1. Ethereum Dank sharding (Full Implementation)
Status: In progress
What It Is: Dank sharding is a major part of Ethereum's long-term scalability plan. It builds on proto-dank sharding (EIP-4844, introduced in 2024) and aims to fully implement data sharding to drastically improve network throughput and reduce Layer 2 transaction costs.
Expected Impact: Significant boost in roll up efficiency and lower gas fees.
2. Verkle Trees
Status: Under active development
What It Is: A new data structure to replace Merkle Patricia Trees, allowing Ethereum nodes to require less storage and support stateless clients.
Expected Impact: Improves scalability and reduces hardware requirements for validators.
3. Account Abstraction (EIP-4337 Enhancements)
Status: Partially implemented, with ongoing improvements
What It Is: Makes smart contract wallets function more like externally owned accounts (EOAs), enabling features like built-in multi-sig, social recovery, and gas abstraction.
Expected Impact: Better user experience and wallet functionality.
4. Further MEV (Miner/Maximal Extractable Value) Mitigations
Status: Ongoing research and implementation
What It Is: Continued effort to reduce harmful MEV through changes like PBS (Proposer-Builder Separation).
Expected Impact: Fairer block production and improved decentralization.
5. Continued Layer 2 Growth
Status: Active expansion
What It Is: Growth of optimistic and zero-knowledge rollups, with enhanced interoperability and performance.
Expected Impact: Major part of Ethereum’s scalability plan.
6. Improved Staking Dynamics
What It Is: Proposals to lower withdrawal delays, improve validator rotation, and reduce centralization risks.
Expected Impact: More secure and decentralized Ethereum.
Would you like updates specific to certain areas (e.g., staking, scalability, wallets, Layer 2)?