Optimism Surrounding the Fusaka Upgrade
Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has expressed optimism about the impending Fusaka upgrade, slated for December. This upgrade features an innovative capability called Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS), which will significantly enhance the network’s scalability by allowing nodes to confirm data availability without needing to download the entire blockchain.
Groundbreaking Approach to Data Availability
During a discussion on Thursday, Buterin emphasized that PeerDAS represents a groundbreaking approach, enabling a live blockchain experience that doesn’t depend on any single node having access to all of the data. He sees this as crucial not only for scaling layer 2 (L2) solutions but also for eventual layer 1 (L1) improvements.
Instead of each node being burdened with the task of downloading complete blockchain data, the new method allows nodes to obtain smaller data segments, relying on statistical sampling to verify the existence of the necessary data throughout the entire network. This system was originally proposed in Ethereum Improvement Protocol (EIP) 7594, introduced in January 2024, aimed at enhancing data availability while permitting partial downloads of data.
Importance of Data Availability for Scalability
As Ethereum seeks to increase scalability, having robust data availability is essential, particularly for layer-2 solutions known as ‘rollups,’ which often face challenges due to limited availability at the layer 1 level.
Recent Milestones and Future Expectations
Furthermore, Buterin’s remarks came following a significant milestone noted by Hildebert Moulié, head of data at Dragonfly, who pointed out that Ethereum achieved its target of six blobs per block for the first time recently. Blobs, which are large binary objects added to Ethereum during the Dencun upgrade earlier this year (also linked to EIP-4844, known as proto-danksharding), serve the important purpose of reducing transaction costs for layer-2 rollups.
Looking ahead, the Fusaka upgrade, set for December 3, will implement EIP-7594 and is expected to double the blob capacity from a maximum of 9 blobs to 15 initially, with another increase planned for January that aims to boost it further to 21 blobs, as reported by Ethereum researcher Christine Kim. Buterin acknowledged the pioneering nature of this technology and advised a cautious approach to testing, stating that the increase in blob counts will be gradual initially but will ramp up more quickly thereafter, ultimately leading to significant scalability improvements for the Ethereum platform.
