Vitalik Buterin proposed to reduce the size of the node state.

Froklog · 2025-05-19T07:54:16+00:00

Vitalik Buterin suggests reducing node state size for better Ethereum scalability. Proposals include EIP-4444 implementation and stateless verification sync. These aim to lower disk space requirements and improve blockchain efficiency. Moreover, introducing partially stateless nodes could enhance network performance. Buterin also emphasizes the need for gas pricing adjustments.

Froklog

2025-05-19 07:54:16

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Vitalik Buterin proposed to reduce the size of node state

Scaling Ethereum should improve performance without sacrificing the usability of personal nodes, believes the co-founder of the network, Vitalik Buterin. In a new essay, he proposed relevant recommendations.

They include the implementation:

EIP-4444;
distributed history storage;
synchronization with no state preservation (stateless verification);
lightweight nodes, “having partial state” (partially stateless nodes).

According to Buterin, the full deployment of EIP-4444 will lead to a reduction in disk space requirements. This has been a major issue preventing most from running nodes. Each will store data for the last 36 days, the size of the state and Merkle tree states.

In the case of a distributed storage of history, the cryptographer proposed to store a negligible percentage of information older than a set deadline at each node. To enhance reliability, it is suggested to use an erasure code.

Such a solution will ensure the property of “eternity of the blockchain,” eliminating dependence on centralized providers and additional load on node operators, Buterin explained.

In this context, it is also advisable to restructure gas pricing: increase storage costs and reduce execution.

In the medium-term perspective, the co-founder of Ethereum considers it necessary to transition to synchronization without state retention. This will create conditions for launching a node with RPC support without storing the state of Merkle trees, which will approximately halve the data storage requirements.

A new concept may be the implementation of lightweight nodes that have a “partial state.” This innovation will allow the functioning of a personal node even in conditions where the L1 gas limit increases by 10-100 times.

Such a node will be able to respond to RPC requests as long as the required data is within the subset of the state. Other requests will be rejected ( or will have to revert to an external cryptographic solution ).

Earlier, Buterin warned against rushing the decentralization of rollups.

Let us remind you that in 2025, the cryptographer intends to focus on the development of the core infrastructure of the network and the promotion of decentralized ecosystems.

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