
March 12, 2024 replace: Because the preliminary publication of this publish, a number of shopper groups have made Dencun-compatible releases containing vital efficiency and stability enhancements. Whereas beforehand introduced variations are nonetheless thought of ample for the improve, a column has been added to the Client Releases tables highlighting the newest beneficial variations for all shoppers.
- Mainnet blobs are coming .oO: Two years after its ETHDenver inception, dozens of testing calls and devnets later, protodanksharding is lastly going dwell on mainnet!
- Dencun will activate on the Ethereum mainnet at epoch 269568, occurring on March 13, 2024 at 13:55 UTC. Node operators & stakers should improve their software program to releases listed on this announcement.
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The Dencun community improve has efficiently activated on all testnets. It’s now set for deployment on the Ethereum mainnet and can activate on the community at epoch 269568, occurring on March 13, 2024 at 13:55 UTC.
The improve, which follows final 12 months’s Shapella upgrade, contains a number of adjustments, most notably the introduction of ephemeral information blobs with EIP-4844, also called “protodanksharding”, which can assist cut back L2 transaction charges.
If you would like to comply with the improve because it occurs, please be part of the community livestream.
Improve Specification
The Dencun improve combines adjustments to each Ethereum’s consensus and execution layers. The total listing of protocol adjustments will be present in EIP-7569. For reference, they’re:
Deneb
Full python specs for adjustments affecting Ethereum’s consensus layer will be discovered within the deneb folder of the ethereum/consensus-specs repository.
Cancun
The EIPs linked above comprise the complete specs for adjustments affecting Ethereum’s execution layer.
Moreover, a python specification for these is being applied within the ethereum/execution-specs repository.
Lastly, Deneb requires adjustments to the Engine API, used for communication between the consensus and execution layer nodes. These are specified within the cancun.md file of the ethereum/execution-apis repository.
Shopper Releases
The next shopper releases assist Dencun on the Ethereum mainnet. The Minimal Model column signifies the bottom Dencun-compatible launch for a shopper whereas the Really helpful Model column highlights the newest beneficial model for it. Really helpful Model releases usually comprise efficiency and stability enhancements. If upgrading from a Minimal to Really helpful model, be sure to learn launch notes. Releases with vital breaking adjustments haven’t been listed as Really helpful.
When selecting which shopper to run, validators needs to be particularly conscious of the dangers of working a majority shopper on both the execution layer (EL) or consensus layer (CL). An explainer of those dangers and their penalties will be discovered here. An estimate of present EL and CL shopper distribution and guides for switching from one shopper to a different will be discovered here.
Consensus Layer Mainnet Releases
Notice: when working a validator, each the Consensus Layer Beacon Node and Validator Shopper should be up to date.
Execution Layer Mainnet Releases
Notes:
- Whereas Reth helps Dencun, the shopper is present process a full audit and might not be appropriate for all manufacturing use instances. See the Reth README for extra context.
FAQ
As an Ethereum consumer or Ether holder, is there something I must do?
In brief, no. You possibly can be part of us on the livestream to look at all of it occur dwell!
When you use an alternate, digital pockets or {hardware} pockets you don’t want to do something until you might be knowledgeable to take further steps by your alternate or pockets supplier.
When you run your personal Ethereum node, see the following query.
As a non-staking node operator, what do I must do?
To be suitable with the mainnet Dencun improve, replace your node’s execution and consensus layer shoppers to the variations listed within the desk above.
As a staker, what do I must do?
To be suitable with the mainnet Dencun improve, replace your node’s execution and consensus layer shoppers to the variations listed within the desk above. Be sure each your beacon node and validator shopper are up to date, in addition to any exterior dependencies, comparable to exterior block constructing software program.
Moreover, stakers who wish to run by means of the improve course of extra instances earlier than mainnet are inspired to make use of ephemery.dev, which now helps Dencun.
What occurs if I’m a staker or node operator and I don’t take part within the improve?
In case you are utilizing an Ethereum shopper that’s not up to date to the newest model (listed above), your shopper will sync to the pre-fork blockchain as soon as the improve happens.
You can be caught on an incompatible chain following the outdated guidelines and might be unable to ship Ether or function on the post-Dencun Ethereum community.
As an software or tooling developer, what ought to I do?
Evaluate the EIPs included in Dencun to find out if and the way they have an effect on your mission — there are numerous new thrilling options being launched throughout each the execution and consensus layers! The one EIPs with backwards compatibility implications are EIP-6780, EIP-7044 and EIP-7514.
Why “Dencun”?
Upgrades to the consensus layer use star names, and people to the execution layer comply with Devcon metropolis names. “Dencun” is the mix of Deneb, a first-magnitude star within the Cygnus constellation, and Cancun, the situation for Devcon 3.
Thanks to everybody who helped deliver the blobs into existence, (practically) rid us of SELFDESTRUCT and customarily ship another main overhaul to the Ethereum community .oO!
Unique cowl picture by Darren Lawrence, with modifications by Tomo Saito.


