Ethereum's Fusaka Upgrade Successfully Deployed on Sepolia Testnet, Mainnet Launch Imminent

Ethereum's significant Fusaka upgrade has been successfully activated on the Sepolia testnet, marking a crucial step towards enhancing the network's scalability and performance. This deployment follows earlier trials on the Holesky testnet and is a prelude to the anticipated mainnet launch in early December. The upgrade introduces key technological advancements designed to process more transactions and improve data handling efficiency.

Key Takeaways

• The Fusaka upgrade has been deployed on the Sepolia testnet.

• It aims to significantly improve Ethereum's scalability and performance.

• Key features include a raised block gas limit and the PeerDAS technology.

• The mainnet launch is expected in early December.

Scaling Enhancements

The Fusaka upgrade is a pivotal moment in Ethereum's ongoing efforts to scale its network. This marks the second phase of a three-step rollout, with the final trial scheduled for the Hoodi testnet later this month. A primary feature of Fusaka is the substantial increase in the block gas limit to 60 million. This enhancement will enable the network to process a greater volume of transactions and more complex smart contracts within each block, thereby boosting overall throughput.

Introducing PeerDAS Technology

Central to the Fusaka upgrade is the implementation of Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS), detailed in EIP-7594. This innovative technology allows validators to verify transaction data by sampling small portions from multiple peers, rather than needing to download and store the entire dataset. This approach significantly reduces the burden on nodes, improving network speed and scalability while maintaining decentralization. Protocol engineers emphasize that PeerDAS is crucial for enabling scaling beyond previous limitations.

A Step-by-Step Rollout

The Fusaka upgrade's deployment on Sepolia is part of a carefully planned, multi-stage process. After the initial activation on Holesky on October 1st, the Sepolia testnet deployment focuses on stress-testing the network's new data-availability system and the increased block gas limit. This rigorous testing ensures the stability and reliability of the network at higher capacities before the code is pushed to the final Hoodi testnet and subsequently to the mainnet.

Ethereum's Upgrade History

Ethereum has a history of significant upgrades aimed at improving its capabilities. The recent Pectra upgrade, launched in May, introduced improvements such as allowing externally owned accounts to function like smart contracts and enabling gas fees to be paid in tokens other than ETH. Before that, the Dencun upgrade in March 2024 drastically reduced gas fees by up to 95%. The landmark Merge in September 2022 transitioned Ethereum to a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, dramatically cutting energy consumption. The Shanghai upgrade in April 2023 further solidified the proof-of-stake transition by enabling validator withdrawals.

Sources

• Ethereum’s Fusaka Upgrade Deployed on Sepolia Testnet, Unchained Podcast.

• Ethereum tests Fusaka upgrade on Sepolia, Cointelegraph.