Mai Fujimoto, a well-known figure in the Japanese cryptocurrency community and co-founder of Intmax, has provided insight into Ethereum’s ongoing search for solutions to scalability issues. Specifically, Fujimoto focused on Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 4844, also known as proto-danksharding. According to Fujimoto, EIP 4844 offers a promising avenue for addressing Ethereum’s scalability challenges, particularly in relation to scaling solutions such as zero-knowledge rollups (zkrollups) and Layer 2 chains like Optimistic. By reducing node storage tasks and lowering transaction fees, EIP 4844 could provide significant benefits in these areas.
In an interview, Fujimoto highlighted the significance of EIP 4844 as a “Layer 1 middle ground.” She explained that the blob introduced by EIP 4844 initially functions as a large block but can transition to a smaller block size over time. This adaptability is seen as a breakthrough, although Fujimoto cautioned that its effectiveness may diminish as rollup adoption becomes more widespread.
Discussing the future of Ethereum Layer 2 scaling, Fujimoto agreed that zkrollups hold great promise. She emphasized their potential to make decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms like Uniswap scalable, addressing a key challenge for Ethereum. Fujimoto also touched on the importance of stateless architecture in fortifying decentralized applications (dApps) against data availability attacks.
Comparing Ethereum’s scalability efforts to Bitcoin’s Lightning Network, Fujimoto noted the progress made in achieving almost zero gas fees on Bitcoin. However, she pointed out that Ethereum faces additional challenges due to its role as both a store of value and a platform for building complex decentralized applications. This motivated her to co-found Intmax, with the aim of addressing Ethereum’s scalability limitations.
Within the Ethereum community, discussions on scalability are ongoing, and the introduction of blobs through Proto-Danksharding is seen as a significant step forward. These blobs serve as temporary storage that nodes can erase after a few weeks, reducing node storage burdens and transaction fees. Fujimoto drew parallels to her previous interest in the big block vs. small block debate in the Bitcoin space, highlighting the blob solution as a middle ground that caters to both short-term scalability needs and long-term sustainability.
Fujimoto’s insights highlight the dynamic nature of blockchain scalability solutions, where innovations like EIP 4844 and zkrollups offer promising pathways to meet the growing demands of decentralized ecosystems. As Ethereum continues to evolve, the pursuit of scalable and efficient blockchain infrastructure remains a focal point for developers, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders alike.