The Upcoming Dencun Upgrade on Ethereum: Boosting Scalability with Proto-Danksharding
The upcoming Dencun upgrade on Ethereum, set to take place in mid-March, is expected to bring a significant improvement to the network. Through the implementation of EIP-4844, Dencun aims to introduce “proto-danksharding,” which will facilitate the inclusion of off-chain “data blobs” in Ethereum transactions. This upgrade is crucial for enhancing the scalability of Layer 2 solutions on the network by expanding data capacity without compromising block processing times.
Polygon developers are particularly excited about the impact of EIP-4844 on gas fees within the Polygon zkEVM ecosystem. They believe that this upgrade could lead to improved data availability for Layer 2 solutions in a more cost-efficient manner. Polygon is a suite of scaling solutions designed to empower developers in creating decentralized applications with low transaction fees.
One of these scaling techniques is zkEVM, which would greatly benefit from the Dencun upgrade. Jordi Baylina, co-founder and technical lead of Polygon, highlighted the challenges faced by ZK rollups like zkEVM, mainly centered around the cost of data availability. He emphasized the significance of EIP-4844 in potentially reshaping the gas fees landscape and capacity on Polygon zkEVM.
Baylina predicted a threefold increase in Ethereum’s total data availability capacity after implementing EIP-4844 through the Dencun upgrade. This increase would greatly benefit ZK rollups, including Polygon zkEVM and others like Linea, Scroll, and zkSync. He also projected cost reductions ranging from 10x to 50x when combining EIP-4844 with data compression, although actual savings will depend on various factors.
Changes Made for EIP-4844 Integration
Addressing the technical preparations for the upgrade, Baylina explained that while the transition to Dencun might be simpler for optimistic rollups, integrating EIP-4844 into Polygon zkEVM requires specific modifications. ZK rollups must incorporate BLS pairings within their proofs, which necessitates a precompiled smart contract introduced in the Etrog hard fork of Polygon zkEVM in February.
Looking ahead to the full integration of EIP-4844, Baylina highlighted the need for a new proof system on zkEVM that supports data compression. This would optimize the benefits of EIP-4844 for Polygon zkEVM. Development is currently underway to create this new proof system.
Baylina reassured that efforts are being made to ensure that all necessary components align with the activation of the Dencun hard fork on the mainnet.
Hot Take: Dencun Upgrade and Enhanced Scalability
The upcoming Dencun upgrade on Ethereum presents an exciting development for the network and its scalability. With the implementation of EIP-4844 and “proto-danksharding,” Ethereum will be able to include off-chain data blobs in transactions without compromising block processing times. This improvement is crucial for boosting the scalability of Layer 2 solutions on the network.
Polygon developers are particularly eager to see how EIP-4844 will impact gas fees within the Polygon zkEVM ecosystem. They anticipate improved data availability for Layer 2 solutions, which will contribute to a more cost-efficient environment. The Dencun upgrade will significantly benefit ZK rollups like Polygon zkEVM, allowing for increased data capacity and potential cost reductions.
The technical preparations for integrating EIP-4844 into Polygon zkEVM require specific modifications, but efforts are being made to ensure a smooth transition. A new proof system that supports data compression is also being developed to optimize the benefits of EIP-4844.
Overall, the Dencun upgrade and the integration of EIP-4844 are important steps towards enhancing Ethereum’s scalability and improving the efficiency of Layer 2 solutions. This development will undoubtedly contribute to the growth and adoption of decentralized applications on the network.
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