Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently outlined on X the upcoming phases of the protocol’s simplification efforts, known as “The Purge.”
This initiative seeks to streamline the Ethereum protocol by cutting down on the need to store historical data. By doing so, it will significantly ease the storage demands on node operators’ hard drives and reduce the technical debt associated with the protocol.
In essence, “The Purge” is an effort to make Ethereum leaner and tackle the accumulated technical problems head-on. Buterin’s announcement also suggested that there are additional Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) in the pipeline, also aiming for simplification.
The Technical Maneuvers Behind Ethereum’s New Developments
In a recent update, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin shed light on the implementation of the Ethereum Improvement Protocol (EIP)-6780 during the Dencun hard fork, marking a significant advancement in simplifying the Ethereum protocol.
This update reduced the functionalities of the “SELFDESTRUCT” code and bolstered security measures.
Following the EIP-6780 implementation, another adjustment includes the cap on the number of storage slots that can be modified in a single block, which is essentially the gas limit divided by 5000.
A quick note on next steps in Ethereum protocol simplification and node resource load decreases (aka “the Purge”):https://t.co/BAebCGrisB
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) April 1, 2024
Buterin is hopeful that future protocols will completely remove the SELFDESTRUCT function, thereby further securing and streamlining the network.
Buterin referred to a series of cleanup efforts within the Geth Ethereum client as “The Purge,” targeting the elimination of unnecessary code in the aftermath of Ethereum’s shift from Proof-of-Work (PoW) to Proof-of-Stake (PoS).
This initiative is part of broader efforts to manage empty accounts more efficiently, contributing to an overall increase in code efficiency.
The Purge’s Vision for Enhanced Data Management and Decentralization
Moreover, a key aim of The Purge, to optimize data storage on the Ethereum blockchain, led to the introduction of EIP-4444 during the Dencun upgrade.
This protocol introduces “blobs” for specific data storage purposes, aiming to lessen the demands on long-term storage and make node participation more manageable. The proposal also plans for the automatic removal of older blocks after a certain period, aiming to further decrease the need for storage.
Buterin highlighted that The Purge would significantly improve the decentralization of Ethereum nodes by distributing historical data more efficiently throughout the network. He acknowledged that not every node would retain the full historical data, but mentioned that block explorers and decentralized peer-to-peer networks are being considered to maintain data accessibility.
Additionally, The Purge intends to reevaluate and refine precompiled Ethereum contracts and introduce a new data structure known as SimpleSerialize (SSZ), which is expected to replace the current block structure.
Ethereum’s Complex Layer-2 Scaling Solutions Might Be A Problem
On December 30, 2023, Vitalik Buterin, announced an update to the Ethereum roadmap, spotlighting significant strides in Surge (rollup scaling) efforts, particularly with EIP-4844 and progress in rollup technology.
He pointed out the essential need for long-term advancements in cross-rollup standards and interoperability, aiming to bolster the Ethereum ecosystem.
Buterin has recently expressed his worries regarding the complexity of Layer 2 scaling solutions within blockchain ecosystems. He emphasized the dangers that complex Layer 2 networks pose through social media, advocating for a more measured development approach.
Honestly I’m about 3x less confident in the “simplify L1 even at the expense of more complicated L2s” concept than I was five years ago. The challenge is that when you can trade off between L1 bug risk and L2 bug risk, it’s not actually clear that the latter is better!
— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 21, 2024
Within the blockchain community, there’s a consensus that Layer 1 networks ought to maintain simplicity to reduce the occurrence of critical bugs and vulnerabilities. This perspective suggests that more intricate functionalities should be managed by Layer 2 networks, which are dedicated to scaling solutions.
Failures In Layer 2 Networks Could Result In Loss Of User Funds
Highlighting the severe implications of critical bugs in Layer 2 networks, Buterin noted that, unlike Layer 1 blockchains which can swiftly recover from consensus failures, such failures in Layer 2 networks could irreversibly result in the loss of user funds.
As a solution, Buterin proposed the idea of imbuing Layer 1 networks with advanced features to alleviate the pressure on Layer 2 networks. This strategy would allow Layer 2 networks to maintain simplicity, thus reducing the likelihood of critical bugs and security issues, thereby protecting user funds and enhancing the overall system’s reliability.
