Ethereum’s Fusaka Upgrade Supercharges Layer 2 Rollups with Enhanced Data Availability

Ethereum's core infrastructure just got a major shot in the arm. The newly implemented Fusaka upgrade is tackling one of the network's most persistent bottlenecks: data availability for its bustling Layer 2 ecosystem.

The Data Dilemma Solved

Rollups have been Ethereum's scaling lifeline, processing transactions off-chain before settling batches on the mainnet. Their biggest constraint? Ensuring that data—the proof of those off-chain activities—is readily available and verifiable. Fusaka cuts through that logjam, expanding data bandwidth and slashing the cost for rollups to publish their transaction data.

It's a direct boost for networks like Arbitrum, Optimism, and Base. They can now post more data, more cheaply, which translates to lower fees and higher throughput for end-users. The upgrade essentially future-proofs Ethereum's scaling roadmap, making room for the next wave of decentralized applications.

A Ripple Effect Across Finance

This isn't just a technical win; it's an economic catalyst. Cheaper, more reliable data availability removes a key barrier for institutional-grade DeFi and complex on-chain products. It strengthens the value proposition of holding ETH itself, as the asset securing this more efficient and capable network.

Of course, in the world of crypto, every engineering breakthrough is immediately priced in by traders who probably couldn't explain the underlying tech—but who will happily speculate on its impact.

The bottom line: Fusaka isn't a flashy new feature for end-users. It's the critical plumbing work that makes everything else possible, quietly ensuring Ethereum's Layer 2 future is not just viable, but vibrant.

TLDR

• Fusaka’s PeerDAS allows validators to sample data, improving Ethereum’s scalability.
• The Fusaka upgrade increases blob capacity by up to 8x, reducing Layer 2 fees.
• Ethereum now plans biannual hard forks, with Fusaka being the first.
• Fusaka introduces smart pricing fixes to stabilize costs and reduce Layer 2 transaction fees.

Ethereum’s 17th major upgrade, Fusaka, went live recently, signaling a shift in how the ethereum blockchain will evolve. This update, which follows seven months after the Pectra upgrade, introduces several improvements aimed at scaling the Ethereum network. Most notably, Fusaka marks the beginning of Ethereum’s new twice-a-year hard fork release schedule, a significant departure from the previous model of one upgrade annually.

As the Ethereum ecosystem continues to evolve, this new cadence of updates will allow the network to address pressing scalability and data availability issues faster. This accelerated pace aligns with Ethereum’s broader goals of improving Layer 2 rollups and reducing transaction fees without compromising security.

PeerDAS and Data Availability

Fusaka’s headlining feature is PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling), which was introduced via Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP)-7594. PeerDAS aims to improve Ethereum’s data storage and availability by allowing validators to sample data segments rather than downloading entire blobs. This is a crucial development for LAYER 2 networks that rely on the Ethereum blockchain for data availability.

By sampling data, rather than downloading it in full, the new technique significantly reduces the bandwidth requirements for validators. This improves scalability by allowing Ethereum to handle more transactions and rollups without overwhelming individual nodes. As a result, Layer 2 rollups can process higher transaction volumes while maintaining the same level of security and reliability as Ethereum’s mainnet.

Additionally, Fusaka introduces a Blob Parameter Only (BPO) update, which will increase the per-block blob capacity. This update, scheduled to take effect in January 2026, aims to scale the per-block blob target to 14 and the blob maximum to 21. This expansion is expected to increase blob capacity by as much as 8 times, further supporting Ethereum’s scaling goals.

Improved Pricing and Gas Fee Models

Fusaka also addresses pricing and gas fee challenges within the Ethereum ecosystem. The update introduces a blob base fee minimum, a change that seeks to stabilize fees, especially during periods of low demand. This modification ensures that blob fees do not fall to negligible levels, which can lead to unpredictable transaction costs.

The update also introduces a proportional fee mechanism, which adjusts blob fees according to Layer 2 activity spikes. This will create more predictable costs for rollups and ensure more consistent ETH fee burns. These changes aim to improve the user experience for developers building on Ethereum, making it easier to predict costs and plan for scaling.

Backend Improvements for Future Scaling

In addition to improvements in data availability and pricing, Fusaka introduces several protocol-level changes that strengthen Ethereum’s backend architecture. Among these is an increase in the gas limit cap, which prevents individual transactions from consuming excessive block gas. This is a crucial step in ensuring the stability of the network as it scales.

Fusaka also adds native support for the secp256r1 elliptic curve, enabling device-native signing and passkey support. This feature improves security and streamlines the process of managing private keys for users and developers.

Looking forward, Fusaka is seen as a critical step toward ensuring Ethereum’s long-term scalability. It sets the stage for future upgrades like Glamsterdam, scheduled for 2026, which will continue to focus on scaling and enhancing Ethereum’s capabilities.