Proto-danksharding, a significant enhancement to Ethereum, is scheduled for launch later this year. This upgrade represents the first step towards danksharding, a process aimed at improving Ethereum's scalability and efficiency.
In the previous year, Ethereum successfully transitioned from the Proof of Work consensus algorithm to the Proof of Stake (PoS) system, significantly reducing energy consumption. Despite this accomplishment, further upgrades are on the horizon to continue improving the network. Proto-danksharding is one such advancement that will help alleviate technical difficulties and lower costs for Ethereum users.
The Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4844, also known as the Cancun upgrade, introduces a new type of transaction containing a significant amount of data. This upgrade is a step towards sharding, an architecture that splits the blockchain into smaller, more active blockchains capable of handling more transactions.
To fully implement the sharding roadmap, blob-carrying transactions are utilized. These blobs help alleviate Ethereum's network burden and are coupled with the Beacon Chain, making the data from the new transaction format accessible to all consensus nodes. Furthermore, blob-carrying transactions allow Layer 2 solutions to retrieve data in a manageable timeframe, ensuring efficient performance under heavy access.
The Dencun upgrade, currently in the final stages of planning, includes two separate upgrades: Cancun, which targets Ethereum's execution layer, and Deneb, which focuses on the consensus layer. Besides proto-danksharding, this upgrade includes minor code changes to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and introduces several other EIPs aimed at improving efficiency, reducing costs, and simplifying the EVM design.
The Ethereum network's future will involve continuous enhancements, with a primary focus on scalability. Proto-danksharding and the consequent danksharding represent key milestones on this path, paving the way for cheaper data addition to the blocks and a significant reduction in network fees.
The network's complex architecture, coupled with the vast amount of data, will be managed through KZG commitments, a type of polynomial commitment scheme. These commitments ensure the verifier can't alter the polynomial they're working with, providing only valid proof.
The Ethereum roadmap is expected to evolve in line with the emergence of new information and technologies. However, the focus remains on scalability to allow cryptocurrency and blockchain applications to go mainstream.
