Ethereum researchers are exploring new ways to reduce slot times and improve network performance. They aim to speed up block confirmations without compromising security. Two major paths are under review. One involves reducing the latency buffer known as δ, which defines the maximum expected delay in message transmission.
The other involves changing the way slots work by cutting down the number of steps that rely on network latency. Efforts to reduce δ focus on improving peer-to-peer communication. Developers are testing solutions like erasure coding to send data faster and more efficiently.
Quantum-resistant crypto may slow down Aggregation
At the same time, researchers are studying changes in the slot structure itself. These changes aim to reduce the number of data aggregation rounds required within each slot. Today, Ethereum uses a two-stage attestation process to manage validator messages.
With over 30,000 validators per slot, the network cannot handle all signatures directly. Instead, smaller subgroups handle initial communication before global propagation. As validator numbers rise, Ethereum might need a three-stage process to manage the growing load.
Data shows that the time for aggregation depends on how many validators the system can support in a single subnet. That number, called C, likely stays in the low thousands. If Ethereum adopts quantum-resistant cryptography, data sizes grow, reducing capacity. That makes performance tuning even more critical.
Ethereum may separate finality from Fork choice
One proposal is to separate the LMD GHOST fork choice rule from the finality process. The LMD GHOST method can work well with a much smaller group, about 256 randomly selected validators. This lightweight mechanism would serve as the main signal to guide block production.
Meanwhile, a finality gadget using the full validator set could operate behind it. Instead of finalizing every slot, it would finalize groups of slots in larger time chunks. This approach could simplify the system and make slot times faster. It would also offer greater flexibility in choosing consensus designs.
This separation brings several benefits. Faster slot times become possible without cutting security. The network can keep running even if the finality process pauses. Validator requirements can become more ambitious without adding too much complexity. And by avoiding tight coupling between functions, Ethereum could achieve more efficient scaling with cleaner architecture.
