Ethereum is getting ready for one of its biggest updates this year. The Fusaka upgrade coming in December will bring PeerDAS, a new method for nodes to verify data availability without needing to download the entire blockchain. Vitalik Buterin thinks this feature will be essential for growing Ethereum’s layer 2 network.
Instead of making nodes download everything, PeerDAS allows them to take small pieces of data. By looking at these parts, nodes can be sure that the complete dataset is available throughout the network. This method lessens the pressure on each person while still keeping everything safe.
Dealing with Ethereum’s Slowdown
Ethereum’s rollups have faced challenges because there hasn’t been enough data available. PeerDAS was first introduced in January in a document called EIP-7594 to address this problem. The change will let more blob data move through the system, making rollups larger and saving money for users.
Blob activity is increasing. This week, the network hit its goal of six blobs in each block for the first time. Coinbase’s Base network and Worldcoin were key factors. Blobs were added earlier this year in the Dencun update and have quickly become important for reducing costs on layer 2.
The Fusaka upgrade will increase blob capacity from six to twelve per block. In the next few weeks, the developers plan to increase the maximum limit, first to 15 and then to 21. Buterin said the team is being careful because this is new technology and needs to be introduced slowly.
Vitalik’s Bigger Picture
Buterin has been posting on X lately, sharing articles and blogs about the future of Ethereum. He recently asked for digital systems to be made using open and checkable technology. He also said that the future of Ethereum will focus on low-risk decentralized finance (DeFi), prioritizing safety and trust over risky investments.
PeerDAS is a part of that bigger plan. By making data easier to access and more dependable, Ethereum can support future rollups while keeping users safe. For Buterin, it’s not only about how well something works. It’s about creating strong systems that people can rely on for many years.
