Vitalik Proposes 16.77M Gas Cap for Ethereum to Enhance Security

The co-founder of Ethereum Vitalik Buterin and researcher Toni Wahrstätter have submitted the EIP-7983 aimed to introduce the limit of the protocol for the use of transaction gas to increase network security and performance.

The proposal For individual transactions, the maximum gas limit sets 16.77 million (2²⁴). “By implementing this limit, the Ethereum can increase its resistance to certain DOS vectors, improve network stability and provide more predictability of transactions processing costs,” reads the proposal.

Below the current Ethereum (Eth) Architecture, one transaction can theoretically consume the limit of gas of the entire block and represent and Risk of attacks for denial (dos) and lead to unpredictable network behavior.

By trying to reduce individual transactions, the EIP-7983 seeks to distribute gas consumption more evenly, reducing the chance of individual transactions stunning block capacity.

Related: VITALIKA BUTALIKA VIEW FOR ETHEREUM: Pecra, Glamsterdam and Furthermore

Gas closure to increase compatibility of ZKVM

The proposed CAP is also designed to improve compatibility with virtual machines with zero knowledge (ZKVMS) by encouraging large transactions to be divided into smaller pieces.

According to the proposal, transactions determining gas limits above 16.77 million would be rejected during the block verification, ensuring that they cannot enter the network or be included in new blocks. The cap is independent of the total block limit that miners and validators can still adapt to the existing consensus rules.

Bterin and Wahrstätter chose 16.77 million as a ceiling to balance complexity and performance, arguing that it suits current advanced cases of use and deployment of contracts without committing unnecessary risks.

“This value allows most of the current cases of use, including the deployment of the contract and advanced Defi interactions, while ensuring consistent performance characteristics,” he reads.

Although the proposal is not backward compatible for transactions exceeding the new limit, the authors have noted that most of the existing transactions are falling significantly below the ceiling, minimizing the impact on users and developers.

The EIP-7983 builds on previous efforts, such as the EIP-7825, to improve predictability in transactions.

Related: Vitalik buterin proposes partly nodes without nationality for scaling Ethereum

Vitalik wants Ethereum to make it easier

In May he demanded buterin Simplify the Ethereum Basic Protocol Increasing the efficiency, safety and availability, inspired by the minimalist Bitcoin approach.

At that time, he proposed the restructuring of the Ethereum architecture as part of a consensus, design and shared components to achieve a slimmer design within five years. Bterin argued that the increasing complexity of Ethereum led to longer development times, higher costs and increased safety risks.