Overview: Scaling Ethereum with Existing Blockchains
In a recent Ethereum Research blog post dated July 13, Vitalik Buterin proposed leveraging established blockchains like Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Ethereum Classic (ETC) as temporary data layers for Ethereum. This strategic move aims to accelerate Layer 2 scaling solutions while awaiting the full rollout of Ethereum 2.0's high-throughput infrastructure.
Key Advantages of Using BCH:
- High Data Throughput: 53,333 bytes/sec (vs. Ethereum's ~8,000 bytes/sec)
- Low Transaction Fees: Cost-efficient for data storage
- Existing Infrastructure: Compatible with Ethereum via modified BTC Relay mechanisms
- Community Support: BCH encourages diverse blockchain applications (e.g., Memo.cash)
Technical Implementation Details
Data Availability Verification
Buterin emphasizes using interactive computation (e.g., Truebit) to verify Ethereum's state, relying on:
- Data Layer Guarantees: Ensures fraudulent submissions are detectable
- Penalty Systems: Deters malicious actors via slashing mechanisms
Addressing BCH's 10-Minute Block Time
Proposed workarounds include:
- Avalanche Pre-Consensus: For faster zero-confirmation transactions
- UTXO Locking: Random proposers validate data via microtransactions
Ethereum Classic (ETC) as an Alternative
While ETC offers faster 14-second block times, challenges remain:
- Lower Scalability: ~8KB/sec data capacity
- PoW Verification Complexity: Higher gas costs for header validation
Potential ETC Upgrades:
- Reduced calldata Gas Costs: Mimicking Ethereum's roadmap
- FlyClient Integration: Streamlining header verification
Long-Term Vision: Ethereum 2.0
Post-2025, Ethereum 2.0 will supersede these solutions with:
- 10MB/sec Data Throughput: Outperforming all current blockchains
- Sharded Architecture: Native scalability for EVM computations
FAQ Section
Q1: Why use BCH/ETC instead of waiting for ETH 2.0?
A1: Immediate scalability needs demand interim solutions; ETH 2.0 remains 1+ years away.
Q2: How does BCH ensure data security for Ethereum?
A2: Modified BTC Relay protocols enable ETH to verify BCH blocks on-chain.
Q3: Could this partnership harm Ethereum's decentralization?
A3: No—data layers don’t control computation; they merely expand capacity.
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Conclusion
Buterin's proposal highlights Ethereum's pragmatic approach to scaling. By integrating BCH and ETC as short-term data layers, developers gain:
- Practical Experimentation: Testing Layer 2 tech today
- Cost Efficiency: Lower fees than Ethereum mainnet
- Roadmap Flexibility: Smooth transition to ETH 2.0