The upcoming update of Ethereum (ETH), according to Buterin, is aimed at simplifying the structure of the second cryptocurrency’s blockchain and reducing the load on nodes. ETH co-founder Vitalik Buterin shared details of the next network update called The Purge.
The Purge: EIP-6780
Central to the update is the implementation and development of EIP-6780, an offering that was introduced during the recent Dencun upgrade. It optimizes the SELFDESTRUCT code, simplifying the network, and adding new security guarantees. “This EIP is a key example of an often overlooked part of Ethereum protocol development: efforts to simplify the protocol by removing complexity and adding new security guarantees,” Buterin said. Once EIP-6780 is fully implemented, each Ethereum block will have more data storage slots. Buterin expects future proposals to finally get rid of the SELFDESTRUCT code.
EIP-4444
As part of The Purge, the developers are also implementing EIP-4444. This proposal suggests that Ethereum blocks will be deleted from network nodes by default after a certain period of time. In Dencun, this role is played by so-called blob objects, which store data for approximately 18 days.
To store the complete history of the blockchain, Buterin proposed creating special block explorers or using peer-to-peer torrent networks.
In his opinion, the implementation of EIP-4444 will increase the decentralization of Ethereum nodes. The proposal will reduce the synchronization time of nodes, thereby simplifying many work processes. Additionally, the initiative will also result in each node storing a small percentage of history by default.
“EIP-4444 can significantly increase the decentralization of Ethereum nodes. Potentially, if each node stored a small percentage of history by default, we could even have roughly the same number of copies of any given piece of history as are stored on the network today,” Buterin wrote.
Ethereum Precompiles Mechanism
Buterin also suggests using a precompilation mechanism. In short, these are Ethereum contracts that, instead of EVM code, contain logic implemented by clients. According to the programmer, Precompiles can be used to implement complex forms of cryptography. “Today, Precompiles are used very successfully, in particular to create applications based on ZK-SNARK using precompilations for elliptic curves,” he emphasized. Ethereum already has several Precompiles, but they are used extremely rarely. In particular, these include: RIPEMD-160 is a hash function that was introduced for better compatibility with the Bitcoin (BTC) network.
Identity is a precompilation that returns the same result as the input. BLAKE2 is a hash function that was introduced for better compatibility with Zcash MODEXP is a very large number modular exponent introduced to support RSA-based cryptography. To optimize transaction processing, Buterin suggests removing some of them.
New Ethereum Consensus Structure
Vitalik noted that now most of the Ethereum network structure supports old formats. All of this adds too much complexity to applications that use data based on Merkle Patricia and RLP trees. The blockchain consensus layer of the second cryptocurrency has already switched to the “cleaner and more efficient” SimpleSerialize (SSZ) format. During The Purge, it is planned to complete this transition and transfer Ethereum to the same structure and execution level.
