Ethereum developers have proposed a reduction in network blocking times, aiming to cut it from 12 seconds to 6 seconds ahead of the 2026 Glamsterdam update.
This is encapsulated in Ethereum Improvement Proposal 7782, which was discussed during a meeting on June 21st. Core developer Barnabé Monnot put forth the idea of adjusting the timing of various operations on the blockchain to achieve this reduction. The goal? To enhance transaction check times and overall user experience.
“Shorter slot times can improve service checks,” Monnot said, suggesting that this could even raise service prices beyond what they are now.
In Ethereum’s context, the “service price” refers to the network’s economic value when providing its core services as a settlement and confirmation layer.
The developers are advocating for this proposal, which was initially suggested in October 2024, to be included in the Glamsterdam update that’s set for the latter part of 2026.
Monnot mentioned that by that time, the network would have achieved substantial scaling, possibly reaching blocks with three times the current gas limit and eight times the blob supply.
Benefits of Faster Ethereum Slots
The Ethereum Staking Protocol team, Everstake, noted that the more frequent block proposals would speed up the network and provide multiple advantages.
Faster slot times would lead to quicker transaction inclusion, significantly enhancing user experience by creating a more responsive chain.
With each transaction’s inclusion, wallet displays would update with fresh data, and Onchain information would refresh more often, resulting in a smoother experience across wallets, dApps, and layer 2 networks.
Additionally, having many block producers per minute could make it harder for anyone to censor the network.
Improved Trading and Fees
The proposal also presents various benefits for trading and decentralized finance, including improved price updates and reduced losses on decentralized exchanges due to arbitrage traders exploiting price differences.
As Monnot pointed out, making the market more efficient could lead to lower trading fees and increased liquidity for automated market makers.
“Faster slots will result in greater liquidity, which reduces transaction fees for users and enhances Ethereum’s network effect.”
However, it’s important to consider potential drawbacks, such as impacts on slower or less connected validators.
There’s also a rise in bandwidth demands due to more frequent consensus messages, which could lead to network congestion during peak times, requiring extensive testing to ensure network stability and protect smart contracts.
Reduced Sublot Timing
The EIP-7782 details plans for adjusting three key sublot timings: the block proposal time will change from 4 seconds to 3 seconds, proof time will shift from 4 seconds to 1.5 seconds, and aggregation time will drop from 4 seconds to 1.5 seconds, culminating in an overall total of 6 seconds.
This reduction means less time to fulfill each task, according to Monnot. “In my opinion, halving the slot time in this manner is a surprising yet worth-considering option for Ethereum as we approach Glamsterdam,” he concluded.
The Glamsterdam update is still in its early phases, focusing on optimizing gas usage and enhancing protocol-level efficiency, ultimately aiming to make Ethereum faster and more cost-effective.
