Ethereum Expands Blob Capacity With New BPO-1 Upgrade
- Ethereum activates BPO-1, raising blob limits to expand data space for growing Layer 2 rollups.
- PeerDAS boosts data efficiency by reducing storage needs and improving network handling.
- Developers expect lower Layer 2 fees as increased blob space prepares the network for BPO-2.
Ethereum developers activated the BPO-1 upgrade this week, raising blob capacity and giving Layer 2 networks more space. The update increases the per-block blob target to 10 and the maximum to 15. It follows recent improvements that focus on faster scaling. The move introduces more room for rollups without a disruptive hard fork.
Layer 2 Fees Expected to Decline
Layer 2 teams highlighted the impact of the additional blob space. More blob space allows rollups to post data at lower costs. This reduces the fees that users pay on Layer 2 networks. Teams expect visible fee changes once BPO-2 launches in January.
The Ethereum Foundation said BPO-2 will raise blob capacity again. Developers designed both upgrades to boost scaling in phases. The staggered approach avoids heavy changes to the base chain. It also limits disruption for validators and applications.
Following the update, optimism developers released preliminary estimates. As blob markets adjust, they anticipate a decrease in transaction fees. They also plan network updates to handle increased throughput. Other teams, such as Arbitrum and Base, plan similar adjustments.
Developers also expect better user experiences on decentralized applications. L2 applications will benefit from more consistent transaction costs. Lower congestion should improve performance across gaming, DeFi, and social apps. Teams said this supports broader adoption.
The Ethereum Foundation noted that a hard fork was not needed. The shift uses parameter-only changes rather than protocol changes. This preserves stability during the transition. Validators continued to operate normally, except for a short dip in participation among Prysm users.
Etherscan reported a 67 percent increase in blob count per block. The monitoring site confirmed the new targets shortly after activation. Researchers consider this a significant boost for data availability. The results also show progress toward long-term scaling plans.
The network recorded a smooth shift despite validator differences. Around one quarter of Prysm validators experienced a short decline in participation. Developers resolved the issue through client adjustments, and participation later returned to normal levels.
PeerDAS Strengthens the Network’s Data System
The upgrade builds on the Fusaka update from early December. Fusaka introduced PeerDAS, which allows nodes to verify data by sampling small pieces. This reduces the required storage and improves data-handling efficiency. Developers said the method cuts storage needs by about eight times.
Vitalik Buterin praised the PeerDAS rollout in a new post. He said Ethereum lacked strong peer-to-peer expertise for many years. He credited researchers for improving propagation speed and network resilience. He added that the new roadmap also strengthens privacy features.
Related: Ethereum Gains Scaling Power as PeerDAS Drives Futuristic Growth
Developer Raul Jordan and other contributors worked on PeerDAS for several months. They coordinated testing across clients and prepared teams for the transition. Their work helped Ethereum shift to a more efficient data structure, and the smoother rollout also improved developer confidence.
Network explorers recorded the first blocks under the new parameters. Early blocks showed fifteen blobs and over one hundred transactions. This indicated strong throughput under the increased limits. Block producers continued operating without significant delays.
Ethereum developers now focus on the January upgrade, in which BPO-2 will continue the capacity expansion and refine blob markets. Teams want to ensure Ethereum supports growing activity on rollups, and the next upgrade will complete this phase of the scaling plan.
