Ethereum (ETH) founder Vitalik Buterin has explained how the blockchain prevents denial-of-service (DoS) attacks. Buterin’s explanation comes as a response to a question from a user who expressed frustration with the contract size limit on Ethereum.
Network stability depends on data efficiency
According to Buterin, the limit on Ethereum exists as a safeguard to prevent DoS attacks. Notably, very large contracts are expensive to store in nodes, transmit or process. Thus, if there is no limit, a malicious attacker could easily deploy huge contracts that deliberately slow down the network.
Once the network is destabilized, it could give the attacker ample time to carry out fraudulent acts on-chain. Buterin is emphasizing that the size limit is not an arbitrary rule but a safety and scalability constraint to protect users.
The Ethereum founder, however, hinted at a possible change in the future. This will depend on improvements to the Merkle Patricia Trie, which currently has efficiency limitations.
“When we change the tree…we will be able to fix this and potentially have unlimited size contracts,” he stated.
Buterin suggests that plans are on to change how Ethereum stores its data to the EIP-7864’s unified binary tree upgrade. This will make state access and storage more efficient while reducing the DoS risk caused by large contracts.
This is different from the EIP-7907, which has increased the contract size limit by about 10 times the original size.
Ethereum gas costs will apply despite future upgrades
It is worth pointing out that even when the size limit is resolved, users will still have to deal with gas costs. For clarity, deploying a contract costs gas per byte of code. The cost, as per Buterin’s explanation, is approximately 82kb.
This signals that if users get an “unlimited contract size” on Ethereum, it does not mean that it would be free. The developers might have to rethink deployment gas pricing to fit the new reality.
Meanwhile, the blockchain is already planning the next upgrade for 2026, termed "Hegota. Part of the key focus of the upgrade will include state management, execution-layer optimization, and Verkle Trees.
Disclaimer: The information on this page may come from third parties and does not represent the views or opinions of Gate. The content displayed on this page is for reference only and does not constitute any financial, investment, or legal advice. Gate does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and shall not be liable for any losses arising from the use of this information. Virtual asset investments carry high risks and are subject to significant price volatility. You may lose all of your invested principal. Please fully understand the relevant risks and make prudent decisions based on your own financial situation and risk tolerance. For details, please refer to
Disclaimer.
Related Articles
SEC and CFTC Reach New 2026 Cryptocurrency Regulatory Agreement to Jointly Clarify Market Rules
The U.S. SEC and CFTC signed a memorandum of understanding on March 11, planning to jointly coordinate cryptocurrency regulation by 2026, covering six priority areas to mitigate jurisdictional conflicts between the two agencies, providing a clearer market environment and compliance guidance.
GateNews8m ago
A Certain CEX's 24-Hour Trading Volume Reaches $1.369 Billion, XRP, BTC, ETH Rank in Top Three
According to CoinGecko data, on March 16, a certain CEX's trading volume reached $1.369 billion, up 72.28% from the previous day. The top five tokens by trading volume are XRP, BTC, ETH, TRUMP, and DKA.
GateNews17m ago
BlackRock Attracts $600 Million in Bitcoin ETF Inflows, ETH and SOL Rally in Tandem, XRP Under Pressure Against the Trend
This week, Bitcoin spot ETF net inflows were significant, with BlackRock's IBIT absorbing $600.1 million and solidifying its leading position, while Grayscale's GBTC saw outflows of $25.9 million. Meanwhile, Ethereum and Solana ETFs also performed well, but XRP ETF experienced capital outflows of $28.07 million. Analysis suggests that current capital flows indicate institutional demand for safe-haven positioning in mainstream crypto assets, while the cautious stance toward XRP may influence market trends.
GateNews46m ago
ETH Short-term Decline of 0.74%: Institutional Rebalancing and Short-term Profit-Taking Drive Selling Pressure
On March 16, 2026, from 06:00 to 06:15 (UTC), ETH experienced significant volatility within a 15-minute period, with a return of -0.74%. The price fluctuated between 2260.98 and 2281.3 USDT, with an amplitude of 0.89%. During this time, trading volume noticeably increased compared to the previous cycle, market volatility intensified, and community attention was drawn.
The main drivers of this volatility were large on-chain ETH transfers and substantial sell orders on the exchange, suspected to be institutional or whale portfolio rebalancing activities during this window, which directly led to short-term downward pressure on the price. Simultaneously, order book depth decreased, buy-side support diminished, and large individual trades further contributed to the market instability.
GateNews1h ago
Former ShapeShift CEO spends $56 million to buy Ethereum, ETH whale accumulation signals attract market attention
Former ShapeShift CEO Erik Voorhees has made a significant increase in Ethereum holdings, purchasing approximately 24,968 ETH worth around $56.5 million in total value, demonstrating his confidence in Ethereum's long-term value. Simultaneously, he has also allocated $23.7 million in tokenized gold assets. Recently, the Ethereum market has been active due to institutional capital inflows, with prices rising to approximately $2,265.
GateNews1h ago
