Insufficient blob space, is Ethereum L2 on the brink of collapse?

Original author: gauthamzzz, co-founder of polynomialfi

Original compilation: zhouzhou, BlockBeats

Editor's note: This article discusses the issue of insufficient Blob space faced by Ethereum L2. As L2 chains grow, multiple L2s compete for limited Blob storage, leading to soaring fees and increased user costs. Even with the Pectra upgrade increasing the number of Blobs to 6, the problem can only be temporarily alleviated, not fundamentally solved. Solutions include the short-term Pectra upgrade, mid-term PeerDAS implementation, and long-term DA expansion, but whether these solutions can be timely implemented remains uncertain.

The following is the original content (reorganized for readability):

Ethereum L2 is about to face a bottleneck. Currently, 55% of all Blob space has been consumed by just two chains. At the current growth rate, we are only a few months away from total collapse.

Here’s what’s happening

First, let’s understand what is collapsing: Blobs = special storage for L2 Current limit = 3 Blobs per block Current reality = dozens of L2s competing for these 3 slots. It’s like a highway with only 3 lanes, while 50 rapidly growing cities are vying for those lanes.

Daily data clearly illustrates one issue: Blob fee peaks:

• During transaction times

• During airdrop periods

• When new L2s launch operations

Each peak = higher user costs

Even the Pectra upgrade (increasing the number of Blobs to 6) cannot save us. At the current growth rate, we will reach maximum capacity by May 2025. This is still assuming growth remains constant. (Narrator: Growth will not remain constant------it is accelerating)

The real challenge

Content: L2s competing for limited Blob space

Method: Increased demand → rising base fees

Reason: Each transaction requires Blob space

No L2 optimization can solve this fundamental bottleneck.

Core developers know this is a key issue. Vitalik Buterin stated that increasing the number of Blobs from 3 to 6 is more important than all other Pectra upgrades combined. However, doubling the capacity will only extend our timeline by a few months, not years.

Solutions under research

Short-term: Double Blob space (Pectra)

Mid-term: PeerDAS implementation

Long-term: Advanced DA expansion

But can they arrive before we hit the bottleneck? This issue is affecting everyone:

• Rising trading costs for DEXs

• Perpetual protocols facing soaring base fees

• Users paying more in base transaction fees

At polynomialFi, our base fees have risen by 300% in recent months.

A glimmer of hope?

The emergence of this crisis is due to people truly starting to use Ethereum L2. But if we don’t resolve this quickly, users may turn elsewhere.

Summary

• Blob space is about to reach its limit

• The next crisis will arrive within 6 months

• Urgent need for scaling solutions

• Every L2 user is affected

If you want Ethereum to scale, this is the battle that needs attention.