Ethereum solutions explored by Vitalik Buterin
Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation are currently exploring five different strategies to reduce Ethereum’s maximum block size. Their goal is to optimize the blockchain for a “rollup-centric roadmap” and improve data handling efficiency.
Ethereum, the second-largest blockchain network, is facing the need for optimization as its effective block size has nearly doubled in the past year. This increase is mainly due to the growing adoption of rollups and other trends that require more data availability on Ethereum.
To address this issue, Buterin and Ethereum Foundation researcher Toni Wahrstätter have proposed five strategies of varying complexity. These strategies include adjusting block gas limits and calldata usage to potentially decrease the maximum block size.
The gas limit is a critical parameter that controls the amount of computational work allowed in a block, ensuring network performance remains stable. Calldata, on the other hand, is essential for executing smart contract functions and plays a significant role in determining how much data each block can carry.
One simple proposal is to increase the gas cost for calldata from 16 to 42 gas per byte. This change would significantly reduce the maximum block size, creating room for future data expansions. However, there are concerns that this could discourage the use of calldata for data availability, negatively impacting applications like StarkNet that rely on large amounts of calldata.
To address this concern, an alternative solution suggests modifying the gas pricing model by reducing costs for certain operations while increasing calldata costs. This approach aims to maintain network efficiency without unfairly penalizing applications that depend on calldata.
Another idea is to introduce a calldata fee market, similar to the handling of data blobs. This would allow the cost of calldata to adjust based on demand, although it would add complexity to the implementation. Additionally, the concept of capping calldata per block and introducing an “EVM loyalty bonus” for calldata-heavy applications has been discussed.
Buterin and Wahrstätter emphasize the need for a nuanced approach that balances efficiency with the growth and diversity of the Ethereum ecosystem. They caution against simply increasing the cost of calldata, as it could stifle innovation and application development on the network.
In the past, Buterin has proposed measures to manage calldata usage and costs, including a proposal in 2021 to limit calldata per block to reduce gas costs. In January, he also suggested a 33% increase in the Ethereum gas limit to improve network throughput, but concerns have been raised regarding the impact on the blockchain’s state size and hardware requirements.
Looking ahead, Ethereum’s development roadmap for 2024 includes a series of updates aimed at enhancing network efficiency, security, and scalability. These updates, known as the Merge, the Surge, the Scourge, the Verge, the Purge, and the Splurge, reflect the ongoing collaborative effort to address the challenges of growing demand and network usage.
