Ethereum’s Fusaka Upgrade Brings PeerDAS, Higher Blob Capacity and Security Enhancements
Ethereum has activated the Fusaka network upgrade, its 17th major hard fork and a step toward a biannual upgrade cadence. The headline change is PeerDAS (EIP-7594), which lets validators sample blob data availability instead of downloading entire blobs, reducing validator CPU and bandwidth needs and enabling higher Layer-2 blob throughput. Fusaka raises per-block blob targets (typical target 14, max 21), adds a minimum blob base fee to prevent near-zero costs, and is expected to scale blob capacity roughly eightfold by January 2026 as throughput is cautiously increased. Network-level changes include a higher default block gas limit (EIP-7935) and optimizations to gas-limit dynamics to balance energy per transaction and DoS protection; native secp256r1 support for device/passkey signatures; EIP-7939 (“Count Leading Zeros Opcode”) to speed ZK proofs and improve quantum-resistance; and various caps and API tweaks that tighten block-data limits and curb expensive operations. Core developers prioritized a focused scope to meet the deployment schedule. Major industry participants and the Ethereum Foundation view Fusaka as a significant scalability milestone since The Merge. Developers are already planning the next upgrade, Glamsterdam, targeted for 2026. For traders: Fusaka lowers validator resource requirements and reduces Layer-2 settlement bottlenecks and blob-related gas costs, which can improve network throughput and developer activity — factors that tend to be supportive for ETH demand over the medium term. Key keywords: Ethereum, Fusaka, PeerDAS, EIP-7594, Layer-2, blob fees, scalability, secp256r1, EIP-7939.
Bullish
Fusaka introduces concrete scalability and cost-efficiency improvements that directly affect Ethereum’s settlement layer and Layer‑2 throughput. PeerDAS reduces validator CPU and bandwidth needs and enables higher blob volumes, while the blob fee floor and higher per-block blob capacity help monetize increased throughput and prevent gaming during low demand. Network-level optimizations (higher gas limit defaults, DoS protections, secp256r1 support, and ZK-related opcodes) make the chain more efficient and attractive to developers and institutional users. Historically, upgrades that materially improve capacity and lower transaction/settlement friction support network utility and developer activity, which tends to be bullish for ETH over the medium term. Short-term price moves may be muted or show volatility as validators and operators adjust and as capacity is ramped cautiously; but the net structural effect on supply-demand dynamics and developer adoption is positive, so the overall impact is classified as bullish for ETH.