The Dencun community improve has efficiently activated on the Goerli testnet on January 17, 2024. It’s now scheduled for the 2 remaining testnets, Sepolia and Holesky, on the following instances:
The improve consists of a number of adjustments, most notably the introduction of ephemeral information blobs with EIP-4844, often known as “protodanksharding”, which is able to assist cut back L2 transaction charges.
Dencun follows final 12 months’s Shapella improve. It’s going to first be deployed to Ethereum testnets. As soon as these all are easily working the improve, Dencun will probably be scheduled for deployment on the Ethereum mainnet.
Improve Specification
The Dencun improve combines adjustments to each Ethereum’s consensus and execution layers. The total checklist of protocol adjustments will be present in EIP-7569. For reference, they’re:
Deneb
Full python specs for adjustments affecting Ethereum’s consensus layer will be discovered within the deneb folder of the ethereum/consensus-specs repository.
Cancun
The EIPs linked above comprise the complete specs for adjustments affecting Ethereum’s execution layer.
Moreover, a python specification for these is being carried out within the ethereum/execution-specs repository.
Lastly, Deneb requires adjustments to the Engine API, used for communication between the consensus and execution layer nodes. These are specified within the cancun.md file of the ethereum/execution-apis repository.
Consumer Releases
The next consumer releases assist Dencun on each Sepolia and Holesky. Additional variations will activate assist on mainnet. As soon as these are launched, one other announcement will probably be made on this weblog.
When selecting which consumer to run, validators ought to be particularly aware of the dangers of working a majority consumer on both the execution layer (EL) or consensus layer (CL). An explainer of those dangers and their penalties will be discovered right here. An estimate of present EL and CL consumer distribution and guides for switching from one consumer to a different will be discovered right here.
Consensus Layer Sepolia & Holesky Releases
Be aware: when working a validator, each the Consensus Layer Beacon Node and Validator Consumer should be up to date.
Execution Layer Sepolia & Holesky Releases
Be aware: whereas Reth helps Dencun, the consumer remains to be pending a full audit and isn’t beneficial for manufacturing use. See the Reth README for extra context.
FAQ
As an Ethereum consumer or Ether holder, is there something I have to do?
In brief, no.
In the event you use an change, digital pockets or {hardware} pockets you do not want to do something except you’re knowledgeable to take extra steps by your change or pockets supplier.
In the event you run your personal Ethereum node, see the following query.
As a non-staking Sepolia or Holesky node operator, what do I have to do?
To be suitable with the improve on both testnet, replace your node’s execution and consensus layer purchasers to the variations listed within the desk above.
As a Sepolia or Holesky staker, what do I have to do?
To be suitable with the improve on both testnet, replace your node’s execution and consensus layer purchasers to the variations listed within the desk above. Make sure that each your beacon node and validator consumer are up to date.
As a non-Sepolia or Holesky node operator or staker, what do I have to do?
Nothing for now. Additional bulletins will probably be made for Dencun’s activation on mainnet. You may signal as much as obtain an e-mail alert for them right here.
Stakers who wish to run by means of the improve course of extra instances earlier than mainnet are inspired to make use of ephemery.dev, which now helps Dencun.
What occurs if I’m a Sepolia or Holesky staker or node operator and I don’t take part within the improve?
In case you are utilizing an Ethereum consumer that isn’t up to date to the most recent model (listed above), your consumer will sync to the pre-fork blockchain as soon as the improve happens.
You’ll be caught on an incompatible chain following the previous guidelines and will probably be unable to ship Ether or function on the post-Dencun Ethereum community.
As an utility or tooling developer, what ought to I do?
Overview the EIPs included in Dencun to find out if and the way they have an effect on your undertaking — there are a lot of new thrilling options being launched throughout each the execution and consensus layers! The one EIPs with backwards compatibility implications are EIP-6780, EIP-7044 and EIP-7514.
Why “Dencun”?
Upgrades to the consensus layer use star names, and people to the execution layer observe Devcon metropolis names. “Dencun” is the mix of Deneb, a first-magnitude star within the Cygnus constellation, and Cancun, the placement for Devcon 3.
Unique cowl picture by Darren Lawrence, with modifications by Tomo Saito.
