Ethereum Foundation researcher Dankrad Feist has proposed EIP-9698, a groundbreaking upgrade to exponentially increase Ethereum's gas limit over four years. This could propel the network's throughput to 2,000 transactions per second (TPS), marking a pivotal moment for Ethereum's scalability.
How EIP-9698 Works: A 100-Fold Gas Limit Increase
Currently, Ethereum's gas limit caps at 36 million, supporting ~20 TPS (theoretical max: 119 TPS). EIP-9698 introduces a deterministic growth plan:
Exponential Scaling:
- Gas limit rises 10x every ~2 years (164,250 epochs).
- Targets 3.6 billion gas limit within 4 years (~6,000 transactions/block).
- Begins at epoch 369,017 (estimated June 1, 2024).
Client-Driven Adjustments:
- Nodes auto-vote for increases unless manually configured.
- Ensures predictable, coordinated scaling without miner reliance.
"This plan aligns gas limit growth with hardware and protocol advancements," Feist explains. "It’s backward-compatible and non-consensus-breaking."
Ethereum vs. Competitors: Closing the TPS Gap
| Blockchain | Current TPS | Theoretical Max TPS |
|---|---|---|
| Ethereum | 14–20 | 119 |
| Solana | 800–1,000 | 65,000 |
| EIP-9698 Ethereum | 2,000 (projected) | — |
👉 Discover how Ethereum's upgrades compare to Layer 2 solutions
Key Benefits of EIP-9698
Enhanced Throughput:
- Potential 2,000 TPS vs. current ~20 TPS.
- Supports mass adoption for DeFi, NFTs, and dApps.
Predictable Scaling:
- Eliminates erratic miner voting for gas limits.
- Developers gain clear timelines for optimization.
Security Safeguards:
- Gradual increments prevent node strain.
- Operators retain manual override options.
Feist notes: "Exponential growth gives nodes ample time to adapt."
FAQs: EIP-9698 Explained
Q: When will EIP-9698 take effect?
A: If approved, phase 1 begins June 2024, with full scaling completed by 2028.
Q: How does this compare to Solana’s speed?
A: Solana handles ~1,000 TPS today. Ethereum’s 2,000 TPS would narrow the gap significantly.
Q: Will this reduce gas fees?
A: Not directly—higher throughput may ease congestion, but fee dynamics depend on demand.
The Road Ahead: Ethereum’s Scalability Roadmap
EIP-9698 complements upcoming upgrades like Pectra (live next week), which boosts blob throughput and validator efficiency. Together, these changes aim to:
- Reduce Layer 1 fees.
- Optimize data storage.
- Improve Layer 2 transaction speeds.
👉 Explore Ethereum's latest upgrades and their impact
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