Developers prepare next scalability step following upcoming blob-only hard fork
Ethereum may see a notable improvement in transaction throughput as early as January, as core developers consider increasing the network’s block gas limit from 60 million to 80 million. The change would follow the next blob parameter-only (BPO) hard fork, scheduled for early January, and reflects Ethereum’s continued focus on scaling without sacrificing decentralization.
Why the Gas Limit Matters for Ethereum Performance
The gas limit defines how many transactions and smart contract operations can be included in a single block. Raising it allows more activity per block, which can increase throughput and help ease fee pressure during periods of high demand.
Developers have indicated that the network could be technically ready after Jan. 7, provided two optimizations are completed:
partial blob responses on the execution layer and the max blobs flag on the consensus layer. These improvements are designed to ensure nodes can handle higher data loads efficiently.
The first BPO upgrade in December increased blob capacity by 66%, with a second upgrade expected to deliver another 66% increase. Blobs enable transaction and rollup data to be stored offchain, improving scalability without bloating Ethereum’s base layer.
Ethereum has already raised its gas limit three times this year, moving from 30 million to 60 million. Developers have publicly aligned around a longer-term goal of reaching 180 million by the end of 2026, reinforcing Ethereum’s position as a secure and scalable execution layer.
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