The Purge, a key initiative of Ethereum, is set to simplify the network by eliminating unnecessary and outdated data. EIP-4444 history expiry will be implemented to regulate the amount of data that can be retained. Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has unveiled the next steps in the Purge project, aiming to streamline the protocol and alleviate the strain on node resources.
The Purge is a critical phase in Ethereum’s transition as it removes obsolete data, thereby simplifying the network. This step not only reduces the storage requirements for historical data but also significantly decreases the technical debt of the Ethereum protocol and the hard drive demands for node operators.
In a bid to reduce complexity and enhance security, Buterin introduced Ethereum improvement proposal (EIP)-6780 during the Dencun hard fork. This proposal eliminated most of the “SELFDESTRUCT” code functions, making the protocol more streamlined and providing additional security guarantees. Consequently, each Ethereum block will now have more storage space, as specific SELFDESTRUCT functions will be cleared. Buterin is optimistic that a future EIP will completely eliminate the SELFDESTRUCT code.
To restrict the amount of data stored in the past, the Purge will incorporate EIP-4444 history expiry. This allows nodes to decide whether to remove blocks from their history that are less than a year old. Unless specified otherwise, historical data will only be required when a peer needs to synchronize with the chain head. Therefore, a fully synchronized node does not need historical data older than one year when verifying new blocks.
According to Buterin, EIP-4444 has the potential to greatly enhance the decentralization of Ethereum nodes. Alongside the announcement that Geth has ended support for pre-Merge (PoW) networks, Buterin disclosed that thousands of lines of code have been eliminated in the process.
In other news, Japan’s Hokkoku Bank has introduced a stablecoin backed by bank deposits.