Introduction
EIP-4844, also known as proto-danksharding, is a proposal that partially implements the danksharding specification. It serves as a transitional step toward achieving full sharding on the Ethereum network. This upgrade is designed to enhance scalability by introducing blob-carrying transactions, which significantly reduce gas fees for Layer 2 rollups like ZK Rollup and Optimistic Rollup.
What Is Danksharding?
- Origin: The term "danksharding" is derived from Dankrad Feist, a key contributor to the proposal.
- Purpose: Unlike traditional sharding, which expands transaction space, danksharding focuses on increasing storage for blob-type transactions.
- Blob Data: Ethereum does not execute blob data but verifies its availability, making it ideal for high-throughput Layer 2 rollups.
Key Features of EIP-4844
1. Blob-Carrying Transactions
- Similar to regular transactions but include extra data (blobs).
- Minimal gas fees since blobs bypass EVM execution.
2. Bandwidth Optimization
- Each slot is capped at 1MB (versus 16MB in full danksharding) to avoid overwhelming validators.
3. Proposer/Builder Separation (PBS)
- Builders organize blocks, while randomly selected validators propose them.
- Reduces hardware demands on validators.
Benefits of EIP-4844
👉 Gas Savings: Rollups may save hundreds to thousands of times in gas fees.
👉 Scalability: Enables higher throughput for ZK Rollups and Optimistic Rollups.
👉 Transition-Ready: Aligns with future full danksharding implementation.
Progress and Pending Work
Completed
- New transaction type compatible with future upgrades.
- Execution layer logic.
- BeaconBlock validation and blob data availability sampling.
Upcoming
- 2D sampling for blob data.
- Full PBS implementation.
- Validator proof-of-custody requirements.
FAQs
Q1: How does EIP-4844 reduce gas fees?
A: Blob data avoids EVM execution, requiring minimal gas.
Q2: Will EIP-4844 impact validator requirements?
A: Yes, PBS ensures validators aren’t overloaded with large data processing.
Q3: When will full danksharding launch?
A: EIP-4844 is the first step; full implementation depends on consensus upgrades.
Q4: Which Layer 2 solutions benefit most?
A: ZK Rollups and Optimistic Rollups will see major cost reductions.
Conclusion
EIP-4844 marks a pivotal advancement in Ethereum’s scalability roadmap. By optimizing blob storage and reducing fees for rollups, it paves the way for mass adoption of Layer 2 solutions. Stay tuned for further developments as Ethereum progresses toward full danksharding.
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