The Ethereum Foundation is gearing up for its next major network upgrade, dubbed Dencun. It promises a transformative experience for Ethereum’s development ecosystem, offering a range of benefits such as reduced transaction costs and expanded use cases.
Bold New Features with Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs)
Dencun will incorporate a series of Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) to enhance the Ethereum network. EIPs undergo rigorous evaluation by the Ethereum community, and, once approved, become integral components of the network’s code. Key proposals in the Dencun upgrade include EIP-4844, EIP-6780, EIP-1153, and EIP-6475.
EIP-4844: Proto-Danksharding and the Surge of Data Blobs
The first major change brought about by Dencun is the introduction of EIP-4844, also known as Proto-Danksharding or The Surge. This proposal revolutionizes temporary “data blobs” by Layer 2 solutions for posting transaction and proof data, replacing the traditional CALLDATA. Data blobs not permanently stored on the blockchain are anticipated to incur significantly lower gas costs. Consequently, users can expect a considerable reduction in Layer 2 transaction costs, possibly by an order of magnitude.
EIP-6780: Deactivating SELFDESTRUCT and Streamlining Contract Creation
The second significant alteration involves the deactivation of the SELFDESTRUCT opcode through EIP-6780. This change enables the simultaneous creation and erasure of contracts within a single transaction while maintaining the functionality of SELFDESTRUCT. However, the opcode will no longer delete the contract’s storage or code in all other instances.
EIP-1153: Introducing TSTORE and TLOAD for Transient Storage
EIP-1153 marks the third significant change in Dencun, introducing two new opcodes, TSTORE and TLOAD. These opcodes facilitate temporary storage that clears at the end of each transaction, opening up various use cases such as re-entry locks and single-transaction ERC20 approvals.
EIP-6475: SSZ Optionals and Future-Proofing Ethereum
Lastly, EIP-6475, or SSZ Optionals, acts as a companion to EIP-4844. It defines one of the SSZ elements that are part of the 4844 transaction format (Optionals) to ensure compatibility with future SSZ objects introduced in Ethereum.
While the EIPs mentioned above form the core of the Dencun upgrade, client teams are also considering other EIPs for potential inclusion. One such proposal is EIP-2537: Precompile for BLS12-381 curve operations, which has been under evaluation since 2019.
Dencun: A Work in Progress
Although Dencun represents a significant milestone in Ethereum’s ongoing development, the upgrade remains a work in progress. Furthermore, as discussions surrounding the optimal long-term SSZ formats for transactions persist, modifications to the EIPs are likely.
The Dencun upgrade heralds a new era for the Ethereum network. It offers a host of enhancements that promise to elevate the platform’s capabilities and user experience.
With the introduction of EIPs addressing transaction costs, contract creation, transient storage, and future compatibility, Dencun is poised to reshape the Ethereum landscape.
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