The ethereum Foundation Announces Dencun Network Upgrade: A Major Overhaul for ethereum
The ethereum Foundation has made an official announcement that the Dencun network upgrade is set to go live on the ethereum mainnet, following successful activation across all testnets. This highly anticipated event is scheduled for March 13, 2024, at 13:55 UTC. The upgrade requires node operators and stakers to update their software to ensure compatibility with the new network changes.
Major Changes Introduced in Dencun
The upcoming Dencun upgrade encompasses significant modifications to both the consensus and execution layers of ethereum, as outlined in EIP-7569. Notable protocol changes include:
- EIP-1153: Transient storage opcodes
- EIP-4788: Beacon block root in the EVM
- EIP-4844: Shard Blob Transactions
- EIP-5656: MCOPY – Memory copying instruction
- EIP-6780: SELFDESTRUCT only in the same transaction
- EIP-7044: Perpetually Valid Signed Voluntary Exits
- EIP-7045: Increase Max Attestation Inclusion Slot
- EIP-7514: Add Max Epoch Churn Limit
- EIP-7516: BLOBBASEFEE opcode
Consensus Layer Changes in Detail
Specifications for the consensus layer changes can be found within the Deneb folder of the ethereum/consensus-specs repository. Detailed information on execution layer changes is available in the linked EIPs, with a Python specification currently in progress within the ethereum/execution-specs repository. Additionally, Dencun necessitates modifications to the Engine API for effective communication between consensus and execution layer nodes, as detailed in the cancun.md file of the ethereum/execution-apis repository.
Client Support and Upgrade Process
Client releases supporting Dencun on the ethereum mainnet have been made available. These include versions for Lighthouse, Lodestar, Nimbus, Prysm (consensus layer), and Besu, Erigon, go-ethereum, Nethermind, and Reth (execution layer). Validators are advised against running a majority client due to potential risks. The ethereum Foundation offers resources for client distribution and switching guides to ensure a smooth transition.
Impact on Users, Holders, and Developers
For ethereum users or Ether holders, no action is required unless directed by their exchange or wallet provider. However, node operators must update their clients to the specified versions to ensure compatibility with the Dencun upgrade. Stakers are also advised to update both their beacon node and validator client, offering the option to practice the upgrade process on ephemery.dev.
Failure to participate in the upgrade will lead to syncing with the pre-fork blockchain, causing incompatibility with the post-Dencun ethereum network. Application and tooling developers are encouraged to carefully review the EIPs included in Dencun for potential impacts on their projects, particularly those with backward compatibility implications.
Celestial Naming Tradition Continues
The name “Dencun” is a combination of “Deneb,” a star name, symbolizing the consensus layer upgrade, and “Cancun,” a Devcon city name, representing the execution layer upgrade. This naming convention continues ethereum’s tradition of selecting celestial and significant locations for its upgrades.
