Ethereum continues to evolve to improve scalability, security, and efficiency. The current development phase includes several major upgrades on the base layer (L1) and new standards for interoperability between Layer-2 solutions. This article highlights the latest progress, challenges, and future developments based on current discussions and test results.

Progress of Pectra and Challenges in Testnet Implementation

The Pectra upgrade introduces various scaling and efficiency improvements, including an increase in blob capacity. In recent weeks, two testnet forks have been deployed: Heski and Apoia. While Apoia has remained stable, Heski experienced significant issues that led to a prolonged period of non-finality. A more stable version of Heski was only made available earlier this week, though minor issues persist.

These delays directly affect the timeline for the mainnet upgrade. Initially, Pectra was planned for release in April, but it is now more likely to go live in May. The exact details are still being finalized. The main concern is that the encountered bugs were testnet-specific and should not impact the mainnet. However, an additional testnet phase is being considered to further stabilize the upgrade.

Another critical issue involves configuration errors in the execution layer (EL), which led to unexpected behavior. While Apoia had minor issues, Heski was more severely affected, making the launch of an additional testnet a possibility.

Impact on Blob Capacity and Future Scaling Plans

One of the most important aspects of Pectra is the doubling of blob capacity from 6 to 12 blobs per block. This is particularly relevant for Layer-2 networks, which rely on blobs for cost-efficient data processing on Ethereum. In parallel with Pectra, work is being done on Fusaka, another upgrade designed to further increase blob throughput.

The theoretical maximum capacity for Fusaka is an increase to 48 blobs. There is an ongoing discussion on whether this increase should happen in a single step or in stages. The options include:

• A direct increase to 48 blobs if stability can be confirmed in tests.
• An initial increase to 12 or 24 blobs to go live faster, with a later increase to the maximum capacity.

The main challenge is network load. A sudden fourfold increase in blob capacity requires extensive testing, especially regarding bandwidth requirements for the weakest nodes in the network. If a gradual rollout is chosen, later increases could be implemented through so-called “block parameter forks,” which do not require a full hard fork.

Optimizations for Proof Generation and Block Production

A major bottleneck in current block production is proof generation. Currently, block builders must complete all proofs for blobs before they can forward a block. This causes delays, especially for solo stakers with limited hardware resources. When overloaded, they must rely on external solutions such as Boost services, which introduce additional costs and dependencies.

One proposed solution is to shift proof generation from block builders to transaction initiators (sequencers). This approach offers several benefits:

• Proofs could be generated in advance, allowing immediate blob validation.
• Sequencers have more powerful hardware and better network connections, reducing bottlenecks.
• The blob target size could be increased more quickly since block producers would experience less strain.

However, this change requires adjustments on Layer 2 since sequencers would need to perform additional calculations. Testing will determine if this strategy is viable.

Introduction of RRC 7755 as a Standard for Cross-Chain Interoperability

RRC 7755 introduces a new standard for cross-chain communication within Ethereum. This standard aims to improve Layer-2 interoperability and may eventually support non-EVM chains. The standard consists of three main components:

1. Outbox and inbox smart contracts for storing and validating messages.
2. Fulfillers, which execute transactions on behalf of users.
3. A settlement mechanism to ensure only successfully completed transactions are rewarded.

Tests on testnets (Base Sepolia, Optimism Sepolia, Arbitrum Sepolia) have shown that the system works reliably. The contracts are now in the audit process and are expected to be ready by the end of Q1 2025.

Challenges in Using RRC 7755

Despite the success of RRC 7755, several open questions remain:

• How can fulfillers reduce capital lockup? Currently, they must use their own funds before receiving compensation.
• Should support for non-finalized states in Optimistic Rollups be implemented? This could enable faster transaction processing.
• Could caching methods be used to avoid duplicate verifications and improve efficiency?

The integration of ZK-SNARKS for verifying storage proofs is also being explored. This could reduce verification complexity for cross-chain processes.

Future Developments – Scaling and New Technologies

Ethereum is focusing on two major long-term improvements:

1. Proof-of-Stake Optimization (Beam Chain): This initiative aims to achieve faster finality, shorter slot times, and a more efficient consensus mechanism. There are discussions about reducing the number of required CL clients to simplify coordination.
2. ZK-EVM and Native Rollups: While ZK-EVMs are already used on Layer 2, research is being conducted on how they can be integrated directly into Ethereum. Native rollups could improve the efficiency and security of Layer-2 solutions in the long run.

Conclusion

Ethereum is undergoing significant developments. While Pectra and Fusaka will increase capacity in the short term, RRC 7755 and future technologies such as Beam Chain and ZK-EVM will enable new use cases in the long term. The main challenges involve the secure and stable integration of new features, as well as coordination among various developers and networks. The coming months will be crucial for the future scalability and competitiveness of Ethereum.