The Ethereum Foundation has announced that the Dencun network upgrade is set to go live on the Ethereum mainnet on March 13, 2024.
The upgrade, which follows the Shapella upgrade, includes major changes to both the consensus and execution layers of Ethereum Network, detailed in EIP-7569.
Some important changes to the protocol include: EIP-1153 for transient storage opcodes, EIP-4788 for beacon block root in the EVM, EIP-4844 for shard blob transactions, EIP-5656 for memory copying instruction. Plus, EIP-6780 for SELFDESTRUCT only in the same transaction, EIP-7044 for perpetually valid signed voluntary exits. In addition, EIP-7045 for increase of the maximum attestation inclusion slot, EIP-7514 for the addition of a maximum epoch churn limit, and EIP-7516 for the BLOBBASEFEE code.
The foundation has also issued a warning to validators regarding the dangers of operating a majority client. Besides, the team has also provided tools for client distribution and switching instructions in addition to listing client releases that enable Dencun on the Ethereum mainnet.
The team added that Ethereum users are not required to upgrade their wallets, unless directed by their exchange or wallet provider. On the other hand, node operators must update their clients to the specified versions to ensure compatibility with the Dencun upgrade.
However, stakers are advised to update both their beacon node and validator client, with the option to practice the upgrade process on ephemery.dev.
Note that failure to participate in the upgrade will result in syncing to the pre-fork blockchain, leading to incompatibility with the post-Dencun Ethereum network.
