As Cancun approaches, Morph takes the lead, bringing to the surface the L2 "Integrated EIP-4844" battle

Author: Morph

Key Points:

Morph has the following key points regarding the integration of EIP-4844:

1. Implement a DA solution based on Ethereum that is compatible with EIP-4844;

2. Implement a unique optimistic-zkEVM state verification solution based on Morph that is compatible with EIP-4844;

3. Implement an aggregated ZK proof solution that is compatible with EIP-4844;

This makes Morph superior to other L2s in terms of specific EIP-4844 compatibility, including:

1. Cost advantages compared to using external DA solutions;

2. Security advantages over OP Rollups that do not implement compatible state verification solutions (such as fraud proofs);

3. Cost advantages over ZK Rollups that do not implement compatible aggregated ZK proofs;

As the most important milestone for Ethereum in 2024, the Dencun upgrade will take place on March 13, during which the EIP-4844 included in this upgrade introduces transactions carrying blobs, significantly improving the efficiency and accessibility of Ethereum's L2 networks, and marking a key step towards achieving higher scalability through Proto-Danksharding.

In this context, Morph, which is about to launch the Morph Holesky testnet, also plans to be the first to provide users with an optimized L2 transaction experience after integrating EIP-4844, and will seamlessly migrate to the mainnet in the future.

This article will delve into the technical innovations of EIP-4844, its expected impact on the Ethereum ecosystem, Morph's efforts in integrating EIP-4844, and discuss how it provides critical technical support for blockchain scalability and mass adoption.

1. What is EIP-4844?

EIP-4844 is the cornerstone of the Ethereum Dencun upgrade, introducing a transaction model that carries blobs, meaning that future L2s will no longer use traditional calldata storage mechanisms.

What are Blob-carrying Transactions

Blob-carrying transactions aim to embed large amounts of transaction data within blobs, allowing for the off-chain storage of significant data while maintaining on-chain accessibility and verifiability, significantly reducing the storage and processing burden on the Ethereum mainnet.

In short, this mechanism directly addresses the L1 cost issues related to data availability, ensuring that L2 platforms can offer cheaper and faster transactions without compromising the security and decentralization of Ethereum.

Source: https://www.eip4844.com/#faq

Technical Innovations and Cost Reductions

The innovation of blob-carrying transactions lies in allowing large datasets to be stored in a compressed temporary format, reducing the cost of storing data on Ethereum, paving the way for higher transaction throughput and enhanced scalability, directly enabling the Ethereum ecosystem to support a broader range of applications and services.

This cost optimization will ultimately translate into lower gas fees for Ethereum L2 users and developers, as the DA costs of Ethereum L1 are a significant component of the fees paid by L2 users.

Impact on L2 Scalability

From a data perspective, after EIP-4844, it is expected that the L1 portion of the transaction cost composition for Ethereum L2 will decrease by about 50%-90%, and ideally could even reach 99%.

With the current rise in ETH prices and high mainnet gas fees, the cost of ETH transfers on L2 is around $0.5 - $1, which means that L2s integrating EIP-4844 are expected to reduce this cost to between $0.005 - $0.1.

Of course, actual costs are related to different L2 solutions, ETH prices, gas, and other factors, and we will release calculation results in the near future.

This improvement in cost is decisive, meaning that developers will have greater flexibility and efficiency when building and deploying dApps. We expect to see more complex, data-intensive, and cost-sensitive applications emerging on existing Ethereum Layer 2s, thereby attracting a broader user base.

For end users, this means faster, cheaper transactions, and a smoother, more responsive experience when interacting with Ethereum-based Layer 2 services.

2. Integration Progress of Mainstream Rollups

Mainstream Rollups are preparing to integrate EIP-4844 to leverage its advantages, which, of course, requires time and involves certain technical difficulties—Rollups must undergo a hard fork on the mainnet or contract proxy upgrades, and extensive testing phases are needed to ensure seamless interaction with existing systems, while governance processes also require consensus among developers, validators, and users.

Specific Rollups and Their Progress

Currently, Optimism and Arbitrum have committed to adopting EIP-4844 and will work closely with the community to test and deploy necessary updates.

Leading ZK-Rollups, such as zkSync and StarkWare, are also exploring how to utilize blob-carrying transactions to further reduce costs and improve performance.

Morph's Unique EIP-4844 Integration Plan

Unlike traditional Rollups facing technical and governance barriers, Morph's flexible modular architecture and latecomer advantages enable it to quickly adapt to new standards, efficiently integrating EIP-4844 and reducing the time and effort required to lower DA costs and improve transaction efficiency.

3. What Impact Will L2s Using External DA Have?

Currently, there are many L2s on the market that do not build their data availability layers on Ethereum; they often use external data availability layers.

External data availability layers typically store transaction data off-chain or on dedicated chains designed specifically for data availability (such as Celestia), providing an alternative to Ethereum's native data availability mechanism.

While these solutions can avoid high DA costs and enhance scalability and efficiency, they operate independently of Ethereum's core infrastructure, meaning that the EIP-4844 upgrade specifically targeting Ethereum's DA layer will not directly affect these external DA solutions, and thus they will not benefit from it.

External DA

The emergence of external DA layers is partly driven by VC promotion and the demand for alternative DA solutions.

However, the choice between using Ethereum's DA layer or an external DA layer should be based on the specific needs of the L2, such as security, integration, and cost considerations. For Morph, the strategy is to closely align with Ethereum's infrastructure, prioritizing security and efficiency, while also keeping a close eye on collaboration with external DA solutions to explore potential development opportunities.

4. Morph's EIP-4844 Integration Progress

Through the upcoming Morph Holesky testnet, Morph will be the first to provide users with an optimized transaction experience based on EIP-4844 and will seamlessly migrate it to the mainnet in the future.

Impact on Morph Users

First, there will be a reduction in transaction costs, directly attributed to the more efficient data storage and processing capabilities provided by the new transaction model.

Additionally, TPS will significantly increase, which aligns with Morph's goal of supporting high-throughput, low-cost consumer applications, providing strong support for Morph's vision.

Morph's zkEVM 4844 Compatible Solution

Morph has the following key points regarding the integration of EIP-4844:

1. Implement a DA solution based on Ethereum that is compatible with EIP-4844;

2. Implement a unique optimistic-zkEVM state verification solution based on Morph that is compatible with EIP-4844;

3. Implement an aggregated ZK proof solution that is compatible with EIP-4844;

This makes Morph superior to other L2s in terms of specific EIP-4844 compatibility, including:

1. Cost advantages compared to using external DA solutions;

2. Security advantages over OP Rollups that do not implement compatible state verification solutions (such as fraud proofs);

3. Cost advantages over ZK Rollups that do not implement compatible aggregated ZK proofs;

Morph will publish a technical article discussing the challenges faced in zkEVM integration of EIP-4844, including the compatibility of aggregated proofs and the solutions adopted.

5. Morph's Future Outlook

Integrating EIP-4844 will be the beginning of Morph's continuous optimization of the L2 experience, but it is far from the end. In the future, Morph will continue to enhance L2's adaptability to consumer applications and users.

Roadmap

After integrating EIP-4844, here are the key development milestones and roadmap for Morph:

• Mainnet Launch: Morph is expected to officially launch its mainnet in Q3 2024 and will deploy all key technologies and applications promised on the Holesky testnet;

• Continuously Expanding the Ecosystem: Morph will continue to attract a diverse user base and ecosystem partners to expand the platform's utility and influence;

• Ongoing Technical Innovations: Morph plans to introduce further optimization measures, committing to lowering costs, improving efficiency, and enriching user experience to achieve a truly consumer-oriented blockchain infrastructure;

• Building Community and Governance Framework: Morph will launch a series of activities that enable users to deeply participate in Morph's development and benefit from it, promoting a more inclusive and participatory development process;