Ethereum’s Dencun Upgrade Set for March 13

Core Ethereum developers have finalized the deployment schedule for the Dencun upgrade, with activation slated for slot number 8626176, estimated to occur on March 13th at around 8:55 am ET.

This upgrade, featuring the proto-danksharding capability via EIP-4844, introduces blob transactions and transient storage to enhance Ethereum’s functionality.

Blobs are coming to Ethereum mainnet

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13 March 2024, 13:55:35 UTC

— Nethermind (@NethermindEth) February 8, 2024

EIP-4844 aims to integrate off-chain “data blobs,” improving support for Layer 2 networks like zkSync, Optimism, and Arbitrum. The upgrade follows successful test deployments on various testnets, ensuring its readiness for implementation on the main Ethereum network. The Dencun upgrade in Ethereum aims to address network congestion and high transaction costs, improving throughput and reducing fees for users.

This enhancement is crucial for Ethereum to maintain its dominance in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and non-fungible token (NFT) sectors.

Ethereum currently leads in NFT sales volume, with over US$42 billion in all-time sales, and hosts approximately US$38 billion worth of assets in its decentralized applications, comprising almost 60% of the total DeFi sector’s locked assets.

The transition to a proof-of-stake consensus model has been ongoing, with the Dencun upgrade representing the latest effort to optimize Ethereum’s infrastructure and further its evolution.

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