- Ethereum’s Verge upgrade will enable nodes to run on smaller devices through stateless verification.
- The upgrade reduces hardware needs, making solo staking more accessible for users.
- Buterin addresses security concerns, proposing new solutions to ensure long-term scalability and quantum resistance.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has revealed details about the network’s next major upgrade, known as “The Verge.” This upgrade is designed to improve Ethereum’s security and accessibility by reducing the hardware requirements for running a node, making it possible for devices as small as phones or smartwatches to support Ethereum.
Source: Vitalik Buterin
Stateless Verification to Reduce Hardware Needs
One of Ethereum’s key challenges is the large amount of data required to run a node, which currently demands hundreds of gigabytes of storage. The Verge introduces a concept called stateless verification, which allows nodes to verify blockchain data without storing the entire history. Buterin explained that this innovation will make running fully-verifying nodes more efficient and accessible, with devices like mobile wallets and even smartwatches able to participate in the network.
This change is expected to lower the technical barriers for users, especially those interested in solo staking, by enabling the network to operate on smaller devices with fewer resources.
Addressing Quantum Security and Gas Costs
The Verge also includes discussions about enhancing Ethereum’s security in the face of potential quantum computing threats. Buterin acknowledged the vulnerability of Verkle trees, which are used to optimize proof sizes, and suggested alternatives like STARK-based binary hash trees to ensure future resilience.
Additionally, the upgrade proposes changes to Ethereum’s gas cost system through Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)-4762. This adjustment introduces a concept called “multidimensional gas,” separating costs for data, computation, and state access, ensuring better management of the network’s resources and scalability as hardware requirements are reduced.
