Ethereum’s Path to Innovation: Completing the Fusaka Milestone

The Ethereum network has reached a significant milestone with the successful activation of the Hoodi fork on its testnet, as confirmed by the Nethermind team. This development occurred on October 28 and signifies a crucial step toward the upcoming Fusaka update, scheduled for release on December 3. Despite macroeconomic challenges casting a shadow over the cryptocurrency market, Ethereum’s price has slightly dipped by more than 2%, stabilizing around $4,000.

What Does the Fusaka Update Mean for Ethereum?

Fusaka aims to further enhance the Ethereum ecosystem, building upon the foundation laid by the Pectra update, which went live on the mainnet in May. The Pectra update brought about significant improvements by simplifying validator processes and embracing account abstraction through EIP-7702. These changes increased the blob capacity per block and resulted in reduced Layer-2 costs, ultimately paving the way for faster data transfer and improved scalability.

How Will the Upcoming Hard Forks Impact Network Capacity?

The forthcoming Fusaka update is set to escalate Ethereum’s data processing capabilities through two sequential hard forks, collectively known as Blob Parameter Only (BPO). The initial phase, anticipated around December 17, is designed to accommodate up to 10 blobs per block. Subsequently, the second phase, slated for January 7, 2026, will raise this limit to 14 blobs per block, effectively doubling the network’s data capacity.

Additionally, the introduction of Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS), under EIP-7594, will streamline node access to Layer-2 data. In tandem, the integration of Verkle Trees promises to offer more compact state proofs, bolstering network efficiency. The elevation in block gas limits is expected to elevate transaction volumes at the base layer.

Key takeaways from this evolution include:

• Incremental increase in blobs per block through successive hard forks.
• Implementation of PeerDAS for enhanced node access to Layer-2 data.
• Adoption of Verkle Trees for more efficient state proofs.
• Raised block gas limits facilitating higher transaction volumes.

As Ethereum embarks on this transformative journey, it remains steadfast in its commitment to refining its infrastructure. This update aims to render the network more capable and scalable, poised to manage a broader spectrum of applications and larger transaction volumes.

“The success of the Fusaka update demonstrates our dedication to continuous improvement, ensuring Ethereum’s robustness and scalability for future demands,” remarked a representative from Nethermind.

The Ethereum community looks forward to the Fusaka update’s implementation, anticipating a future where the network can support growing demands and foster innovation across the blockchain ecosystem.