Ethereum Fusaka Upgrade Set for March 26 to Slash Gas Fees
Ethereum core developers have confirmed the Fusaka upgrade will activate at block 19,620,000, currently estimated around March 26, 2024. The Fusaka upgrade introduces EIP-4844 (proto-danksharding) to reduce Layer-2 rollup calldata costs by up to 90%, easing network congestion and lowering gas fees. Node operators and infrastructure providers should prepare now: Goerli and Sepolia testnets will fork in mid-March, and client teams such as Geth, Nethermind and Erigon have finalized support for the upgrade.
Beyond proto-danksharding, the Fusaka upgrade bundles consensus and execution layer optimizations aimed at boosting network throughput and data availability. By lowering transaction costs and supporting higher volumes, the upgrade is designed to drive broader DeFi and NFT activity, pave the way for full danksharding, and enhance rollup adoption. Industry experts view this major milestone as bullish for Ethereum, predicting increased ETH demand and sustained network growth.
Bullish
The Fusaka upgrade’s implementation of EIP-4844 and proto-danksharding is expected to cut Layer-2 rollup calldata costs by up to 90%, significantly reducing gas fees and easing network congestion. In the short term, this should boost transaction volume as traders seek lower fees, while infrastructure providers and node operators finalize preparations. Over the long term, improved scalability and data availability will foster broader DeFi and NFT activity, accelerate rollup adoption, and set the stage for full danksharding. These factors collectively point to increased ETH demand and sustained network growth, making the market reaction bullish.