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Ethereum‘s ‘Verge‘ Upgrade enables nodes on phones and smartwatches

Ethereum‘s ‘Verge‘ Upgrade enables nodes on phones and smartwatches

Ethereum is on the verge of a revolutionary upgrade, aptly named ‘The Verge‘. This update will drastically reduce hardware requirements, making it possible to run nodes on everyday devices like smartphones and smartwatches.

The future of Ethereum: simpler and more secure

With ‘The Verge‘, Ethereum aims to make significant strides in both security and accessibility. This upgrade will allow Ethereum nodes to operate on devices as small as a smartphone or even a smartwatch. Thanks to an innovative approach called ‘stateless verification‘, these devices will no longer need to store large amounts of data to verify the blockchain.

Stateless verification: the key to accessibility

One of Ethereum's main challenges is the growing amount of data required to run a node. Currently, this requires hundreds of gigabytes of data, which poses a barrier for many users. With the introduction of stateless verification, this issue is addressed. It means that every mobile wallet, browser wallet, and even smartwatches can verify the blockchain without needing to store massive amounts of data.

Verkle trees and STARKs: The technology behind the upgrade

At the core of this improvement are ‘Verkle trees‘, a cryptographic technique designed to reduce proof sizes and enable stateless verification. While Verkle trees may need to be replaced in the long term due to potential vulnerabilities to quantum computing, alternatives such as STARK-based structures are being considered for enhanced security and scalability.

More solo stakers and efficient gas usage

Another key aspect of the ‘Verge‘ upgrade is the overhaul of gas consumption within the network, paving the way for stateless verification. Ethereum is introducing the concept of ‘multidimensional gas‘, where costs for data, computation, and state access are managed separately. This ensures more efficient use of network resources and lays a solid foundation for future scalability.

With these new developments, Ethereum seeks to lower the barriers for solo staking, allowing more users to run their own nodes, even on smaller devices. The path to a more secure and accessible network is clear, and Ethereum is poised to take this important step forward.