In the latest update on Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade, lead developer Tim Beiko shared insights from the All Core Developer Execution (ACDE) meeting on 28 September. This upgrade is poised to bring pivotal changes across Ethereum’s two Mainnet layers: the execution layer overseeing smart contracts and the consensus layer focused on blockchain consensus through staking.
One significant aspect discussed during the meeting was the progress on the EIP-4788 contract, which pertains to the hash tree root in the Beacon Chain. This contract enables data verification from the consensus layer, enhancing Ethereum’s overall functionality. Beiko noted that audits were conducted for the EIP-4788 contract, ensuring its robustness.
Unlike the previous update, which primarily focused on improving validator schemes and deploying nodes, this time, Beiko delved deeper into the changes made that are crucial for Beacon Chain users. These modifications aim to future-proof contracts on the Beacon roots against block times, a key consideration for Ethereum’s evolution. Importantly, Beiko confirmed that other development firms, apart from the Ethereum Foundation, found no new issues with the contract.
Another notable development discussed was testing the Maximal Extractable Value (MEV-Boost), a middleware designed to enable validators to request blocks from a network of builders. However, Beiko highlighted the need for substantial involvement of validators, development experts, and networking specialists to ensure the successful implementation of MEV-Boost on the Ethereum Mainnet. To facilitate testing, a short-lived devnet-10 will be launched after devnet-9, featuring a large validator set to assess new churn limits.
The meeting also discussed whether Ethereum L1 Mainnet should be made Zero-Knowledge (ZK) friendly. The developers agreed that this decision should be timely and requires careful consideration. Some expressed uncertainty about whether this functionality aligns with Ethereum’s broader goals.
As a result of these discussions and the indecisiveness surrounding ZK-friendliness, the developers scheduled their next ACDE meeting for 12th October at 14:00 UTC. This forthcoming meeting promises to explore critical topics and pave the way for Ethereum’s continued development and evolution.
The Ethereum community eagerly anticipates further updates on the Dencun upgrade and its potential to enhance the network’s capabilities and performance in the evolving blockchain technology landscape.
