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Ethereum Co-Founder Proposes Solutions to Ease Node Operation Challenges

Coin WorldMonday, May 19, 2025 6:11 am ET

1min read

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has proposed a new initiative to enhance the efficiency and accessibility of the blockchain network’s nodes. In a May 19 research blog post, Buterin highlighted the growing complexity of running personal nodes due to increasing storage and bandwidth demands. He emphasized that Ethereum nodes are essential for the network's infrastructure, as they store transaction data, validate activities, and maintain decentralization.

However, the escalating resource requirements for operating a full node have led many users to depend on centralized Remote Procedure Call (RPC) services. Buterin warned that this trend poses threats to privacy, censorship resistance, and the core principle of decentralization. He stressed the importance of preserving the ability to run personal nodes while addressing the challenges posed by Ethereum’s growth.

To mitigate these issues, Buterin proposed several solutions. One key recommendation is the implementation of Ethereum Improvement Proposal 4444 (EIP-4444), which would limit the historical data a node needs to store to 36 days. This measure aims to reduce the storage burden on node operators. Additionally, Buterin suggested a distributed storage solution that uses erasure coding to fragment and spread older blockchain data across the network, ensuring that historical data remains accessible without relying on centralized providers.

Buterin also proposed revisiting Ethereum’s gas pricing model. He suggested increasing the gas cost for state creation activities, such as new storage slots, deploying contracts, and sending ETH to inactive accounts, to discourage excessive data storage. Conversely, reducing execution costs could help alleviate the network's burden. These adjustments aim to balance the network's efficiency and the cost of running nodes.

Another significant proposal by Buterin is the introduction of “partially stateless nodes.” These nodes would not store the complete Ethereum state but only a subset relevant to the user’s needs. Despite this limitation, these nodes would still verify blocks and respond to data requests for the portion of the state they manage. Buterin explained that these nodes would be capable of responding to RPC requests as long as the required data is within their managed subset of the state. For other data, node operators could use cryptographic tools or external services to maintain privacy and choice.

Buterin’s proposals aim to address the growing challenges of running Ethereum nodes while preserving the network's decentralization and user autonomy. By implementing these solutions, Ethereum could become more accessible to a broader range of users, ensuring the network's long-term health and sustainability.

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