Ethereum's Fusaka Upgrade and Blob Parameter Only Forks

By: Eliza Bennet

Ethereum is set to undergo a major transformation with its upcoming Fusaka upgrade slated for December 2023. The Fusaka upgrade introduces significant enhancements to the Ethereum blockchain, one of the most impactful being the introduction of 'blobs.' Blobs, as introduced by EIP-4844, are temporary on-chain data elements aimed at reducing transaction costs for Layer 2 rollups. This advancement is designed to optimize the use of blockchain space by allowing transactions that do not require permanent record keeping on the main chain, providing a cost-efficient solution for network users.

In the context of Ethereum, the Fusaka upgrade presents a unique opportunity to experiment with Scalability in a non-disruptive manner, using Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks. The process involves incrementally testing increased blob capacity limits across different network forks. Scheduled improvements include a mid-December fork to raise blob capacities and a further upgrade in January 2026. Alongside these enhancements, a dedicated security contest has been launched, offering $2 million to developers and researchers to identify potential vulnerabilities within this upgrade. This competition underscores the importance of robust security in managing network changes, especially given Ethereum's significant role in the decentralized finance (DeFi) and decentralized applications (dApps) fields.

Learn more about these changes via the Ethereum's Fusaka Upgrade article.