ACDC #146 & ACDE #201: 2 New EIPs in Pectra, How Did This Happen?!

In this episode of the Infinite Jungle, the host discusses two recent Ethereum All-Core Developers calls: ACDC #146 and ACDE #201. The developers have decided to include two new Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) in the upcoming Pectra upgrade: EIP 7691, which doubles the blob throughput by raising the maximum blobs per block from three to six, and EIP 7623, which adjusts call data costs to mitigate issues from larger blocks. EIP 7762, aimed at increasing the minimum blob base fee, was excluded due to concerns about scope creep and the upgrade timeline, despite being seen as necessary for improving the blob fee market.

The discussions highlighted the balance between increasing blob capacity and the risks of overloading the network. Alex Stokes chaired ACDC, while Tim Biko led ACDE, facilitating the decision-making process. The timeline for the Pectra upgrade is on track for an April launch, reflecting the collaborative yet contentious nature of Ethereum's governance.

Next Monday, a Pectra testing call will address the launch of Pectra DevNet 5 and the scoping for DevNet 6. A major bug was identified in clients on the Mekong testnet, necessitating extensive patching. DevNet 5 will introduce three new EIPs, including EIP 7742, which allows dynamic setting of blob targets from the consensus layer. Ongoing discussions also focus on the design of the transaction pool for EIP 7702.

Due to the identified bugs, it is unlikely that Pectra DevNet 5 will launch this year with the full scope of the upgrade. If it does launch, certain EIPs may be excluded, requiring a subsequent DevNet 6 in January to incorporate all specifications. The client teams aim to finalize robust implementations and testing in January and February, with a hopeful mainnet launch in April. Developers are working to finalize the Pectra scope before the holidays, targeting a comprehensive DevNet that tests all 11 EIPs in Pectra in the new year. The host hints at an upcoming episode featuring Probe Labs founder Yanis, discussing the decision to increase blob throughput.