Research Summary
The report discusses the Ethereum All Core Developers Execution Call #181, focusing on the upcoming Dencun upgrade and various Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs). The mainnet activation of the Dencun upgrade, the readiness of Layer-2 rollup teams, and the discussion of several EIPs for the Pectra upgrade were among the key topics.
Key Takeaways
Dencun Upgrade Progress
- Preparation for Mainnet Activation: The Ethereum developers are preparing for the mainnet activation of the Dencun upgrade. A shadow fork is being conducted to test the upgrade in a mainnet-like environment. The official mainnet activation date is tentatively scheduled for March 13, pending positive results from the shadow fork.
- Client Software Releases: Client teams such as Reth, Geth, and Besu have already released their final software for Dencun. Nethermind and Erigon are expected to follow suit shortly. On the consensus layer side, the Prysm team is awaiting the release of the final CL specifications to complete their version.
Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs)
- Retroactive EIPs: EIP 7610 and EIP 7523 were discussed, which aim to simplify client code and prohibit the existence of empty accounts in the post-merge network state, respectively. EIP 7610 would retroactively apply to all Ethereum transactions since genesis and requires a hard fork upgrade.
- EIPs for Pectra Upgrade: Several EIPs proposed for the Pectra upgrade were discussed, including EIP 5806, which introduces smart contract functionality to externally owned accounts (EOAs). EIP 5806 offers better security than EIP 3074 because it is transaction-based, allowing for explicit context and reducing the potential for bugs and user error.
Gas Cost Distribution
- EIP 7557: This proposal aims to distribute gas costs for accessing smart contract addresses and storage slots more equitably across transactions within the same block. While the proposal could lead to potential gas savings, developers expressed concerns about its implications on gas calculations and estimations.
Historical Block Hashes
- EIP for Storing Historical Block Hashes: This proposal, initially proposed by Vitalik Buterin and Tomasz Kajetan Stanczak in 2020, aims to support stateless clients, which can verify Ethereum blocks without retaining the full blockchain state. This aligns with the goals of Verkle to enable nodes to verify state with smaller cryptographic proofs.
Actionable Insights
- Monitor the Progress of Dencun Upgrade: Stakeholders should keep an eye on the progress of the Dencun upgrade, especially the results of the shadow fork, to understand its potential impact on Ethereum’s network.
- Understand the Implications of EIPs: It’s crucial to understand the implications of the discussed EIPs, as they could significantly affect Ethereum’s functionality, security, and gas cost distribution.
- Consider the Impact of Gas Cost Distribution: Developers and users should consider the potential impact of EIP 7557 on gas calculations and estimations, as it could affect transaction costs.
- Assess the Potential of Stateless Clients: The proposal for storing historical block hashes could support the development of stateless clients, which could significantly reduce the storage requirements for verifying Ethereum blocks.
