How Could the Fusaka Upgrade Change Ethereum’s Scaling Path?

Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade is now live as it reduces the cost of data for Layer 2 blockchains, increases Ethereum’s capacity, and strengthens the network so it can support larger volumes of transactions.

The upgrade targets Ethereum’s long-standing congestion issues by changing how data is handled, verified, and posted to the main chain. It also improves node efficiency, introduces wallet upgrades, and prepares the network for future scaling steps like full data sharding.

Ethereum still operates as the most used smart contract platform. That popularity comes with a cost. 

When demand rises, users face slow transaction times and high fees. Layer 2 networks such as Arbitrum, Optimism, Base and zkSync have grown to fill this gap, but their own performance depends on Ethereum’s data capacity. Fusaka lifts that ceiling.

What Is the Fusaka Upgrade and Why Is It Important?

Before diving into technical details, it helps to understand the role of Fusaka in Ethereum’s broader roadmap.

Ethereum has delivered major upgrades at a steady pace since the Merge in 2022. Pectra arrived earlier this year and targeted wallet improvements. Now Fusaka addresses data throughput, validator efficiency, and congestion. Together, they reinforce the foundation that Ethereum will build on ahead of larger future upgrades such as Glamsterdam.

Fusaka’s core purpose is to:

• Increase the amount of data Layer 2 rollups can post
• Lower fees on rollups by expanding blob capacity
• Improve node efficiency and reduce hardware burdens
• Strengthen Ethereum against spam attacks
• Prepare the network for Danksharding’s long-term design

These upgrades matter because Ethereum’s growth relies heavily on rollups. When those rollups hit limits, Ethereum as a whole slows down.

How PeerDAS Works and Why It Changes Ethereum’s Data Model

The centerpiece of Fusaka is PeerDAS, short for Peer Data Availability Sampling. This upgrade addresses a central bottleneck—how Ethereum stores and verifies rollup data known as blobs.

Before Fusaka

Every node had to download full blob data to verify availability. That was manageable years ago, but rollups now post massive amounts of data, pushing the limits of bandwidth and storage for solo node operators.

After Fusaka

Nodes no longer need every byte. Instead, they only check small, random samples of data. Through mathematical systems such as erasure coding, the network can reconstruct full blobs even if nodes individually download only about 12.5 percent of the content.

What PeerDAS Achieves

• Up to 8x more data throughput for rollups
• Around 85 percent lower bandwidth needs for validators
• Greater decentralization since home stakers no longer require high-bandwidth internet
• Faster rollup settlement without risking security

Ethereum now verifies large data sets with far less effort, much like checking random pages of a book instead of reading the entire book each time.

Expanded Block Capacity and More Predictable Fees

Fusaka also increases Ethereum’s block gas limit from roughly 36 million to 60 million, giving developers more room for transactions and complex smart contract execution.

This does not replace rollups. Instead, it improves mainnet efficiency and complements the PeerDAS model.

Other key changes include:

• EIP-7918: A new reserve pricing mechanism for blob fees
• EIP-7934: A safeguard for maximum block size
• EIP-7825: Limits for transaction gas inside a block

Why These Changes Matter

• Rollups get more space to post their compressed data
• Layer 2 transaction fees become more predictable
• Users experience fewer congestion spikes
• Ethereum becomes more stable during high-traffic events like NFT drops or volatile markets

How Fusaka Improves Wallet Performance and Daily User Experience

Most users will not need to upgrade their wallets. ETH remains safe and accounts function normally. But over the next several months, users will notice indirect improvements:

• Lower rollup fees on Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, zkSync and Starknet
• Fewer failed or stuck transactions during peak activity
• More reliable applications that rely heavily on Ethereum data
• Stronger network resilience because nodes are doing less heavy lifting

Biometrics for Transactions

Fusaka also introduces support for the secp256r1 signature scheme. This means smartphones could eventually sign Ethereum transactions through native hardware features like fingerprint sensors or facial recognition. That could mean a user may approve a DeFi swap through their iPhone’s secure enclave without managing a seed phrase.

What Do Node Operators Gain From Fusaka?

Validators and solo node operators are among the biggest winners:

Key Improvements

• Bandwidth needs drop by roughly 85% thanks to sampling
• Lower chance of falling behind during periods of high data activity
• More predictable block proposer schedules
• Fewer DoS attack risks due to protocol hardening

This helps protect Ethereum’s decentralization by keeping solo staking accessible even as data throughput rises.

Core Technical Improvements Explained 

Fusaka contains about a dozen EIPs, but they fall into a few understandable groups.

PeerDAS (EIP-7594)

• Changes how nodes verify blob data
• Uses sampling and erasure coding
• Enables dramatic scaling for rollups

EVM Object Format (EOF)

EOF reorganizes smart contract code to improve execution reliability. It helps prevent common errors by separating code from data more clearly.

New Opcodes

The new CLZ opcode improves cryptographic operations. Developers using zero-knowledge proofs, digital signatures, or advanced encryption benefit most.

secp256r1 Signatures

This signature type is standard on mobile hardware and security modules. It expands wallet design options for developers and enhances mobile-first crypto experiences.

What Does Fusaka Deliver for Layer 2 Blockchain Networks?

Rollups gain the most from Fusaka. They rely on Ethereum to post transaction summaries, and data availability has been their main limit.

After Fusaka

• Blob capacity gradually increases from 9 blobs per block toward a long-term 8x expansion
• First increase to 15 blobs arrives on December 9
• Second increase to 21 blobs arrives on January 7
• Operating costs fall as fees stabilize
• Throughput increases across the Layer 2 ecosystem

Combined, analysts estimate that rollups could eventually process more than 100,000 transactions per second across networks, compared with pre-Fusaka estimates around 12,000.

How the Fusaka Upgrade Affects ETH Holders and DeFi Users

For Everyday ETH Users

• Lower fees on most popular rollups
• More reliable and faster transactions
• Smoother activity during market volatility

For DeFi Users

• Cheaper swaps, lending, and liquidity operations
• Complex actions become more affordable
• Better execution for arbitrage and yield strategies

For Developers

• More space for rollup data
• More predictable and stable execution
• EVM enhancements that reduce bugs and simplify auditing

Will Fusaka Affect Institutions?

Institutional interest in Ethereum depends on reliability, scalability, and security. Fusaka supports all three.

• Enterprise Ethereum Alliance members such as EY (Paul Brody) have highlighted PeerDAS as critical infrastructure for scaling financial applications
• Major exchanges and custodians rely on predictable gas dynamics during high-volume events

The upgrade signals to institutional players that Ethereum is ready to scale far beyond its previous limits without sacrificing decentralization.

What Comes Next After Fusaka?

Ethereum’s roadmap continues through several major categories that guide long-term development.

Upcoming Stages

• The Surge: Continued focus on scaling. Fusaka is part of this phase.
• The Verge: Verkle trees and stateless clients to reduce node burden.
• The Purge: Remove old data and simplify the protocol.
• The Splurge: Miscellaneous improvements including account abstraction and MEV mitigation.

The next major upgrade, Glamsterdam, is expected in 2026 and will introduce further cost reductions and structural improvements.

Conclusion: What Fusaka Delivers Today

Fusaka improves Ethereum’s capacity, lowers data costs for rollups, strengthens node performance, and lays the groundwork for the next generation of scaling features. It does not promise future outcomes; it introduces concrete capabilities that support more stable, predictable, and efficient network operation.

As rollups adopt the new model and blob capacity increases in December and January, users will see lower fees, faster transactions, and more reliable network behavior. Developers gain new tools, and node operators face fewer resource constraints.

Fusaka is a foundational step that strengthens Ethereum’s role at the center of the multichain ecosystem.

Resources

1. Ethereum on X: Announcement (Dec. 3)

2. Consensys Fusaka dashboard: About Fusaka upgrade

3. Report by Blockworks: Ethereum’s Fusaka upgrade lands today

4. Report by DL News: Ethereum Fusaka upgrade goes live, bringing eightfold increase in ‘blob’ capacity