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 occasions:
The improve contains a number of modifications, most notably the introduction of ephemeral knowledge blobs with EIP-4844, often known as “protodanksharding”, which is able to assist scale back L2 transaction charges.
Dencun follows final yr’s Shapella improve. It would first be deployed to Ethereum testnets. As soon as these all are easily operating the improve, Dencun shall be scheduled for deployment on the Ethereum mainnet.
Improve Specification
The Dencun improve combines modifications to each Ethereum’s consensus and execution layers. The total checklist of protocol modifications will be present in EIP-7569. For reference, they’re:
Deneb
Full python specs for modifications affecting Ethereum’s consensus layer will be discovered within the deneb folder of the ethereum/consensus-specs repository.
Cancun
The EIPs linked above comprise 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 shopper releases assist Dencun on each Sepolia and Holesky. Additional variations will activate assist on mainnet. As soon as these are launched, one other announcement shall be made on this weblog.
When selecting which shopper to run, validators must be particularly aware of the dangers of operating a majority shopper on both the execution layer (EL) or consensus layer (CL). An explainer of those dangers and their penalties will be discovered right here. An estimate of present EL and CL shopper distribution and guides for switching from one shopper to a different will be discovered right here.
Consensus Layer Sepolia & Holesky Releases
Observe: when operating a validator, each the Consensus Layer Beacon Node and Validator Shopper should be up to date.
Execution Layer Sepolia & Holesky Releases
Observe: whereas Reth helps Dencun, the shopper remains to be pending a full audit and isn’t really useful 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.
Should you use an trade, digital pockets or {hardware} pockets you do not want to do something until you might be knowledgeable to take extra steps by your trade or pockets supplier.
Should you run your personal Ethereum node, see the following query.
As a non-staking Sepolia or Holesky node operator, what do I must do?
To be suitable with the improve on both testnet, replace your node’s execution and consensus layer shoppers to the variations listed within the desk above.
As a Sepolia or Holesky staker, what do I must do?
To be suitable with the improve on both testnet, replace your node’s execution and consensus layer shoppers to the variations listed within the desk above. Be certain that each your beacon node and validator shopper are up to date.
As a non-Sepolia or Holesky node operator or staker, what do I must do?
Nothing for now. Additional bulletins shall be made for Dencun’s activation on mainnet. You possibly can signal as much as obtain an e mail alert for them right here.
Stakers who wish to run by the improve course of extra occasions 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 shopper that’s not up to date to the most recent model (listed above), your shopper will sync to the pre-fork blockchain as soon as the improve happens.
You can be caught on an incompatible chain following the previous guidelines and shall be unable to ship Ether or function on the post-Dencun Ethereum community.
As an utility 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 a lot of 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 mix of Deneb, a first-magnitude star within the Cygnus constellation, and Cancun, the placement for Devcon 3.
Unique cowl picture by Darren Lawrence, with modifications by Tomo Saito.
