Ethereum’s Fusaka Upgrade Set for December Launch

By: Isha Das

Ethereum’s much-anticipated Fusaka upgrade is slated for activation on December 3rd, 2023, as confirmed by the core developers during a recent All Core Developers’ Call. The upgrade is being meticulously rolled out with several stages leading up to its mainnet launch. The initial test networks are scheduled to undergo upgrades beginning October 1st on the Holesky testnet, followed by Sepolia on October 14th, and Hoodi on October 28th. If these test upgrades proceed smoothly, the pathway is clear for Fusaka’s mainnet activation.

The Fusaka upgrade heralds significant advancements for Ethereum, including doubling blob capacities that could substantially reduce costs for Layer 2 rollups. This is achieved by implementing EIP-4844, which introduces blobs, or temporary on-chain data, that allow transactions to be executed at lower costs while relieving storage demands. By design, these blobs expire after two weeks, thus balancing efficiency and data integrity for the network.

Ethereum developers agreed to employ Blob Parameter Only (BPO) forks to incrementally raise blob capacities, minimizing risks while enhancing scalability. On December 17, a fork will raise blob capacity thresholds to 10/15, and a further increase to 14/21 is slated for January 7, 2026.

In tandem with this technical evolution, the Ethereum Foundation has committed to ensuring safety through a $2 million security contest. Running from September 15 to October 13 on the Sherlock testnet, the contest invites security researchers to identify vulnerabilities within the upgrade. To stimulate early contributions, submissions within the first week will earn additional points, offering researchers a motivating incentive to engage with the ongoing work at this critical juncture for Ethereum.