Arbitrum Community Votes on ArbOS 40 Upgrade for Ethereum Alignment

Arbitrum, a leading Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, has initiated community voting on its latest protocol upgrade, ArbOS Version 40, codenamed “Callisto.” The voting process, which began recently, will conclude on May 29, marking a pivotal moment for the Arbitrum ecosystem. If approved, this upgrade will align Arbitrum One and Arbitrum Nova with Ethereum’s forthcoming Pectra update, introducing a series of significant enhancements aimed at modernizing the core functions of these chains. These updates are designed to make the chains more developer-friendly and to ensure that the applications stemming from them are more powerful and user-friendly than ever before.

One of the key features of ArbOS 40 is the introduction of EIP-7702, which allows Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) to execute smart contract code. This represents a new form of native account abstraction, enabling EOAs to perform many of the functions previously limited to smart contract wallets. This development is seen as a significant step toward a more flexible blockchain experience for developers. Additionally, EIP-2537 provides support for modern cryptography through new precompiles, improving efficiency and bringing native support for onchain BLS (Boneh–Lynn–Shacham) signature verification. This is crucial for advanced cryptographic applications such as zero-knowledge proofs, threshold signatures, and Ethereum consensus clients.

Another notable inclusion is EIP-2935, which allows for the direct onchain storage of 27 hours’ worth of historical block hashes by Arbitrum nodes. This feature is essential for developers who require recent blockchain states to be accessible in a trustless manner, particularly for decentralized applications that rely on cross-chain messaging or the secure verification of historical data. These enhancements collectively represent a substantial leap toward Ethereum alignment and native account abstraction, positioning Arbitrum at the forefront of blockchain innovation.

Beyond the headline EIPs, ArbOS 40 also includes an improvement to the Stylus virtual machine, Arbitrum’s advanced execution environment. This update addresses a caching issue that caused inconsistencies when developers worked with contracts that did not exist at the time of execution. While this fix may seem minor, it ensures greater accuracy and predictability for developers, which is crucial for building stable, reliable decentralized applications (dApps). This exemplifies Arbitrum’s commitment to enhancing its platform to meet developer demands, solidifying its reputation as a forward-thinking blockchain network.

The community support for ArbOS 40 has been overwhelming, with approximately 172 million ARB tokens voted in favor of the proposal. This represents about 78 percent of the required quorum of 219.5 million ARB tokens, with 2,724 individual voters participating. The opposition to the upgrade is minimal, at 0.01 percent, indicating a high likelihood of approval if voting continues at the current rate. If successful, this upgrade will not only boost Arbitrum’s infrastructure but also strengthen its interoperability with Ethereum, ensuring compatibility and relevance as the broader ecosystem evolves.

For developers, users, and infrastructure partners, ArbOS 40 is more than just an upgrade; it represents a substantial enhancement of the platform’s core capabilities. This upgrade is another step toward the next big thing in Ethereum’s evolution. The Arbitrum community has until May 29 to cast their votes, and their decision will significantly impact the platform’s future trajectory. The community’s engagement and support underscore the importance of this upgrade in shaping the future of the Arbitrum ecosystem and its alignment with Ethereum’s advancements.