Ethereum’s Cancun upgrade (Dencun) is set to be activated on the mainnet on March 13, 2024, at 21:55 Taiwan time. What information is worth paying attention to?
Introduction to the Upgrade Details
Changes in the Consensus Layer
Changes in the Execution Layer
Changes in the Engine API
Client Releases
Consensus Layer Clients:
– Lighthouse v5.0.0
– Lodestar v1.16.0
– Nimbus v24.2.2
– Prysm v5.0.0
– Teku v24.2.0
Execution Layer Clients:
– Besu v24.1.2
– Erigon v2.58.1
– go-ethereum (geth) v1.13.13
– Nethermind v1.25.4
– Reth (alpha) v0.1.0-alpha.19
Additional Notes
While Reth supports the Dencun network upgrade, it is currently undergoing a comprehensive audit and is not recommended for production use.
Geth version 1.13.13 fully supports the Dencun network upgrade, but version 1.13.14 further improves the performance of handling blob transactions in the transaction pool, so it is recommended to use that version.
Download links for the mentioned clients can be found at: [link]
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Q: As an Ethereum user and digital asset holder, do I need to do anything for the Dencun network upgrade?
A: There is no special preparation required. If you use trading platforms, digital wallets, or hardware wallets, no additional adjustments are needed. However, if you are a node validator or operator, please refer to the next question.
Q: As a non-staking node operator/validator, do I need to do anything to prepare for the upgrade?
A: You need to update your node to the client versions listed above to be compatible with the upgrade.
Q: As a staking node operator/validator, what do I need to do for the upgrade?
A: You need to update your node to the client versions listed above to be compatible with the upgrade and ensure that your beacon node and validator client are also updated.
In addition, we encourage stakers who want to perform multiple upgrades before the mainnet upgrade to use ephemery.dev, which now also supports the Dencun network upgrade.
Q: What will happen if I have staked or if I am a node operator/validator but did not participate in the network upgrade?
A: If you continue to use the client versions listed above, after the Dencun network upgrade is completed on March 13, 2024, your client will sync to the pre-fork blockchain.
According to the old rules, you will be stuck on an incompatible blockchain and unable to compute digital assets or perform operations on the post-upgrade mainnet.
Q: As an application or blockchain tool developer, what should I do?
A: Review the Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) included in the Dencun network upgrade and determine if these proposals will affect your existing projects. The Dencun network upgrade introduces many exciting new features for Ethereum’s execution and consensus layers! The only EIPs that have backward compatibility impacts are EIP-6780, EIP-7044, and EIP-7514.
Q: Why is this upgrade named “Dencun”?
A: Dencun is a combination of “Deneb” and “Cancun”. Ethereum upgrades continue to follow the naming convention where execution layer upgrades are named after cities where Devcon conferences were held. Cancun, the location of Devcon 3, is used this time. Consensus layer upgrades are named after stars, and Deneb, a first-magnitude star in the constellation Cygnus, is used this time.
Q: Where can I watch the live broadcast of the Dencun network upgrade?
A: The live broadcast can be watched at: [link]
The start time is March 13, 2024, 13:00 UTC/Taiwan time 21:55.
Further Reading:
MT Capital Research Report: Interpreting the principles of the Cancun upgrade and the investment opportunities behind it. [link]
Related Reports:
Countdown to the Ethereum Cancun Upgrade: Can Dencun solve the scalability problem? [link]
Morning Report in the Crypto Market: Ethereum breaks through the $3,000 mark, with the Cancun upgrade as a catalyst? Bitcoin weakens and falls below $52,000. [link]
After the Ethereum Cancun Upgrade, Layer 2 will face “bloody infighting.” How will the market evolve? [link]