Ethereum's latest proposal targets a 50% increase in throughput.
EIP-7781 proposes reducing Ethereum block times by 33% to increase network throughput by 50%, while enhancing rollup latency and blob capacity, though concerns exist about its impact on solo stakers and decentralization efforts.
A new Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP), EIP-7781, introduced on Oct. 5 by Illyriad Games co-founder Ben Adams, seeks to reduce Ethereum block times by 33% and boost data capacity, resulting in a 50% increase in overall network throughput, according to developers. The proposal aims to cut block times from the current 12 seconds to 8 seconds, improve the latency of rollups, and enhance blob capacity — a temporary data structure that lowers layer-2 network fees.
Pseudonymous developer Cygaar described EIP-7781 as the "first major" step toward upgrading Ethereum's base layer, as developer efforts have largely focused on layer-2 scaling solutions. In addition to boosting mainnet throughput, the proposal seeks to distribute bandwidth usage over time, reducing peak bandwidth demands without raising the block or blob count.
Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake expressed his support for the EIP on GitHub, noting that it aligns with broader goals set by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum scaling organizations. Drake explained that shortening block times could make decentralized exchanges like Uniswap v3 "1.22x more efficient," potentially saving around $100 million annually in CEX-DEX arbitrage, ultimately benefiting users through better trade execution.
Additionally, the proposal would enhance the user experience for Ethereum smart contracts by reducing confirmation times by 33% and smoothing peak loads across more slots, according to Drake. However, some developers raised concerns that shorter block times might pose risks for solo stakers due to the potential increase in execution state growth — the expanding blockchain data that would require more powerful hardware and bandwidth to maintain in a shorter time.
In an Oct. 6 post on X, Cinnehaim Ventures partner Adam Cochran commented that the EIP seems "reasonable" for solo stakers, as long as the gas limit per block remains unchanged. Cochran emphasized the need for hardware tests and staker return ping times to ensure that home stakers aren't negatively impacted, though he believes the proposal should remain feasible for most.
However, increased staker requirements could challenge Ethereum's long-term decentralization efforts. This proposal follows a recent suggestion from Vitalik Buterin to lower the minimum amount of ETH required to become a validator from 36 ETH to 16 or 24 ETH, aimed at improving network security and decentralization.
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