The Dencun upgrade, a significant update for the Ethereum blockchain, has been implemented on the final testnet, Holesky, marking a major step towards its deployment on the mainnet next month.
Previously, the upgrade was successfully tested on the Goerli and Sepolia testnets in January. With the Holesky rollout finalized, developers are expected to announce a specific date for the mainnet launch during today’s Ethereum All Core Developers call. Current estimates suggest a rollout in early to mid-March.
Holesky is finalized for Deneb 😀
Churn limit looks good so far and blobs are flowing smoothly!
Next stop, Mainnet! https://t.co/MiEsJfHvFz
— parithosh | 🐼👉👈🐼 (@parithosh_j) February 7, 2024
What is Dencun?
Dencun combines two separate upgrades, Cancun and Deneb, targeting both the execution and consensus layers of Ethereum. It introduces several enhancements, including:
- Proto-danksharding (EIP-4844): This key feature utilizes “blobs” to temporarily store and access large amounts of data off-chain, reducing storage demands on the network. This is expected to significantly reduce transaction costs for Ethereum applications, particularly Layer 2 rollups.
- Consensus layer improvements: Deneb introduces optimizations to the consensus layer, enhancing the network’s overall efficiency and security.
The Dencun upgrade represents a crucial step in Ethereum’s ongoing development, aiming to address scalability concerns and reduce transaction fees. If successful, it could pave the way for wider adoption of the Ethereum network and its applications.