Why Vitalik Buterin Thinks Higher Gas Limits Are the New Black!

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Ah, dear reader, gather ’round as we delve into the whimsical world of Vitalik Buterin, the illustrious cofounder of Ethereum, who has taken it upon himself to champion the cause of a higher layer-1 gas limit. One might say the debate surrounding this gas limit has become as heated as a summer’s day in the Sahara, even after its recent ascent from a modest 30 million to a rather ambitious 36 million. Who knew gas could be so riveting? 🚀

Vitalik Buterin on Censorship Resistance and L2 Fail-Safes

With this newfound capacity, Ethereum has bloomed by a delightful 20%, yet some audacious souls still clamor for even loftier heights. In a post that could rival the finest of Shakespearean soliloquies, Buterin laid forth his reasons for embracing a higher L1 gas limit.

Reasons to have higher L1 gas limits even in an L2-heavy Ethereum — vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) February 14, 2025

Our dear Vitalik posits that while most applications may frolic off to L2, scaling L1 by a staggering tenfold in the long run remains a pursuit worthy of our attention. After all, even in a rollup-centric utopia, L1 retains its charm and allure. 🌟

At the heart of blockchain’s allure lies its enchanting ability to resist censorship. Buterin, ever the pragmatist, warns that users may find themselves in dire need of this resistance to stave off catastrophic liquidations. Thus, if a sender can bear the L1 fee, it ought to be inscribed upon the blockchain with all due haste. ⏳

He further elucidates that while mechanisms exist to compel transactions into L1 in the event of L2 censorship, such measures are only as effective as the affordability of L1 gas fees. He cites Arbitrum and Optimism as shining examples of L2s that possess a force-inclusion mechanism, allowing users to submit their transactions directly via L1. How delightfully convenient! 🎩

Buterin suggests that scaling L1 by a modest four to 4.5 times would not only keep transaction costs in check but also ensure that our beloved censorship-resistant transactions remain as cost-effective as a bargain bin at a thrift store. 🛍️

Pectra Upgrade and Future Enhancements

Meanwhile, in a recent revelation about the Ethereum network, our cofounder assured us that the forthcoming Pectra upgrade will double the capacity of the L2 network. This feat shall be accomplished by increasing the blob target from three to six. A veritable mathematical marvel! 📈

Developers are poised to conduct tests on the Holesky and Sepolia on February 24 and March 5, respectively, ensuring a seamless launch on the mainnet scheduled for April. One can only hope it goes off without a hitch, lest we find ourselves in a comedy of errors worthy of the stage! 🎭

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2025-02-14 19:40