Ethereum’s Imminent Prague Upgrade: All You Need To Know
Table of Contents
An Introduction To The Prague Upgrade
Ethereum, the popular blockchain network, is gearing up for a major upgrade called the Prague update. This significant change promises several improvements to the platform, impacting various layers of the Ethereum ecosystem.
The upgrade, also known as the Pectra upgrade, has been a hot topic among the Ethereum community. It’s set to introduce new features aimed at enhancing the network’s performance and capabilities.
Furthermore, testnets, which act as testing grounds for new features, will play a crucial role in rolling out the Dencun upgrade. Scheduled for deployment on multiple testnets like Sepolia, Goerli, and Holesky on yet-be-disclosed dates in 2024, these test phases will ensure that the upgrade operates smoothly before it goes live on the main network.
Verkle Trees And Development Prioritization
One of the key debates within the Ethereum core development team revolves around prioritizing the implementation of Verkle trees. Verkle trees are complex data structures that could significantly optimize storage and access to information on the Ethereum network.
Some developers advocate for making Verkle trees the primary focus, while others suggest incorporating smaller feature updates alongside this development. However, focusing solely on Verkle trees may delay the introduction of new execution layer (EL) features for a considerable period, possibly 12 to 24 months or more.
Despite this debate, it’s clear that even if Verkle trees become the primary focus, minor updates to the Ethereum Layer (EL) may still be necessary. One such update could be adjustments to the gas limit for data availability, crucial for Ethereum’s scalability solutions, requiring coordination across the execution and consensus layers (CL).
Proposed Enhancements And Possible Implications
The Prague upgrade will encompass various proposals to refine different aspects of the Ethereum platform. These proposals include a new EVM object format (EOF), precompiles for distinct cryptographic operations, and modifications to smart contract abilities.
Overall, the Prague upgrade is poised to make Ethereum more secure, efficient, and scalable, ensuring it remains a leading platform for decentralized applications (dApps).
Ethereum Layer-2 Ecosystem Achieves Record $21B Total Value Locked
Meanwhile, Ethereum’s Layer-2 ecosystem is hitting new highs, with a record-breaking total value locked (TVL) of $21.16 billion as of January 3, 2024. This figure reflects a 333% surge from early January 2023, making this TVL surpass the total locked-in all decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols in January 2021.
This feat highlights the explosive growth of Ethereum’s Layer-2 networks. Over the past month alone, L2 TVL soared by 34%. Arbitrum One leads the pack, securing nearly 50% market share with a massive $10 billion TVL.
It is followed closely by Optimism at $5.8 billion, constituting a 28.7% share. While smaller Layer-2 platforms like Base and Metis Andromeda have a decent share with around $750 million TVL each, the dominance of Arbitrum and Optimism is evident.
Ethereum’s Price Stagnates Despite Layer-2 Surge
While its Layer-2 ecosystem thrives, Ethereum’s native asset, ETH, has failed to reflect this momentum in its price action. Trading around $2,245, ETH remains down by 54% from its all-time high of $4,878 in November 2021.
The correlation between the flourishing Layer-2 ecosystem and ETH’s price movement remains a topic of interest. Analysts suggest that once ETH’s price gains momentum, attention will return to Ethereum and its Layer-2 solutions, propelling further growth in the ecosystem.
The surge in TVL within Layer-2 networks signals a broader acceptance and utilization of Ethereum’s scalability solutions. Thus, this ecosystem will likely play a pivotal role in the future landscape of decentralized finance and blockchain technology.
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