EIP-4844: How Ethereum transactions will gain new capabilities through blob objects

Why Ethereum Needs the EIP-4844 Update

For several years, Ethereum developers have been looking for ways to improve the network's performance. The Merge and the implementation of layer 2 rollups have brought some progress, but the network still faces a fundamental problem: fees remain high, and processing speed is insufficient for widespread adoption. The current baseline metrics of Ethereum are approximately 15 transactions per second (TPS), while rollups achieve around 100 TPS. A fundamentally new approach is required for mass adoption.

EIP-4844, or proto-danksharding, is a transitional solution on the path to a complete scalability solution. This update will prepare Ethereum for the next stage of development, when throughput may reach unprecedented levels of 100,000 TPS without compromising decentralization and security.

What EIP-4844 Represents

EIP-4844 ( proposal to improve Ethereum ) introduces a fundamentally new data processing mechanism through data objects known as blob objects. The term “proto-danksharding” comes from the names of Ethereum researchers Proto Lambda and Dankrad Feist, who formulated the concept.

To understand EIP-4844, it is necessary to delve into the concept of danksharding. Unlike traditional sharding, which divides the entire network's workload into smaller parts, danksharding focuses on providing additional space specifically for data rather than for processing transactions. This is a revolutionary approach that allows the network to scale without creating separate chains for each shard.

The main difference of this approach is that blob objects are stored temporarily and separately from the main state of Ethereum. They exist at the consensus level rather than the execution level, which significantly reduces the computational power requirements for validators.

The mechanism of blob objects and their differences from regular block space

EIP-4844 introduces a new type of transaction that contains so-called blob objects — large chunks of data attached to blocks. This allows for an increase in the amount of information processed by the network without increasing the size of the blocks themselves.

The difference between the traditional block space (blockspace) and blob space (blobspace) is significant:

Blockspace

• Visibility: available to all nodes
• Storage period: permanent
• Availability for EVM: yes
• Storage layer: execution client
• Size: up to about 940 KB
• Cost: high (16 gas per byte)

Blobspace

• Visibility: available to all nodes
• Storage period: several weeks
• Availability for EVM: no
• Storage Layer: Consensus Client
• Size: initially 256 KB
• Price: significantly lower

The key advantage of blob objects lies in their cost-effectiveness. Since data is deleted after a few weeks and is not processed by the Ethereum virtual machine, nodes only pay for bandwidth rather than long-term storage. This allows for a significant reduction in transaction costs.

How EIP-4844 Revolutionizes Scalability

The implementation of EIP-4844 involves not only the introduction of blob objects but also the realization of complex execution-level logic, verification rules, multi-dimensional fee markets, and other systemic changes necessary for the future of full danksharding.

It is expected that EIP-4844 will increase throughput to around 1000 TPS, serving as an intermediate step before reaching the target of 100,000 TPS upon full implementation of danksharding. This update also introduces a unified fee market, where a single block proposer selects transactions for all shards, instead of each shard having its own proposer.

To manage the maximum extractable value of (MEV) and ensure fairness, it is planned to implement a method of separating the initiator and developer, (PBS), which separates the selection of transactions from the actual block construction.

Practical benefits for Ethereum users

For the average user, EIP-4844 primarily means lower transaction fees. Since blob space is cheaper than traditional block space, the costs of conducting operations will be significantly reduced.

In addition, the update promises to speed up transaction processing. Increasing the overall network throughput will allow for a greater number of operations to be conducted in parallel, which will lead to a reduction in confirmation time.

The successful implementation of EIP-4844 will enhance Ethereum's competitiveness among other blockchain platforms. The network will be able to offer users fast and cheap transactions, which is critically important for the mass adoption of cryptocurrency applications.

Data retention after blob object deletion

One of the questions that users have is: what will happen to the data of old blob objects that will be deleted? The answer is that although blob objects are temporarily stored at the consensus level, their data remains accessible through long-term storage. The protocol mechanism ensures that even after the objects are deleted, the information can be recovered for verification or auditing purposes.

Final Thoughts on EIP-4844

EIP-4844 is a complex protocol update embedded in the larger development roadmap of Ethereum. This update is related to other initiatives, such as the separation of the initiator/developer (PBS) and the enhancement of pricing for blob objects through the EIP-1559 mechanism.

The essence of the changes brought by EIP-4844 is that users will gain the ability to make fast and cheap transactions on a more scalable network. Although an average participant in the network does not need to understand all the technical details of the update, awareness of the upcoming improvements helps prepare for the changes.

Ethereum continues to evolve, and EIP-4844 will become one of the key milestones on the path to transforming the network into a truly global platform for financial operations. The successful implementation of this upgrade will bring closer the moment when Ethereum can compete with traditional systems in terms of speed and cost, opening up new opportunities for decentralized applications and users around the world.