Ethereum Co-Founder Proposes 16.77 Million Gas Cap for Enhanced Network Stability

Vitalik Buterin, the co-founder of Ethereum, has introduced a proposal to enhance the stability and security of the Ethereum network by implementing a gas cap. The proposal, known as EIP-7983, sets a maximum gas limit of 16.77 million for individual transactions. This cap is designed to increase the network's resilience against certain denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and improve overall stability. By distributing gas consumption more evenly, the cap reduces the risk of single transactions overwhelming block capacity, which can lead to unpredictable network behavior.

The proposed gas cap is also intended to improve compatibility with zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVMs) by encouraging large transactions to be split into smaller chunks. Transactions specifying gas limits beyond 16.77 million would be rejected during block validation, ensuring they cannot enter the network or be included in new blocks. The cap is independent of the overall block gas limit, allowing miners and validators to adjust it within existing consensus rules. Buterin and Wahrstätter chose 16.77 million as the cap to balance complexity and performance, accommodating current advanced DeFi use cases and contract deployments without introducing unnecessary risks. While the proposal is not backward-compatible for transactions exceeding the new limit, most existing transactions fall well below the cap, minimizing the impact on users and developers.

EIP-7983 builds on prior efforts to improve predictability in transaction execution and is part of a broader initiative by Buterin to simplify the Ethereum network's base protocol. In May, Buterin called for restructuring Ethereum’s architecture to achieve a leaner design, arguing that the network's growing complexity has led to longer development times, higher costs, and increased security risks. This proposal aligns with Buterin's vision for a more efficient, secure, and accessible Ethereum network, inspired by Bitcoin’s minimalist approach. By capping the gas limit, the network can better manage resources and prevent malicious actors from exploiting the system, improving the overall user experience by reducing the likelihood of high gas fees and network congestion.

Buterin's proposal reflects a growing sentiment within the Ethereum community to prioritize security and stability over rapid innovation. This approach is seen as a way to ensure the long-term viability of the Ethereum network, which has faced challenges such as high gas fees and slow transaction times. The gas cap proposal is a significant step towards addressing these issues, enhancing the security of the Ethereum network, and making it more resilient to attacks. By setting a limit on the amount of gas that can be used in a single transaction, the network can better manage its resources and prevent abuse, ensuring a smoother user experience.

Community feedback on platforms such as Discord and Reddit has been generally positive, with users highlighting the potential benefits of the proposal while also expressing caution about the implementation challenges. The proposal primarily impacts ETH transactions on the base layer, aiming to improve network efficiency. With Ethereum's increased activity, exceeding 15.4 million weekly interactions, the community supports refining gas management for scalability. The proposal could influence financial markets by adjusting transaction processing costs, which is a critical consideration given the network's growing usage and the need for sustainable scalability solutions.

In May 2025, Ethereum's block gas limit rose to 36 million, temporarily reducing fees while increasing state growth. Past efforts have influenced decentralization and node resource demands. Expert analysis suggests that this proposal could enhance resilience and decentralization. The focus is on enabling low fees and efficient L1 operations, essential for broader technological support. The proposal aims to ensure that the network remains robust and secure, capable of handling increased demand without compromising on performance or security.