The Ethereum community, leading developers and researchers, and others have always recognized that scalability is perhaps the most important technical challenge that blockchain applications need to solve for mass adoption. Blockchain scalability is difficult primarily because typical blockchain designs require every node in the network to process every transaction, which limits the transaction processing power of the entire system to that of a single node. This is for the purpose of
There are two main ways to improve blockchain scalability. first (“Sharding”) involves creating a better-designed base-layer blockchain protocol that combines the desirable decentralization and security properties of blockchain found in the simple designs currently available. , but only a small percentage of nodes are required to see and process all transactions, allowing more transactions to be processed in parallel at the same time. The aim is the creation of a “Layer 2” protocol that sends most transactions off-chain and only interacts with the underlying blockchain in the case of entry into or exit from, or attacks on, the Layer 2 system.
We believe that the two strategies are complementary to each other and support a multi-pronged strategy for Ethereum scalability that leverages both strategies and treats them as complementary to each other.
Technical documentation on Ethereum scalability technology
Sharding:
Example of an existing layer 2 system:
As the Ethereum blockchain reaches 1 million transactions per day and both Ethereum and other blockchain projects frequently reach their maximum transaction capacity, the need for scaling advances becomes increasingly clear and urgent. To that end, in addition to our ongoing and upcoming work on scalability internally, we are launching two experimental projects to allow more independent teams to collaborate with the Ethereum research team’s base layer scalability R&D efforts. We have started a subsidy system. It’s about building an independent layer 2 project that can tie in and improve Ethereum’s scalability.
Independent teams of developers, companies, universities and academic organizations are welcome to apply. We recognize that different types of applicants may require different formats and processes, and we intend to be flexible to meet the needs of individual teams.
Sharding Client Subsidy Program
Over the past few months, the development of sharding has rapidly accelerated. The specifications of the initial prototype are as follows: almost complete, there is a roadmap that can be slowly introduced to Ethereum, initially as a “loosely coupled” sidechain anchored to the Ethereum base chain through a “validation manager agreement”, and then over time a more tightly coupled sidechain with the Ethereum base chain. Integration is introduced.The reference implementation is built in Python Py-EVMTestnet in Python is also not far away.
And we want you to join us in this next step. We want the Ethereum Sharding Testnet, and subsequently the Sharding Mainnet, to be a multi-client ecosystem from the beginning, and the Ethereum Foundation does not support a single privileged operational implementation. The research team, funded by the Ethereum Foundation, will continue to build implementations in Python and possibly other languages, but this is intended first and foremost as a reference and proof of concept. We want to continue to focus on research and specs, but we don’t want to ultimately “win” the competition of which client will get the most real users once the network goes live. .
In return, the Ethereum Foundation will provide grants to independent groups within the community who want to help build implementations and participate in the sharding testnet and mainnet. These payments are not intended to provide significant benefits to the recipient organization. Rather, anyone participating in this scheme will be able to participate in Ethereum 2.0 development in close collaboration with Ethereum’s core researchers, with the understanding that they will have access to a unique opportunity to participate in the development, while also paying for the associated costs. It is intended to cover some. He will be one of the first clients that will be available when the sharding mainnet goes live.
This will take the form of a specialized program and will exist alongside a more general grant program that the Foundation will soon release.Subsidy amount 1,000,000 pieces are available, but could be more for very successful projects. The size of the grant will be determined by considering the quality of the team, the scope of the proposed implementation, and the progress of the project over time. Participants will work closely with the core research team and play a key role in shaping the final specification, which will be developed through specification implementation and test network execution.
Layer 2 Scalability Solutions Grant Program
Recently, a number of independent proposals have been made on how blockchains such as Ethereum can be scaled up through second-layer protocols. We know that developers and researchers are excited about researching and implementing technology in this area, and that many teams want the freedom to envision and build their own designs that incorporate their own ideas. recognized and evaluated. We want to give such teams the opportunity to be creative and build scalable blockchain propositions while remaining within the Ethereum family.
To that end, we are building a “layer 2” that benefits from the security of the Ethereum blockchain as a base layer and interoperability with the larger Ethereum community to reduce scalability and latency that exists on top of Ethereum. We will announce a subsidy system for projects building platforms. platform.
Similar to the Sharding Client Scheme, this takes the form of a special grant program, with the amount of the grant being 1,000,000 pieces available depending on scope, scale and quality. Grants may be available even if a project has an independent business model or receives funding from other potential sources within the Ethereum community, but is otherwise self-sustaining. Prioritize funding projects that lack the capacity to sustain. Funded is end-to-end open source and provides a common good for the Ethereum ecosystem.
Funding goals include the development of high-quality implementations of existing, well-known layer 2 scaling strategies (e.g., state channels, plasma), as well as research and development of new strategies.
Closing notes
Both of these programs are in very early stages, and grants will initially be determined at the discretion of Ethereum core leaders. Details such as the terms and schedule under which payments will be made are subject to change as a result of initial experience with program participants, but the program is expected to strengthen and expand throughout the year.
Also note that although payments from these collaboration programs are much higher than payments from previous grant programs, higher focus and quality are expected from these payments. We are targeting skilled teams with direct experience in the field of Ethereum and blockchain, or experience in a wide range of areas such as mechanism design, distributed systems and cryptography, and software engineering. The program also focuses on sharding clients and layer 2 scaling solutions. This is not a one-size-fits-all grant program. It is still in development and details will be announced as soon as they are ready.
How to apply
The first step is to send an email to apply@ethereumresearch.orgcontains the following information:
- Official name of project, applicant and core developer
- Detailed information about the team (if any previous activity in Ethereum, blockchain space, decentralized systems, mechanism design, cryptography)
- Recommendations and scalability implications
- Development milestones and estimated timeline for completion, grant application amounts, and overall estimated total budget.
