Ethereum's Scaling Gamble: Speed vs. Decentralization in the Gas Limit Debate
Aime SummaryEthereum developers have approved a plan to raise the network’s gas limit to 60 million as part of the Fusaka upgrade, a significant step to enhance throughput and address rising demand for block space[1]. The decision, confirmed on September 25 by EthereumETH-- Foundation contributor Tim Beiko during the All Core Devs Execution (ACDE) 221 call, accelerates the previously tentative December timeline, with testnet activations set for October and a mainnet release expected shortly thereafter[2]. This marks the third gas limit increase in 2025, following adjustments to 36 million in February and 45 million in July[1]. The proposed 60 million limit aims to boost Layer-1 performance by 33% and Layer-2 capacity by 133% by year-end, according to former Galaxy Digital researcher Christine Kim[1].
The gas limit increase is critical to Ethereum’s scaling strategy, enabling more transactions per block and improving efficiency across both Layer-1 and Layer-2 systems[1]. Gas on Ethereum measures computational power required for on-chain actions, such as token transfers or contract deployments. Higher limits allow for increased throughput, reducing congestion during peak demand. Everstake, a leading staking provider, emphasized that the change supports “more transactions per block, higher throughput, and better efficiency”[1]. However, the adjustment requires at least 50% validator approval to activate under Ethereum’s consensus rules. As of September, 17% of validators support the 60 million limit[1].
The Fusaka upgrade also includes 11 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) focused on scalability, node resilience, and efficiency, with no changes to smart contracts[3]. Key EIPs include PeerDAS for data availability sampling and Spam Resistance Checks to prevent malicious transaction spam[3]. The upgrade aligns with Ethereum’s six-month development cadence and precedes the Devconnect conference in Buenos Aires, underscoring a strategic push to refine core infrastructure[3]. Developers have prioritized iterative improvements over disruptive changes, a hallmark of Ethereum’s governance model[3].
While the gas limit increase is seen as a necessary response to network growth, it has sparked debate within the community. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has long advocated for gradual increases to avoid node strain, while others caution that rapid scaling could widen the gap between professional validators and smaller participants[1]. Critics argue that higher gas limits may increase storage and bandwidth demands, potentially centralizing validation power[3]. Despite these concerns, proponents highlight the need to accommodate rising transaction volumes and maintain Ethereum’s competitiveness in the evolving blockchain landscape[1].
The Fusaka upgrade’s testnet and mainnet timelines reflect a disciplined approach to deployment. Devnet-3 launched in July 2025, followed by public testnets in September and October to identify bugs before mainnet activation[3]. The mainnet fork is scheduled for November 5, 2025, with a block height target to ensure smooth execution. Looking ahead, Ethereum’s roadmap includes further gas limit adjustments and potential block-time reductions under the 2026 Glamsterdam fork[3]. These steps aim to balance performance gains with decentralization, a recurring challenge in blockchain development[3].
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