Research Summary
The report discusses the Ethereum All Core Developers Consensus Call #127, focusing on the consensus layer of Ethereum. Topics include the Dencun upgrade, an incident involving missed slots on the mainnet, and the enshrined proposer builder separation (ePBS) upgrade. The report also covers discussions on the upcoming Electra upgrade and the potential inclusion of five EIPs related to SSZ formatting.
Key Takeaways
Dencun Upgrade and Mainnet Incident
- Dencun Upgrade: The Dencun upgrade was successfully activated on the Holesky testnet on February 7, 2024, with no significant issues reported. The mainnet activation is scheduled for March 13, 2024.
- Mainnet Incident: An incident on February 6, 2024, involved 9 missed slots on the mainnet due to a bug in the Bloxroute Max Profit relay. This led to a renewed discussion on reducing validator dependencies on trusted relays.
Enshrined Proposer Builder Separation (ePBS) Upgrade
- ePBS Upgrade: The ePBS upgrade is being considered as a solution to mitigate validators’ reliance on relays for blocks containing maximal extractable value (MEV). Developers are also revisiting code changes like maxEB and inclusion lists in the upcoming Electra upgrade.
Upcoming Electra Upgrade
- Electra Upgrade: Developers are considering the inclusion of EIP 7549 in the Electra upgrade, which aims to make the aggregation of validator attestations more efficient on the Ethereum CL. A more complex version of this could quadruple attestation capacity without increasing block size.
SSZ Formatting in Electra
- SSZ Formatting: The potential inclusion of five EIPs related to SSZ formatting in Electra is discussed. Sean from Lighthouse initially supports the changes and another developer suggests bundling them as a significant protocol update.
Actionable Insights
- Monitor Dencun Upgrade: Keep an eye on the Dencun upgrade’s mainnet activation scheduled for March 13, 2024, as it could have significant implications for Ethereum’s performance and stability.
- Understand ePBS Upgrade: Gain a deeper understanding of the ePBS upgrade and its potential to mitigate validators’ reliance on relays for blocks containing maximal extractable value (MEV).
- Follow Electra Upgrade: Stay updated on the developments of the Electra upgrade, particularly the inclusion of EIP 7549, which could significantly improve the efficiency of validator attestations on the Ethereum CL.
- Assess SSZ Formatting: Evaluate the potential impact of the inclusion of five EIPs related to SSZ formatting in the Electra upgrade, as it could bring significant changes to Ethereum’s protocol.
