Ethereum, Network Capacity Triples... Is the Era of 'Zero' Gas Fees Coming?

▲ Ethereum (ETH)

Ethereum (ETH) is set to expand its network processing capacity by more than three times through a major upgrade. Simultaneously, the possibility of gas fees becoming virtually free has also been raised.

According to U.Today, a cryptocurrency specialized media outlet, on May 3 (local time), Lido advisor Hasu analyzed that Ethereum's gas limit would be significantly increased to the current level of 60 million to 200 million after the Glamsterdam upgrade. Hasu predicted that if network demand does not surge proportionally, mainnet gas fees are likely to remain at virtually zero for the next few years. This is because execution capacity is expected to more than triple in the short term, and then further double.

The Glamsterdam upgrade includes recalculating execution layer gas costs to optimize resource usage even with high throughput. Specifically, EIP-8037, which increases state creation gas costs, plays a crucial role. This measure is intended to prevent the side effect of an increased gas limit leading to indiscriminate data bloat, while simultaneously ensuring network efficiency and security.

Over 100 Ethereum core developers recently gathered in Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, for a "Soldev Interop" event to coordinate upgrade details. The developers agreed on three key objectives: setting the lower bound of the gas limit to 200 million after the upgrade, and completing a stable ePBS implementation that integrates with external builders. Safely increasing the gas limit is a complex task that requires multifaceted technical review, including block generation methods and client load handling capabilities.

Significant progress was also made at the meeting regarding FOCIL and basic account abstraction, features to be included in the next upgrade, Hegotá. Glamsterdam fundamentally improves Ethereum's scalability by solving technical challenges such as adjusting the scale of state creation costs in line with increased throughput. The development team is continuing client reinforcement and code merging work, entering the final parameter confirmation phase.

Through this scalability enhancement, the Ethereum ecosystem is expected to solidify its market dominance and evolve into a robust infrastructure capable of accommodating both institutional investors and general users. Once Glamsterdam is successfully implemented, Ethereum will have the opportunity to establish itself as a standard for the global financial system, leveraging its low fees and superior processing capabilities. A mainnet free from gas fee burdens will serve as a foundation for the explosive growth of various decentralized applications within the ecosystem.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*