EIP-4844 Launch Schedule Confirmed: How Ethereum Proto-Danksharding Will Reshape the Market

As a technological engine in the blockchain space, Ethereum is achieving a qualitative leap through a series of key upgrades. Among them, the introduction of the EIP-4844 proposal marks the official beginning of the Proto-Danksharding era. The launch date for this upgrade was set as early as the first quarter of 2024, and the market transformations it brings are gradually becoming evident.

Dencun Upgrade: Understanding the Core Value of EIP-4844

The Ethereum Cancun-Deneb (Dencun) upgrade is a significant milestone in achieving network scalability. Central to this upgrade, EIP-4844 introduces the revolutionary concept of “data blobs.” These large data packets can significantly enhance the Ethereum network’s data storage and processing capabilities, laying the foundation for layer-2 solutions.

EIP-4844 not only represents technological progress but also marks the first step toward Ethereum’s full Danksharding. Proto-Danksharding serves as a transitional solution, creating conditions for future full network sharding. Meanwhile, auxiliary features like State Expiry enable the network to automatically clean up outdated data, further optimizing on-chain resource allocation.

From Code to Mainnet: The Timeline for EIP-4844

The launch date for the Dencun upgrade was not decided hastily. The testing phase began in January 2024, with comprehensive validation on the Goerli, Sepolia, and Holesky testnets. After extensive community discussion and developer consensus, the mainnet activation was ultimately scheduled for March 2024.

This process of confirming the upgrade schedule reflects Ethereum’s cautious development approach. Each testing phase ensures protocol stability and reduces risks at launch. This step-by-step approach also provides the global crypto community ample time to prepare.

Data Storage Revolution: How Blobs Will Change Fee Structures

The core innovation of EIP-4844 lies in the introduction of blob data packets. Each block slot can now accommodate a fixed 1MB of data, representing a fundamental change for layer-2 solutions.

Before the upgrade, ETH transfer fees on Arbitrum, Optimism, and Polygon were $0.24, $0.47, and $0.78 respectively. Token swap costs were even higher, at $0.67, $0.92, and $2.85. The Dencun upgrade promises to reduce these costs by 10 to 100 times, which means significant savings for everyday traders and DeFi users.

New Opportunities for Layer-2 Networks: Synergy with the Main Chain

EIP-4844 will have multi-dimensional impacts on Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem. First, improved data compatibility will make interactions between layer-2 and the mainnet more efficient and cost-effective. Second, the increase in base layer throughput—from approximately 15 TPS to a theoretical 1000 TPS—will directly benefit all layer-2 solutions relying on Ethereum.

Fidelity’s research indicates that layer-2 networks currently account for about 10% of mainnet transaction fees. Post-upgrade, this proportion is expected to decrease further as users are incentivized by lower costs to prefer layer-2. More importantly, data availability (DA) layer projects like Celestia, EigenDA, and Avail will also see new market demand driven by blobs.

From Users to Developers: Practical Changes Brought by the Upgrade

For ordinary users, the most immediate benefit of EIP-4844 is a significant reduction in transaction costs. Smart contract execution efficiency will also improve, as EIP-1153 introduces transient opcodes that reduce gas consumption. The Beacon Block Root mechanism in EIP-4788 further strengthens the integration between consensus and execution layers, enhancing overall system stability.

The developer community gains unprecedented opportunities. The additional data capacity provided by blobs (1MB per slot) allows developers to store and retrieve more information, enabling new application scenarios. This lays the groundwork for innovations in DeFi, NFT markets, and cross-chain bridges. Additionally, the MCOPY opcode (EIP-5656) optimizes memory operations, further lowering development costs.

The Complete Evolution of Ethereum: From Beacon Chain to Danksharding

To understand the historical significance of EIP-4844, it’s essential to review Ethereum 2.0’s full development roadmap. The Beacon Chain launched in December 2020, introducing proof-of-stake. The Merge in September 2022 combined the mainnet with the Beacon Chain, reducing Ethereum’s energy consumption by 99.5%. The Shanghai/Capella upgrade in April 2023 unlocked staked ETH, attracting more users.

The Dencun upgrade in March 2024, through EIP-4844, introduces Proto-Danksharding, marking a step toward full sharding. Future upgrades like Electra (also called Petra) plan to introduce Verkle Trees data structures to further optimize storage efficiency. The ultimate goal is to achieve full Danksharding, dividing the network into multiple shards that process transactions independently, boosting scalability by 100 to 1000 times and reducing gas fees to below $0.001.

Potential Risks and Market Adaptation Period

Any major upgrade carries risks. The introduction of EIP-4844 may cause initial fluctuations in gas fees as the market adapts to new pricing mechanisms. Smart contract developers need to verify compatibility with existing code; EIP-6780’s restrictions on the SELFDESTRUCT function could impact legacy applications. Additionally, the adoption rate of layer-2 projects will be a key factor in the actual effectiveness of the upgrade.

Investors and Traders’ Perspectives

For crypto market participants, the activation of EIP-4844 signifies further maturity of the Ethereum ecosystem. Lower costs could lead to increased activity in DeFi and NFT trading. Token prices of layer-2 projects may gain additional momentum due to reduced usage costs. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s overall network value is expected to strengthen thanks to enhanced scalability, which is a positive signal for ETH holders.

Summary: The Historical Significance of Proto-Danksharding

The launch of EIP-4844 and its subsequent mainnet activation mark a critical step forward in Ethereum’s scalability journey. Technically, it paves the way for the eventual realization of full Danksharding. Market-wise, it promises to drastically reduce transaction costs and increase network capacity. For users, it makes the Ethereum ecosystem more efficient and accessible.

With the official rollout of Proto-Danksharding, Ethereum is steadily progressing toward its ultimate vision of being “the world’s computer,” and EIP-4844 is undoubtedly a key part of this technological revolution.