Fusaka Upgrade Introduces New Data Model for Layer-2 Rollups
Ethereum has achieved a major scaling milestone with the introduction of PeerDAS, a novel data-availability system integrated through the Fusaka upgrade. This advancement fundamentally alters how the network processes and verifies data from Layer-2 solutions. Co-founder Vitalik Buterin hailed the development as "heroic" engineering, signifying a new era of strength in Ethereum's peer-to-peer infrastructure. Buterin positioned the Fusaka upgrade as a pivotal moment in Ethereum's long-term scaling strategy, distinguishing it from typical protocol enhancements.
PeerDAS revolutionizes the verification process for blob data that Layer-2 rollups submit to the Ethereum mainnet. Previously, every node was required to download entire blobs to confirm data availability. This process imposed significant demands on storage and bandwidth, ultimately limiting the network's capacity during periods of high activity.
Buterin shared his perspective on X, formerly Twitter, noting his past concerns about the Ethereum Foundation's expertise in peer-to-peer networking. He stated, "For years, I’ve complained internally at the EF that we do not have enough expertise at p2p: we think a lot about cryptoeconomics, BFT consensus, and blocks, but we take the p2p networking layer for granted." He then added, "I think that’s no longer true, and PeerDAS shows it."
The new PeerDAS model enables nodes to sample small segments of blob data from multiple peers across the network. By aggregating these samples, the chain can confirm the availability of complete blobs without necessitating any single node to download the entire dataset. This design effectively reduces the operational burden on validators and eliminates major data bottlenecks that previously constrained throughput.
Consequently, Ethereum's data capacity has substantially increased. The Fusaka upgrade allows for more blobs per block, potentially boosting throughput by up to eightfold compared to prior limitations.
Layer-2 Networks Experience Direct Cost and Speed Benefits
PeerDAS is reshaping the economic landscape for Layer-2 solutions. Rollups can now publish data at a reduced cost, validators benefit from lower operational overhead, and data verification across the network is accelerated. These improvements enhance the throughput of Layer-2 systems and contribute to more affordable transaction fees for users.
Given that rollups depend heavily on Ethereum's blob space, PeerDAS has a direct impact on transaction costs throughout the Layer-2 ecosystem. Enhanced verification pathways lead to improved user performance and reduce friction for developers who rely on consistent data channels. This raises the prospect of whether these lower Layer-2 costs will attract increased on-chain activity during the next growth phase.
A Production-Ready Version of Ethereum's Sharding Plan
PeerDAS represents the first implementation of a production-ready component from Ethereum's sharding plan, which has been conceptualized since 2017. This development brings data-availability sampling into practical use and establishes a framework for improving propagation speed, network resilience, and network-layer privacy.
Vitalik attributed the success to the engineering team, stating, "Raulvk.eth and others at EF have done heroic work both at making PeerDAS work so smoothly and at setting up a roadmap that increases propagation speed, resilience, and network-layer privacy at the same time."
This advancement arrives as Ethereum faces competition from modular data-availability networks such as Celestia and NEAR DA, as well as high-throughput chains like Solana. By internalizing scalable data availability, Fusaka strengthens Ethereum's competitive position. This could potentially decrease the reliance on external data availability layers as rollups evaluate their anchoring strategies.
The Fusaka upgrade also includes an increased block gas limit and safeguards for resource management, ensuring that higher throughput does not jeopardize validator security. PeerDAS now functions as a robust infrastructure layer, transforming theoretical concepts into tangible network performance. It lays the groundwork for more economical Layer-2 transactions and enhanced resilience across Ethereum's scaling ecosystem.