What is the Ethereum Dencun Upgrade?

Ethereum, a pioneer in blockchain technology, is set for a transformation by deploying the Dencun upgrade on the Sepolia test network. This marks a crucial step toward the anticipated "proto-dank sharding" feature, offering a glimpse into Ethereum's future. 

But what exactly is the Dencun upgrade, and how does it promise to enhance the Ethereum network? Let’s find out.

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Evolution of Ethereum Since 2023

In order to understand Dencun, let's take a look back at Ethereum's journey. The Shanghai upgrade, implemented on April 12, 2023, brought significant optimizations to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and introduced various protocol enhancements. 

This upgrade aimed to boost gas efficiency, reduce transaction costs, and enhance the overall user experience – a pivotal stride toward Ethereum's scalability and sustainability.

The Anticipated Dencun Upgrade: A Game-Changer

Now, all eyes are on the Cancun-Deneb (Dencun) Upgrade, representing the next phase in Ethereum's evolution. Comprising enhancements to both the execution layer (Cancun) and the consensus layer (Deneb) of the Ethereum network, Dencun promises substantial changes to scalability, security, and usability.

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Ethereum Cancun-Deneb (Dencun) Upgrade Highlights

Cancun: Enhancing Scalability

The Cancun upgrade, focusing on the execution layer, introduces several Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) aimed at enhancing scalability and optimizing gas efficiency. Notable among them is EIP-1234, adjusting the block reward and delaying the "difficulty bomb" to ensure a smooth transition to Ethereum 2.0.

Deneb: Improving Consensus and Security

The Deneb upgrade targets the consensus layer, aiming to enhance security and consensus mechanisms. Key among the EIPs is EIP-2322, upgrading the Ethereum Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm for increased robustness and efficiency.

Finalized EIPs for Implementation

Several finalized EIPs will be implemented, including:

• EIP-1559: Introducing a new fee structure to improve user experience and reduce transaction fees.
• EIP-2929: Enhancing security by increasing the cost of certain operations to deter potential attacks.
• EIP-2537: Proposing a new Ethereum-specific opcode for more efficient contract verification of elliptic curve signatures.

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Expected Benefits of Dencun Upgrade

The Ethereum Cancun-Deneb Upgrade holds deep promise for the ecosystem:

Increased Security

Implementing EIPs such as 4788, 6780, and 7514, Dencun addresses security concerns at both the user application and consensus levels. Measures include incorporating the parent beacon block root into the execution layer, optimizing opcode functionalities, and introducing a temporary solution for validator bloat.

Improved Staking Experience

On the consensus layer, EIP-7044 and EIP-7045 aim to enhance the staking user experience and block confirmation times. The validity of voluntary exits in delegated staking will be perpetual, and validators will have more time to submit attestations, contributing to faster confirmation times.

Enhanced Cost Efficiency

Introducing EIP-5656 and EIP-1153, the Cancun upgrade adds new opcodes to benefit dApp developers. These opcodes improve gas cost optimization, making smart contracts more efficient with zero trade-offs and introducing transient storage for communication within complex transactions.

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Proto-Danksharding: Scaling Ethereum Further

A significant advancement in Dencun is the introduction of danksharding and proto-danksharding, aimed at scaling the Ethereum blockchain and improving its efficiency. Danksharding involves dividing the Ethereum blockchain into smaller "blobs," enabling parallel processing for enhanced scalability. 

Proto-danksharding, or EIP-4844, builds upon this concept, expanding storage capacity for more efficient data processing and reduced gas fees for layer-2 solutions.

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Dencun Upgrade Timeline

Initially planned for late 2023, deployment and consensus issues pushed the Dencun upgrade to 2024. The public testnet timeline is as follows:

• Goerli: Jan. 17
• Sepolia: Jan. 30
• Holesky: Feb. 7

The Sepolia testnet has ended, and developers are encouraged to move to Holesky for future workloads. The mainnet launch is expected in early or mid-March, with flexibility depending on the smooth progression of implementations.