Ethereum’s Bold Leap: Proposal to Double Block Production Speed for Enhanced Performance
Ethereum core developer Barnabé Monnot has proposed a groundbreaking upgrade, EIP-7782, which aims to slash the network's slot time from 12 seconds to 6 seconds. This change, potentially included in the 2026 Glamsterdam upgrade, WOULD significantly accelerate block production, validation, and transaction confirmations. The proposal underscores Ethereum's commitment to scalability and user experience, positioning it for broader adoption in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector. As of June 2025, this development could mark a pivotal moment in Ethereum's evolution, reinforcing its dominance in the smart contract platform arena.
Ethereum Developer Proposes Doubling Block Production Speed in New Upgrade
Ethereum Core developer Barnabé Monnot has introduced a proposal to slash the network's slot time from 12 seconds to 6 seconds under EIP-7782. The change, potentially bundled with the 2026 Glamsterdam upgrade, would halve validation windows for block proposals, confirmations, and aggregate operations.
Faster block times could significantly improve user experience by accelerating transaction confirmations and data availability for wallets and dApps. However, the ethereum community typically subjects such structural changes to rigorous debate—implementation remains uncertain.
The technical overhaul risks disrupting validator operations and could face pushback from stakeholders concerned about network stability. Monnot's proposal arrives as Ethereum continues scaling improvements post-Merge, with layer-2 solutions already handling throughput demands.
Polymarket Nears $1B Valuation in Landmark Ethereum-Based Funding Round
Polymarket, an Ethereum-based prediction platform, is poised to join the unicorn club with a $200 million funding round that would value the company at over $1 billion. The deal marks a watershed moment for crypto-native applications in 2025, signaling growing institutional confidence in practical Web3 implementations.
The potential investment follows Polymarket's successful $70 million raise in May 2025, which included participation from General Catalyst and Founders Fund. High-profile backers like Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Airbnb's Joe Gebbia underscore the platform's cross-industry appeal.
By enabling wagers on real-world events—from political elections to geopolitical conflicts—Polymarket has carved a unique niche that demonstrates blockchain's utility beyond speculative trading. Its recent integration with Elon Musk's X platform further validates the model's mainstream potential without relying on a native token.
ZKsync Unveils Airbender zkVM, Claiming Fastest Ethereum Block Proofs at 35 Seconds
Matter Labs, the developer behind layer-2 network ZKsync, introduced its cryptographic prover "Airbender" at the Permissionless conference. The new zkVM, built on RISC-V architecture, generates zero-knowledge proofs for Ethereum blocks in 35 seconds using a single GPU—setting what the team calls an industry benchmark for speed.
"We're entering fraction-of-a-cent territory," said Matter Labs co-founder Alex Gluchowski, emphasizing cost efficiency for micropayments and high-frequency trading. The open-source prover aligns with Vitalik Buterin's vision for RISC-V adoption, potentially replacing Ethereum's current EVM framework to improve scalability.
