Ethereum Proposes 16.77 Million Gas Cap Per Transaction to Boost Security

Ethereum developers are advancing a new proposal to set a firm ceiling on how much gas a single transaction can use. The move, led by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and researcher Toni Wahrstätter, aims to improve network stability and security. Their draft, EIP-7983, suggests capping transaction gas usage at 16.77 million, a figure that equates to 2^24. This change is intended to guard against denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and improve transaction predictability.

The proposal targets a known vulnerability where a single transaction could consume the full block gas limit. According to EIP-7983, this unrestricted usage risks overloading nodes, creating an uneven transaction load across the network. Limiting each transaction to 16.77 million gas seeks to prevent such bottlenecks. Buterin and Wahrstätter argue this cap would make Ethereum more resilient to spam-style DoS attacks. The current structure allows complex operations to dominate blocks, leaving little space for other transactions. By enforcing a ceiling, they believe block validation will become smoother and more predictable.

Besides mitigating abuse, the cap could benefit zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVMs) and multi-threaded execution. Splitting transactions into smaller chunks makes them easier to verify and distribute across different processing threads. Ethereum researcher Alva noted that imposing a limit might force developers to write more efficient contracts. This would help reduce state bloat and streamline block processing. However, the tradeoff may be a temporary reduction in flexibility for complex decentralized apps.

If approved, the new rule will be hardcoded into Ethereum clients. Any transaction requesting more than the 16.77 million gas limit will be automatically rejected. The cap would apply even if a block has space left under its total gas limit. Ethereum’s current block gas limit often exceeds this proposed threshold, but under EIP-7983, individual transactions will face tighter constraints. This change will also extend to the transaction pool (txpool), where transactions above the limit will be filtered out before block inclusion.

The cap introduces a strict change in how high-gas transactions are processed. Although most current dApps use far less gas, edge cases remain. Some developers may need to restructure operations to fit within the new boundary. According to ongoing forum discussions, some power users believe this could slow innovation, especially for tools requiring complex computation. Yet others argue that predictability and network health must take priority in Ethereum’s scaling roadmap.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, along with developer Toni Wahrstätter, has introduced EIP-7983, a proposal that sets a dedicated gas limit of 16.77 million for individual transactions. This limit is distinct from the overall block gas limit and is designed to enhance the network's defense against Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. By capping the gas for transactions, the proposal aims to mitigate issues such as load imbalance, excessive state growth, and delays in block verification, which are often triggered by high gas-consuming transactions.

The proposal is not only focused on security but also on optimizing the performance of zero-knowledge virtual machines (zkVM) and enabling parallel transaction execution. These improvements are anticipated to boost the scalability and overall efficiency of the Ethereum network. Currently, EIP-7983 is in the draft phase and will undergo further community review and technical validation before it can be implemented.

The introduction of a gas cap is a strategic move to address the vulnerabilities that have been exploited in the past. DoS attacks can overwhelm the network with a flood of transactions, leading to congestion and delays. By setting a limit on the gas that can be used per transaction, the network can better manage resources and prevent such attacks from disrupting its operations. This measure is part of a broader effort to make the Ethereum network more robust and resilient.

The proposal also highlights the importance of balancing network performance with security. By optimizing zkVM operations and allowing for parallel transaction execution, the network can handle more transactions efficiently without compromising on security. This dual focus on performance and security is crucial for the long-term sustainability of the Ethereum network.

The community's response to EIP-7983 will be critical in determining its success. As the proposal undergoes review, developers and stakeholders will evaluate its technical feasibility and potential impact on the network. If approved, the implementation of a 16.77 million gas cap could mark a significant step forward in enhancing the Ethereum network's resilience and efficiency.