Ethereum Boosts Scalability With Second Blob Parameter-Only Hard Fork

Ethereum took one other step towards larger throughput this week after activating its second Blob Parameter-Only (BPO) onerous fork, a focused improve designed to develop knowledge capability and assist rollup-based scaling forward of a broader set of adjustments deliberate for 2026.

The upgrade went live on Wednesday at 1:01:11 UTC and elevated the community’s blob restrict from 15 to 21.

Blobs are non permanent knowledge containers launched to assist rollups bundle transactions extra effectively, easing strain on Ethereum’s base layer whereas permitting layer-2 networks to course of extra exercise at decrease price.

Ethereum Raises Blob Target to Signal Sustainable Scaling Levels

Alongside the upper cap, the onerous fork additionally raised the blob goal from 10 to 14.

Developers typically view the goal because the extra necessary determine, because it displays the extent Ethereum goals to maintain underneath regular circumstances.

Running near the 21-blob ceiling for prolonged durations may pressure node bandwidth and storage, making the goal a key sign for community well being.

Each blob can carry 128 kilobytes of information, that means Ethereum can now deal with as much as roughly 2.6 megabytes of blob knowledge per block.

That added capability permits rollups to batch extra transactions directly, bettering effectivity with out immediately rising congestion on the mainnet.

Beyond scaling layer-2 exercise, blobs have additionally performed a job in maintaining base-layer charges in verify.

Since the primary BPO onerous fork in December, transaction charges on Ethereum have proven noticeably much less volatility, reflecting diminished competitors for block house as rollups shift knowledge off the primary chain.

Developers are already looking forward to further throughput beneficial properties. During an Ethereum All Core Developers name in mid-December, members mentioned elevating the community gasoline restrict from 60 million to 80 million now that the second BPO improve is reside.

Such a transfer would enable extra transactions and good contract operations per block, probably reducing charges additional in periods of high demand.

Later in 2026, consideration will flip to the deliberate Glamsterdam onerous fork, which is predicted to push scalability a lot additional.

The improve would enable the gasoline restrict to climb as high as 200 million and introduce so-called “good parallel processing,” enabled by Block Access Lists underneath Ethereum Improvement Proposal-7928.

Buterin Claims Ethereum Has Solved the Blockchain Trilemma

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin says the network has solved the blockchain trilemma, crossing a milestone many in crypto lengthy considered as unattainable.

In a publish on X on Saturday, Buterin argued that current and upcoming upgrades have lastly aligned decentralization, safety, and scalability by means of code already operating in manufacturing.

Now that ZKEVMs are at alpha stage (production-quality efficiency, remaining work is security) and PeerDAS is reside on mainnet, it is time to discuss extra about what this mix means for Ethereum.

These will not be minor enhancements; they’re shifting Ethereum into being a…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) January 3, 2026

At the middle of the declare are two technical advances, together with peer knowledge availability sampling (PeerDAS) and zero-knowledge Ethereum digital machines (zkEVMs).

Meanwhile, Ethereum’s staking dynamics shifted sharply this week as validator exits dried up and recent capital flowed again into long-term lockups, signaling a notable change in market habits amongst massive ether holders.

The community’s validator exit queue dropped to zero ETH early Tuesday, a steep decline from its mid-September peak of roughly 2.67 million ETH, when withdrawal wait occasions stretched for days.

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