Get ready to run Ethereum nodes on your phone or smartwatch, thanks to the network’s next upgrade named “The Verge”. Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, explains that the upgrade’s aim is to make Ethereum more secure and accessible by downsizing hardware requirements using a “stateless verification” technique. This innovative technique will allow nodes to verify blockchain blocks without the burden of storing hefty data volumes.
For many, operating Ethereum’s nodes can be a headache due to the tremendous amount of data; hundreds of gigabytes, in fact, as per Paradigm research. This is where The Verge comes into the picture, introducing stateless verification. Buterin is confident this change will make node verification substantially easier, allowing everyday devices like mobile wallets and even smartwatches to do it faultlessly. This shift effectively means Ethereum nodes will no longer need to store the entire blockchain, making it more user-friendly, including for solo stakers.
There’s a bump in the road, though: the initial Verkle trees proposed implementation has sparked controversy due to vulnerability to quantum computing. This issue has prompted developers to consider Scalable Transparent Arguments of Knowledge (STARK)-based binary hash trees for their reinforced security and scalability features, making them a safer bet in quantum threats resistance.
The Verge goes beyond Verkle trees and STARKs; it also proposes a strategic overhaul to Ethereum’s gas cost system under Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)-4762. The intent here is to provide better management of Ethereum’s resources amid the impactful hardware requirement reduction set by the upgrade. To conclude, Buterin highlights the potential for these changes to make solo staking on Ethereum an increasingly attainable goal.