Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined strategies to enhance the speed of transaction confirmations within the network.
In a blog post shared on June 30, Buterin explored various strategies to slash confirmation times from the current 5-20 seconds to mere hundreds of milliseconds. Among the suggestions are single slot finality, rollup pre-confirmations, and the innovative “based preconfirmations” concept.
Buterin clarified that Ethereum has shown notable advancements in recent years. However, further enhancements could increase user satisfaction and support applications needing extremely fast responsiveness. The discussion in the blog delves into practical strategies Ethereum can adopt to achieve these goals.
The proposal involves the concept of single slot finality (SSF). This strategy seeks to confirm blocks in a single 12-second slot instead of the ongoing two-epoch (12.8 minutes) procedure. Nevertheless, implementing this technique faces challenges in expanding to support all Ethereum stakers.
Leveraging layer 2 for quicker Ethereum transactions
Rollup preconfirmations present an alternative, leveraging Ethereum’s rollup-centric roadmap. This strategy enables layer 2 protocols to provide faster confirmations while still reaping the benefits of Ethereum’s security. Buterin highlighted the slow progress in establishing decentralized sequencing networks for rollups.
Moreover, the blog introduces a new idea, “based preconfirmations,” leveraging advanced block proposers to provide instant transaction guarantees. This approach has the potential to benefit both layer 1 and layer 2 protocols by offering a common preconfirmation system within the Ethereum ecosystem.
Buterin wrapped up his discussion by delving into the philosophical motives behind the continued use of epoch-and-slot architectures in blockchain design. He said:
The more options we have, the better we can do for users both on L1 and on L2s, and the more we can simplify the job of L2 developers.
Nevertheless, exploring these confirmation speed improvements emerges as Ethereum undergoes evolution post the successful shift to proof-of-stake in 2022. With a focus on scaling and enhancing user experience, these proposals stand to shape Ethereum’s future.
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