"The Merge, The Verge, The Purge, and The Splurge: A Look at Ethereum's Future and the Decline of Social Media Giants"

Kazuki

Hatched by Kazuki

Sep 03, 2023

4 min read

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"The Merge, The Verge, The Purge, and The Splurge: A Look at Ethereum's Future and the Decline of Social Media Giants"

Introduction:

"The Merge is Done! Now What?" The long-awaited switchover from Proof of Work to Proof of Stake, known as The Merge, has successfully taken place in Ethereum. This transition has resulted in a significant reduction in energy consumption and inflation rates. However, this milestone is only the beginning of Ethereum's journey towards scalability and sustainability. In this article, we will explore the concepts of The Surge, The Verge, The Purge, and The Splurge, and how they shape Ethereum's future. Additionally, we will draw a parallel between the decline of social media giants and the challenges faced by emerging networks.

The Surge: Scaling Out Through Sharding:

One of the key challenges Ethereum faces is scaling its computing capacity while maintaining security and composability. The Surge refers to Ethereum's ability to increase its computing power utilizing Sharding technology. Sharding involves horizontally splitting the Ethereum database into multiple shards, each processed by separate machines. By scaling out through sharding, Ethereum can enhance its computing capabilities without overwhelming stakers with increased computational demands. While the best strategies for achieving this are still being debated, future Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) like EIP-4844 are expected to bring together the solutions necessary for successful sharding implementation.

The Verge: Stateless Network Validation with Verkle Trees:

To maintain the full Ethereum "state," validators must have access to the historical record of all chain activities. However, with a full sharding implementation, the size of the state could grow exponentially, making it prohibitively expensive for every validator to maintain a record of it. The Verge represents Ethereum's pursuit of stateless network validation, allowing for increased processing power and a larger historical record without burdening validators. The shift from Merkle-tree-based validation to Verkle Trees is a crucial step in achieving this. Verkle trees compress the data required for validating a block based on historical data, making stateless clients viable in practice. This reduction in data size significantly improves network scalability and efficiency.

The Purge: Streamlining Historical Data Maintenance:

To further optimize Ethereum's performance, the length of historical data that execution clients need to maintain could be reduced. Currently, execution clients are required to store the full history, which can become increasingly resource-intensive. The Purge suggests limiting the maintenance of historical data to one year instead of the entire history. By implementing this change, Ethereum can strike a balance between data retention and operational efficiency.

The Splurge: Enhancing Performance and User Experience:

While many technical advancements within Ethereum may go unnoticed by the average user, they play a crucial role in improving the overall performance of the network. Optimistic Rollups and ZK-Rollups are among the developments that significantly enhance Ethereum's scalability and enable the launch of new and exciting tools and applications. As these technologies continue to evolve, we can expect a surge in innovative solutions that will enhance the user experience and foster further adoption of the Ethereum network.

The First of the Gang to Die: The Decline of Social Media Giants:

In parallel to Ethereum's growth and progress, social media giants are facing their own challenges. While platforms like Twitter continue to provide valuable information and maintain user engagement, the larger public often finds it difficult to navigate and stay connected consistently. On the other hand, Facebook's content has lost its appeal to many users, leading to disengagement. This decline in interest and the ease with which users abandon these well-established networks highlights the importance of network effects and the challenges faced by emerging networks.

Conclusion:

As Ethereum moves forward with The Surge, The Verge, The Purge, and The Splurge, it is clear that the network's journey is far from over. Implementing sharding, stateless network validation, data purging, and performance enhancements will significantly contribute to Ethereum's scalability and sustainability. However, it is essential to learn from the decline of social media giants and recognize the significance of network effects in building a successful and long-lasting network. By understanding the needs and preferences of users, Ethereum can continue to evolve and capture the imagination of millions, creating a decentralized and inclusive future.

Actionable Advice:

  • 1. Stay updated on Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) and actively engage in discussions surrounding the network's scalability solutions.
  • 2. Explore and experiment with emerging tools and applications built on Ethereum's Optimistic Rollups and ZK-Rollups, as they offer enhanced performance and user experience.
  • 3. Support and participate in the Ethereum community by promoting education and awareness about the network's potential and benefits.

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