Ethereum Network Operators Launch OptimumP2P for 10x Speed Boost

Ethereum network operators, controlling over 14% of the stake, are pioneering a new data propagation system called OptimumP2P. This system promises to enhance network speed by up to 10 times, addressing Ethereum’s longstanding networking bottlenecks. OptimumP2P leverages advanced Random Linear Network Coding to optimize data transmission, which is a significant shift from the traditional gossip approaches that Ethereum currently uses.

OptimumP2P introduces a novel approach by applying Random Linear Network Coding (RLNC), a technique that encodes data into algebraic packets. This allows nodes to reconstruct original messages even if some packets are lost, drastically reducing redundant transmissions and improving overall network throughput. Muriel Médard, Optimum co-founder and CEO, highlights that the networking layer relies largely on traditional gossip approaches, which use a decentralized approach to propagate messages among nodes. OptimumP2P replaces this with “algebraic gossip,” where nodes exchange encoded equations rather than raw data, ensuring that only new, useful information is propagated.

Initial tests of OptimumP2P demonstrate that it achieves up to 10 times lower latency under high-traffic conditions and supports message sizes up to 10MB, surpassing the current Gossipsub’s 4MB limit. Major Ethereum validators such as Kiln, P2P.org, Everstake, Blockdaemon, Infstones, Luganodes, and Ebunker are actively participating in the OptimumP2P testnet. These validators represent at least 14% of Ethereum’s total staking share, underscoring significant industry support for this advancement.

Following successful testing, Optimum plans to deploy OptimumP2P on Ethereum’s Hoodi testnet this summer. The technology has the potential to extend to other Layer 1 blockchains, transforming data propagation across multiple decentralized networks. The introduction of OptimumP2P could mark a pivotal step in Ethereum’s scalability roadmap by alleviating the networking layer bottleneck that has constrained throughput and increased latency. By optimizing data propagation, Ethereum can better support growing transaction volumes and larger data payloads, which are essential for the network’s evolving use cases, including DeFi, NFTs, and enterprise applications.

This advancement aligns with ongoing upgrades to Ethereum’s execution and consensus layers, collectively enhancing the blockchain’s performance and user experience. OptimumP2P represents a significant technological innovation in Ethereum’s networking infrastructure, leveraging advanced coding techniques to overcome longstanding propagation inefficiencies. With substantial validator backing and promising initial results, this development could substantially improve Ethereum’s speed and scalability. As the project moves toward broader deployment, stakeholders should monitor its impact on network performance and the potential ripple effects across the broader blockchain ecosystem.