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Ethereum core developers are actively exploring a significant fourfold increase to the layer 1 gas limit as a central feature of the network’s next hard fork, dubbed Fusaka. This ambitious proposal, outlined in Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 9678, suggests raising the gas limit to a staggering 150 million. Introduced by Ethereum Foundation developer Sophia Gold on April 23rd, the EIP has garnered considerable attention within the developer community.
During the recent All Core Devs Execution (ACDE) meeting, the potential gas limit hike emerged as a “key feature” for the Fusaka upgrade, according to a meeting summary by prominent Ethereum core developer Tim Beiko. To ensure coordinated client defaults and maintain its priority, an EIP has been drafted for early merging and formal specification in an upcoming ACDE. Beiko noted that this undertaking might necessitate further in-protocol changes, potentially adding more EIPs to the Fusaka roadmap even though the fork’s scope was initially considered final.
Aiming for Enhanced Layer 1 Scalability
The primary motivation behind this substantial gas limit increase lies in the strong desire to bolster layer 1 execution scalability without the immediate implementation of entirely new features. Developers believe that increasing the capacity for transactions within each block can significantly improve network throughput. However, this move is not without its challenges.
Execution layer developers anticipate encountering bugs in client software at these higher gas limits, requiring thorough testing and debugging efforts. Including the gas limit increase as an EIP within the Fusaka hard fork provides a framework to commit resources to this critical process.
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Coordinating Client Defaults for a Smooth Transition
While the ultimate setting of the gas limit rests with validators, developers recognize the importance of aligning client defaults. Beiko emphasized that having an EIP to coordinate these defaults will be instrumental in ensuring all Ethereum clients update their configurations by the time Fusaka goes live, facilitating a smoother network transition.
The current average Ethereum gas limit hovers around 36 million, a figure that increased from approximately 30 million in August 2021. The proposed jump to 150 million represents a bold step towards significantly enhancing Ethereum’s transaction processing capabilities in the future, potentially slated for late 2025 following the anticipated May launch of the Pectra upgrade.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
I’m a crypto enthusiast with a background in finance. I’m fascinated by the potential of crypto to disrupt traditional financial systems. I’m always on the lookout for new and innovative projects in the space. I believe that crypto has the potential to create a more equitable and inclusive financial system.
