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 contains a number of modifications, most notably the introduction of ephemeral knowledge blobs with EIP-4844, also referred to as “protodanksharding”, which can assist scale back L2 transaction charges.
Dencun follows final 12 months’s Shapella improve. It should 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 modifications to each Ethereum’s consensus and execution layers. The complete checklist of protocol modifications could be present in EIP-7569. For reference, they’re:
Deneb
Full python specs for modifications affecting Ethereum’s consensus layer could be discovered within the deneb folder of the ethereum/consensus-specs repository.
Cancun
The EIPs linked above include the total specs for modifications affecting Ethereum’s execution layer.
Moreover, a python specification for these is being carried out within the ethereum/execution-specs repository.
Lastly, Deneb requires modifications 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.
Shopper Releases
The next consumer releases help Dencun on each Sepolia and Holesky. Additional variations will activate help 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 must be particularly conscious 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 could be discovered right here. An estimate of present EL and CL consumer distribution and guides for switching from one consumer to a different could be discovered right here.
Consensus Layer Sepolia & Holesky Releases
Notice: when working a validator, each the Consensus Layer Beacon Node and Validator Shopper have to be up to date.
Execution Layer Sepolia & Holesky Releases
Notice: whereas Reth helps Dencun, the consumer continues 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 must do?
Briefly, no.
For those who use an trade, digital pockets or {hardware} pockets you don’t want to do something until you might be knowledgeable to take extra steps by your trade or pockets supplier.
For those who run your individual Ethereum node, see the following query.
As a non-staking Sepolia or Holesky node operator, what do I must do?
To be appropriate 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 must do?
To be appropriate with the improve on both testnet, replace your node’s execution and consensus layer purchasers to the variations listed within the desk above. Ensure 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 must do?
Nothing for now. Additional bulletins will probably be made for Dencun’s activation on mainnet. You possibly can signal as much as obtain an electronic mail alert for them right here.
Stakers who need 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?
If you’re utilizing an Ethereum consumer that’s not up to date to the newest model (listed above), your consumer will sync to the pre-fork blockchain as soon as the improve happens.
You may be caught on an incompatible chain following the outdated guidelines and will probably be unable to ship Ether or function on the post-Dencun Ethereum community.
As an software or tooling developer, what ought to I do?
Evaluate the EIPs included in Dencun to find out if and the way they have an effect on your challenge — there are various 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 mixture of Deneb, a first-magnitude star within the Cygnus constellation, and Cancun, the placement for Devcon 3.
Authentic cowl picture by Darren Lawrence, with modifications by Tomo Saito.
