity, offering unprecedented flexibility to respond to fluctuating demand from L2 solutions.
The network has already demonstrated the efficacy of BPO forks. Following Fusaka’s launch, two BPO forks were successfully stress-tested and deployed. The first went live shortly after Fusaka, and the second in early January. These deployments have effectively increased Ethereum’s data capacity for L2 usage by 2.3 times compared to the pre-Fusaka era. The targeted blob count per block is now 14, with a maximum allowance of 21 blobs. This dynamic scaling capability is crucial for accommodating the burgeoning ecosystem of L2 rollups, ensuring they have sufficient data space to operate efficiently and cost-effectively. Developers have indicated that further BPO forks are contingent on actual increases in blob usage, suggesting a pragmatic approach to resource allocation.
Glamsterdam: Advancing Towards Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation and Block-level Access Lists
The next major network upgrade, Glamsterdam, is on track, with its two principal features, enshrined Proposer Builder Separation (ePBS) and Block-level Access Lists (BALs), undergoing active development. While BALs have reached the devnet stage, showcasing early implementations and testing, ePBS, a more complex undertaking, is still in its developmental phases, with devnets expected at a later date.
ePBS aims to revolutionize the block production process by formally separating the roles of block proposers and block builders within the consensus layer. This separation is designed to foster a more competitive and decentralized block-building market, potentially leading to increased transaction throughput and reduced MEV (Maximal Extractable Value) extraction. BALs, on the other hand, will introduce a mechanism for specifying which addresses are permitted to access certain functions or data within a block, enhancing network security and potentially enabling more granular control over smart contract interactions.
Timeline for Glamsterdam
The development of Glamsterdam is proceeding iteratively, with a focus on stabilizing the core features. As with all major Ethereum upgrades, the path to deployment involves rigorous testing on devnets. The current focus is on refining ePBS and BALs, ensuring their robustness and security before broader integration. The process involves identifying and consolidating a manageable set of additional Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) that complement the headlining features. Developers have successfully narrowed down the list of potential non-headlining features from an initial 50 to a more focused set of 17 high-impact proposals. These will be introduced to devnets in stages, with the possibility of deferring or removing features that prove problematic or risk delaying the overall upgrade. A clearer timeline for Glamsterdam’s mainnet deployment will emerge once the ePBS devnet demonstrates stability and all included EIPs have undergone comprehensive testing.
Hegotà: The Next Frontier in Ethereum Upgrades
The development pipeline continues with Hegotà, the upgrade slated to follow Glamsterdam. The name itself reflects a shift, with the original proposed name "Heka" being revised to "Heze" and subsequently combined with "Bogotá" to form "Hegotà," adhering to the tradition of naming upgrades after celestial bodies recognized by the International Astronomical Union.
Fork-choice Inclusion Lists (FOCIL) and Potential Headliners
A significant feature under consideration for Hegotà is Fork-choice Inclusion Lists (FOCIL). This censorship resistance mechanism, initially planned for Glamsterdam, has been moved to Hegotà to streamline the scope of the previous upgrade. FOCIL aims to provide a robust defense against transaction censorship by enabling proposers to specify a list of transactions that must be included in a block. Given its strong community backing, FOCIL has been designated as a "Considered" feature for Hegotà and will be evaluated alongside other potential headlining proposals. As of this report, there is at least one competing proposal, indicating a dynamic and competitive selection process for Hegotà’s core features.
Timeline for Hegotà
The proposal window for Hegotà’s headlining features is currently open, running until February 4th. Developers can submit their proposals using a standardized template on the Ethereum Magicians forum. Following this period, from February 5th to February 26th, these proposals will be subject to thorough discussion and debate during ACD calls. The aim is to finalize the selection of headlining features by February 26th. After this decision, a separate deadline, approximately 30 days after the headliner finalization, will be established for the proposal of minor, non-headlining features. This phased approach allows for focused development and robust community input.
The Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) Process: A Framework for Evolution
The process by which features are integrated into Ethereum is a testament to its decentralized governance and commitment to rigorous technical scrutiny. Any developer or group can propose a new feature through an Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP). The foundational EIP-1 provides a comprehensive guide for structuring these proposals. Once an EIP is drafted, it enters a designated proposal window. A key aspect of this process is "championing" an EIP, where a technical point-of-contact takes responsibility for guiding the proposal through discussions, reviews, and testing phases.
The experience with Glamsterdam’s non-headlining features highlighted the challenges of managing a large volume of proposals. The sheer number of specifications required extensive review by client and testing teams, who are tasked with implementing these changes. This meticulous vetting process, while demanding, is crucial for ensuring the stability and security of the network. For Hegotà, the expectation is a competitive landscape for headliner proposals, with FOCIL potentially facing competition from other significant advancements, such as encrypted mempools. The discussion around potential features like "6-second slots" further illustrates the breadth of innovation being considered. Community engagement during the February discussion period will be critical in signaling support for preferred features.
Relevant ACD Calls and Community Engagement
Keeping abreast of core development discussions is essential for understanding the trajectory of Ethereum. The following ACD calls provide a comprehensive record of the technical deliberations that shape the network’s future, covering the period from November 14th to January 19th:
- All Core Devs Technical Discussion (ACDT): Calls #66, #65, #64, #63, #62
- All Core Devs Consensus Layer (ACDC): Calls #172, #171, #170
- All Core Devs Execution Layer (ACDE): Calls #228, #227, #226, #225
These calls, along with the supplementary resources provided by Forkcast, offer invaluable insights into the ongoing refinement of Ethereum’s protocol. The continuous iteration and collaborative effort demonstrated by the core development community underscore Ethereum’s commitment to building a scalable, secure, and decentralized future.
