Ethereum Co-Founder Vitalik Buterin Supports Increasing Block Gas Limit
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has expressed his support for increasing the block gas limit, a move that could enhance the network’s capacity. In a Reddit ask-me-anything session, Buterin recommended a 33.3% increase in the gas limit, proposing to raise it from 30 million to 40 million units of gas. This adjustment would allow more transactions in each Ethereum block and improve capacity. Buterin highlighted that the gas limit has remained unchanged for nearly three years.
Benefits and Concerns
Martin Köppelmann, co-founder of Gnosis, acknowledged that increasing the gas limit would impose additional operational requirements and costs for nodes. However, he believed that the benefits of a higher gas limit, such as improved network efficiency and capacity, outweigh these concerns. Jesse Pollak, Coinbase protocols lead, also expressed strong support for the change, stating that it would be beneficial for all parties involved.
Implementation Process
The increase in the Ethereum block gas limit can be achieved through validators adjusting their node configurations, without the need for hard forks. Since Ethereum’s inception, the average gas limit has gradually risen from approximately three million to accommodate the network’s growing usage and adoption.
Hot Take: Increasing Block Gas Limit for Enhanced Network Capacity
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has advocated for increasing the block gas limit by 33.3% to improve the network’s capacity and allow more transactions per block. While there may be concerns about increased operational requirements and costs for nodes, industry experts such as Martin Köppelmann and Jesse Pollak support this change due to its potential benefits in terms of network efficiency and capacity. This adjustment can be implemented by validators adjusting their node configurations, avoiding the need for hard forks. As Ethereum continues to grow, raising the gas limit is a necessary step to accommodate its expanding user base and usage.