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- The points are coming: Dencun will be broadcast live on Goerli at 6:32 UTC on January 17, 2024.
- Dencun will be Goerli’s last promotion before the major teams stop supporting him. More on this in A Previous post.
- Assuming Goerli’s upgrade goes well, the Sepolia and Holesky test networks will activate Dencun over the next few weeks.
- To receive email alerts for network upgrade announcements, sign up here.
The Dencun network upgrade is scheduled to be activated on the Goerli testnet on 6:32 UTC on January 17. The upgrade includes several changes, most notably the introduction of temporary data points with EIP-4844, also known as “protodanksharding”, which will help reduce L2 transaction fees.
Dencun follows last year Chapella promotion. It will be deployed first on the Goerli testnet. Then, if no major problems are found, go to Sepolia and Holeski. Once Dencun is running smoothly on all three test networks, the main network will be scheduled to activate.
Dencun will be Goerli’s latest promotion. After it is activated on the mainnet, the client and EF test teams will stop supporting the Goerli testnet. For more details, see this Previous announcement.
Upgrade specifications
The Dencun upgrade combines changes made to both the consensus and execution layers of Ethereum. The full list of protocol changes can be found at EIP-7569. For reference, they are:
Deneb
The full Python specification for changes affecting the Ethereum consensus layer can be found at Deneb Folder Subordinate Ethereum/consensus-spec Store.
Cancun
The EIPs linked above contain the full specifications of changes affecting the Ethereum implementation layer.
Additionally, the Python specification for these is implemented in Ethereum/Execution-specs Store.
Finally, Deneb requires changes to the Engine API, used for communication between consensus and execution layer nodes. These are specified in cancun.md file Subordinate ethereum/execution-apis Store.
Customer versions
The following client versions support Dencun on Goerli. Additional releases will activate support on testnets and other mainnets. Once released, another announcement will be made here.
When choosing which client to run, auditors should be particularly aware of the risks of running a majority client on either the Execution Layer (EL) or Consensus Layer (CL). An explanation of these risks and their consequences can be found here here. An estimate of the current EL and CL client distribution and evidence of client-to-customer conversion can be found here.
Goerli consensus layer versions
NB: When you run the validator, both the Compatibility Layer Signal node and the validator client must be updated.
Goerli versions of the implementation layer
NB: While Reth supports Dencun, the client is still waiting for a full audit and is Production use is not recommended. Look Primer Reith For more context.
Dencun Bug Bounty
All Dencun-related bug bounties for in-band vulnerabilities will receive a double multiplier between now and two weeks before the mainnet upgrade is scheduled to take place. Critical bugs are now worth up to $500,000! Look Bug bounty program for more details.
Instructions
As an Ethereum user or Ethereum holder, is there anything I should do?
In short, no.
If you use an exchange, digital wallet or hardware wallet, you do not need to do anything unless you are notified to take additional steps by your exchange or wallet provider.
If you run your own Ethereum node, see the next question.
As a non-staking Gorly Node operator, what should I do?
To be compatible with the Goerli upgrade, update your node to the version of your Ethereum client listed in the table above.
K Gorly Sticker, what should I do?
To be compatible with the Goerli upgrade, update your node to the version of your Ethereum client listed in the table above. Make sure both the beacon node and the validation client are up to date!
As a node operator or non-Goerli administrator, what should I do?
Nothing yet. Further announcements will be made about the activation of Dencun on Sepolia, Holesky and the mainnet. You can sign up to receive an email alert for them here.
Stakeholders who wish to perform the upgrade process more frequently before using the mainnet are encouraged ephemery.devwhich will soon support Dencun.
What happens if I’m a Goerli user or node operator and don’t participate in the upgrade?
If you are using an Ethereum client that has not been updated to the latest version (mentioned above), your client will sync with the pre-fork blockchain once the upgrade occurs.
You will be stuck on an incompatible chain according to the old rules and will not be able to send ether or work on the post-Dencun Ethereum network.
As an app or tool developer, what should I do?
Review the EIPs built into Dencun to determine if and how they will impact your project—there are many new and exciting features being introduced across both the implementation and consensus layers! The only EIPs that have backward compatibility implications are EIP-6780, EIP-7044 And EIP-7514.
Where can I track the upgrade happening?
Goerli’s promotion will be broadcast live here.
Why “Duncon”?
Upgrades to the consensus layer use star names, and those in the implementation layer follow Devcon city names. “Dencun” is a combination of the star Deneb, a first-magnitude star in the Cygnus constellation, and Cancun, the location of Devcon 3.
Original cover image by Darren Lawrencewith modifications by Tomo Saito.
