In a blog post on October 17, 2024, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin revealed that Ethereum’s next upgrade phase, “The Surge,” aims to enhance the network’s transaction processing to over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS).
This ambitious goal represents a pivotal moment in Ethereum’s development roadmap. Both Ethereum and its layer-2 (L2) solutions are poised for a significant increase in transaction speed.
Buterin mentioned that the improvements would boost the efficiency of the Ethereum mainnet and its L2 counterparts, positioning Ethereum as one of the fastest blockchain networks globally.
The co-founder emphasized the importance of unifying Ethereum’s ecosystem. He highlighted the need for seamless interoperability between various layer-2 solutions, aiming to make the Ethereum network feel more cohesive rather than a fragmented collection of independent blockchains. This will enable developers and users to interact across different L2 networks more easily.
Reflecting on Ethereum’s past upgrades, Buterin acknowledged that certain obstacles remain, particularly in areas like data availability and the need for trustless rollups.
To tackle these challenges, several solutions have been proposed, including enhanced data compression techniques and cost-effective key computational processes. These improvements aim to boost network scalability.
Improving the user experience on Ethereum’s layer-2 networks is also a priority in “The Surge.” Buterin mentioned efforts to simplify token transfers between L2 networks, reducing transaction complexity and ensuring a smoother, more intuitive user experience.
“The Surge” is a significant step in enhancing Ethereum. It focuses on making the network faster and easier to use. Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum team are working to meet the growing needs of users, as Ethereum is widely used in decentralized finance (DeFi), digital collectibles (NFTs), and other blockchain projects.
Following the successful completion of the Merge in September 2022, several phases are planned to further Ethereum’s evolution in the coming years. These include the Surge, the Verge, the Purge, and the Splurge. Each phase focuses on specific improvements for the Ethereum network.
The Surge targets scalability enhancements, particularly through rollups and EIP-4844, aiming for 100,000 transactions per second. The Scourge addresses economic centralization risks and seeks to enhance validator node management and block validation.
The Verge improves block validation efficiency without increasing Layer 1 gas limits, thereby supporting network scalability. The Purge aims to simplify the protocol by reducing technical debt and lowering network participation costs, making it more accessible to users.
Lastly, the Splurge involves broader developmental efforts, including fostering ecosystem growth and engaging the Ethereum user community. These planned phases reflect Ethereum’s commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation to meet future demands and challenges in the blockchain space.
