The Ethereum ecosystem is in a constant state of evolution, with regular hard forks and upgrades aimed at improving the network's efficiency, scalability, and security. In this article, we'll delve into the details of two key upgrades scheduled for the upcoming Cancun-Deneb hard fork: EIP-5656 and EIP-6780. These upgrades are part of Ethereum's ongoing journey towards a more robust and capable web3 infrastructure.
Understanding Ethereum Upgrades
Ethereum upgrades, implemented via hard forks, are crucial events that shape the network's future. Each upgrade is designed to address specific challenges and improve various aspects of the Ethereum blockchain. For example, the Bellatrix upgrade transitioned Ethereum from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake, while the Shanghai-Capella upgrade focused on enabling validator withdrawals from the Beacon Chain.
The Cancun-Deneb upgrade, however, places a significant emphasis on enhancing Ethereum's scalability by introducing "data blobs." These data blobs aim to improve data availability for Layer 2 (L2) rollups, a critical aspect of scaling Ethereum. Additionally, there are other important housekeeping upgrades, but our focus here will be on EIP-5656 and EIP-6780.
Ethereum's Two Layers
To understand these upgrades, it's important to grasp the two main layers of the Ethereum network:
- Execution Layer: This layer handles the execution of smart contract logic, and transaction processing, and maintains the network's state. It executes Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) code and is where most computational work occurs. The names of execution layer hard forks are inspired by cities that have hosted Devcon events.
- Consensus Layer: Responsible for reaching consensus among network nodes using Proof of Stake (PoS). Each consensus layer upgrade is named after a star in alphabetical order.
Timing and Implementation
Ethereum's execution and consensus layers undergo separate upgrades, but they are typically synchronized by client teams. The Cancun and Deneb upgrades are technically distinct but will be implemented simultaneously, often referred to as 'Dencun.' These upgrades do not follow a strict timeline due to Ethereum's decentralized nature, but recent hard forks have occurred roughly every 8 to 12 months.
Before being activated on the main Ethereum network, each hard fork undergoes extensive testing on various testnets. Cancun and Deneb are expected to go live on Ethereum Mainnet sometime in January.
EIP-6780: SELFDESTRUCT Improvement
EIP-6780 aims to address the issues surrounding the SELFDESTRUCT opcode. This opcode allows contracts to self-destruct, removing unneeded or deprecated code from Ethereum's state. However, it has proven to be problematic and risky. EIP-6780 disempowers SELFDESTRUCT while minimizing disruptions to existing smart contracts using it.
After the implementation of EIP-6780, if a contract references SELFDESTRUCT in the same transaction as its creation, it will behave as beforeāsending funds to the target, deleting code and storage, and resetting the nonce to 0. However, if the contract doesn't reference SELFDESTRUCT in the same transaction, only funds will be sent, leaving the code, storage, and nonce unaffected.
The benefits of EIP-6780 include improved security and compatibility with Ethereum's roadmap, particularly with future Verkle tree usage. However, concerns exist regarding its impact on existing smart contracts relying on SELFDESTRUCT.
EIP-5656: Enhanced Memory Copying
In contrast to EIP-6780, EIP-5656 introduces a proactive upgrade to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM). It introduces a new EVM instruction called MCOPY, designed to enhance memory copying and improve the efficiency of data structure creation.
MCOPY is an efficiency improvement to the EVM, offering benefits in memory copying performance. It can be used for non-overlapping and overlapping memory areas, even enabling memory to be moved backward. This instruction simplifies tasks like building data structures and copying objects.
The introduction of MCOPY reduces gas costs significantly compared to previous methods, making it a practical choice for developers. While developers are not mandated to use MCOPY, it offers a more efficient option, ultimately benefiting end-users by reducing gas consumption.
Charting Ethereum's Future
EIP-5656 and EIP-6780 are crucial housekeeping upgrades that refine the Ethereum ecosystem without altering its fundamental direction. The disempowerment of SELFDESTRUCT and the introduction of MCOPY empower developers and enhance smart contract development.
In our next article in this series, we will explore EIP-4844 and EIP-7516, which involve the creation of data blobs and related opcodes. We will also delve into updates affecting Ethereum's consensus layer, such as EIP-7044 and EIP-7045. Stay tuned to stay informed on Ethereum's exciting journey into the web3 future.
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