Ethereum Developers Discuss Pectra Upgrade and Future Hard Forks

Ethereum Core Developers' Execution Call #197: Summary and Insights

In recent developments from the Ethereum community, the 197th Ethereum Core Developers Execution (ACDE) call took place, shedding light on the ongoing changes to the Ethereum execution layer (EL). Led by Galaxy Research's Vice President, Christine Kim, the call focused on the Pectra upgrade and its implications for the Ethereum network.

Key Highlights from ACDE #197

• Pectra Upgrade Coordination: Developers confirmed the move to initiate the Pectra upgrade on a limited scale, currently incorporating eight Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) on Devnet 3.
• Blob Fee Market Discussions: A significant point of discussion was the potential addition of four EIPs concerning the Ethereum blob fee market as part of the Pectra upgrade.
• Vitalik Buterin's Support: Vitalik Buterin, a co-founder of Ethereum, advocated for increased blob capacity in the Pectra upgrade. However, other developers showed some resistance towards this increase, leading to further discussions without a conclusive decision.
• Specific EIPs on the Table: The blob-related EIPs being considered include:
• EIP 7762: A proposal focused on increasing MIN_BASE_FEE_PER_BLOB_GAS.
• EIP 7623: Aimed at raising the call data cost.
• EIP 7742: This proposal suggests the separation of blob counts between the Consensus Layer (CL) and Execution Layer (EL).

Future Ethereum Upgrades: What to Expect?

Looking beyond Pectra, Ethereum developer Beiko provided insights into the upcoming hard fork, which has been named Fusaka. This next upgrade will introduce significant features:

• Incorporation of PeerDAS and EOF: The Fusaka upgrade may include these critical EIPs, contingent on the progress of implementation.
• Amsterdam EIP Introduction: A fresh EIP has been introduced for EL upgrades titled 'Amsterdam,' which continues the work on Verkle EIP that was initially proposed for the Osaka upgrade.

Conclusion

The discussions held during the 197th Ethereum Core Developers Execution call have paved the way for exciting advancements within the Ethereum network. With the Pectra upgrade on the horizon and new proposals like Fusaka and Amsterdam in view, the Ethereum community is poised for noteworthy changes. Developers and enthusiasts alike will be watching closely as these improvements unfold, particularly regarding the potential adjustments to the blob fee market.

For further reading on Ethereum's upgrades and EIPs, check out our related articles about Ethereum upgrades and the Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs).