Ethereum’s core development community is operating at an accelerated pace, marked by the successful deployment of the Fusaka upgrade and significant progress towards the upcoming Glamsterdam and Hegotà hard forks. These ongoing advancements underscore Ethereum’s commitment to continuous improvement, scaling, and enhanced network resilience. This update provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments, delves into the intricacies of upcoming upgrades, and contextualizes their impact on the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
Fusaka Upgrade Deploys, Enhancing Data Availability and Scalability
The recent Fusaka upgrade has successfully gone live, introducing crucial scaling capabilities to the Ethereum network, most notably through the implementation of Data Availability Sampling (DAS). This feature is a foundational element for future scaling solutions, particularly for Layer 2 (L2) rollups, by enabling them to securely and efficiently post data to the main Ethereum chain.
The significance of Fusaka and PeerDAS, the specific implementation of DAS, was highlighted through various official channels. The @ethereum Twitter account and Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin actively engaged with the community to explain the technical underpinnings of PeerDAS, its role in secure scaling, and how these advancements fit into Ethereum’s long-term roadmap. These communications emphasized that robust data availability is paramount for L2s to provide the scalability promised by their architecture, ensuring that transaction data is accessible and verifiable by the main chain.
Blob Parameter Adjustments: A New Era of Dynamic Scaling
A key innovation accompanying the Fusaka upgrade is the introduction of Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks. This mechanism allows for the adjustment of blob parameters, such as the number of blobs available per block, independently of the full hard fork cycles. This provides Ethereum with unprecedented flexibility to dynamically scale its data availability capacity in response to evolving network demands, particularly from L2 solutions.
Prior to Fusaka, increasing blob capacity would have necessitated a more comprehensive and time-consuming hard fork. The BPO forks enable rapid, targeted adjustments. Ethereum has already successfully implemented two such BPO forks following the Fusaka upgrade. The first occurred shortly after Fusaka’s activation, and the second in early January. These adjustments have increased the target number of blobs per block from the previous limit to 14, with a maximum capacity of 21. This represents a significant 2.3x expansion of L2 data space, directly addressing the growing need for block real estate by L2 solutions.
While discussions have touched upon the readiness for a potential third BPO fork, developers have indicated that this is not an immediate priority. The focus remains on observing and analyzing current blob usage to ensure that the existing capacity increases are effectively utilized. This pragmatic approach underscores a commitment to resource optimization and strategic scaling.
Glamsterdam: Enshrined PBS and Block-Level Access Lists Take Shape
The next major network upgrade, codenamed Glamsterdam, is fully scoped, and development is actively underway. The upgrade’s two headline features are enshrined Proposer Builder Separation (ePBS) and Block-level Access Lists (BALs).
Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation (ePBS) represents a significant architectural shift aimed at enhancing network security and decentralization. It seeks to formalize and integrate the proposer-builder separation model directly into the protocol, creating a more robust and trust-minimized marketplace for block production. This change is complex and involves intricate modifications to both the consensus and execution layers, including potential adjustments to the engine API. Consequently, the development of devnets for ePBS is anticipated to take longer compared to BALs.
Block-level Access Lists (BALs) offer a more targeted improvement, focusing on transaction privacy and efficiency. BALs allow for the specification of addresses that are permitted to access specific transaction data within a block, thereby enhancing privacy for users and applications. The development of devnets for BALs is progressing well, indicating a more immediate path towards testing and integration.
Timeline and Feature Selection for Glamsterdam
The development timeline for Glamsterdam is being meticulously managed. While BALs are already being tested on devnets, ePBS is in an earlier stage of development, with devnets expected at a later date. The core development team is also meticulously reviewing a list of proposed non-headline features. What began as a list of approximately 50 potential additions has been refined to 17 high-impact and necessary features. These will be integrated into devnets in manageable batches. The process prioritizes stability, and features that prove problematic or could significantly delay the overall upgrade may be removed from consideration. The full list of "Considered" features is a critical document for developers and community members interested in the upgrade’s scope. A more concrete timeline for Glamsterdam will become available once a stable ePBS devnet is established and all proposed EIPs have undergone thorough testing.
Hegotà: A New Horizon for Consensus Layer Upgrades
Following Glamsterdam, the Ethereum roadmap points towards the Hegotà upgrade. The naming convention for Ethereum’s consensus layer upgrades, drawing from celestial bodies, has seen a recent adjustment. The original proposed name, Heka, was renamed to Hegotà after it was noted that "Heka" is not present in the International Astronomical Union’s catalog, which has been the standard for previous star-based naming. The new name is a portmanteau of "Heze" and "Bogotá."
FOCIL: A Key Feature Considered for Hegotà
A significant feature proposed for Hegotà is Fork-choice Inclusion Lists (FOCIL). This mechanism is designed to enhance censorship resistance within the Ethereum network. Initially considered for Glamsterdam, FOCIL was strategically moved to the Hegotà upgrade to streamline the scope of Glamsterdam and ensure its timely delivery. Given its strong support from core developers and the broader Ethereum community, FOCIL has been designated as a "Considered" feature for Hegotà. It will be evaluated alongside other potential headline proposals for the upgrade.
FOCIL’s cross-layer nature, impacting both the consensus and execution layers, particularly the engine API, presents a degree of complexity. This complexity makes its integration with other similarly intricate features a careful consideration. Discussions have also touched upon the potential for "6-second slots" (EIP-7782) as another potential feature for Hegotà or a subsequent upgrade, though its inclusion remains to be confirmed. Community members are encouraged to actively participate in the February discussion period to voice their support for their preferred features.
Hegotà Timeline and Proposal Process
The timeline for Hegotà is now clearly defined, with a crucial proposal window for headlining features currently open and extending until February 4th. Developers can submit proposals for headlining features using a standardized template available on the Ethereum Magicians forum. Following this deadline, from February 5th to February 26th, these proposals will undergo thorough discussion and finalization on All Core Developer (ACD) calls.
After the headlining features are decided, a subsequent 30-day period will be allocated for the proposal of non-headlining features, with a specific deadline to be announced. The process for proposing these features mirrors that of headliners, requiring proposers to demonstrate their commitment to championing the EIP through its lifecycle. This structured approach aims to ensure that all proposed features are thoroughly vetted and aligned with the overall upgrade objectives.
The Evolving Process of Ethereum Improvement Proposals
The process for introducing new features into Ethereum through Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) is becoming increasingly refined and transparent. A comprehensive guide for shepherding a feature into an Ethereum fork is available, outlining the steps from initial specification, guided by EIP-1, to proposal and championing through the development lifecycle.
The challenges encountered in vetting the 50 proposed non-headliner features for Glamsterdam highlight the demanding nature of this process. This intensive review period is crucial, as client and testing teams must thoroughly understand each proposal to make informed recommendations on the most impactful and urgent changes. The increasing clarity around the timing and methodology for proposing features is likely contributing to a more structured and efficient development pipeline.
The prospect of competing headliner proposals for Hegotà, such as FOCIL and encrypted mempools, underscores the dynamic nature of Ethereum’s development. The decision-making process requires careful consideration of technical feasibility, community consensus, and the overall impact on network stability and performance. Active community engagement during the proposal and discussion phases is paramount to shaping the future direction of the Ethereum protocol.
Relevant All Core Developer Calls
To stay informed about the ongoing discussions and decisions regarding these upgrades, the Ethereum core development community convenes regularly for All Core Developer (ACD) calls. These calls, which occur across different sub-committees such as ACDT, ACDC, and ACDE, provide detailed insights into the technical progress, challenges, and strategic planning for upcoming hard forks. The period from November 14th to January 19th has seen a series of critical ACD calls where the aforementioned developments were meticulously discussed and advanced. Access to call summaries, chats, and transcripts, often available through platforms like Forkcast, is invaluable for those seeking a deeper understanding of the core development process.
The continuous iteration and improvement cycle, exemplified by the successful deployment of Fusaka and the proactive planning for Glamsterdam and Hegotà, demonstrates Ethereum’s robust and adaptable approach to protocol evolution. These upgrades are not merely incremental changes but fundamental steps towards a more scalable, secure, and decentralized future for the Ethereum network.
