Ethereum’s slot time is getting cut in a step-by-step process, according to co-founder Vitalik Buterin. The plan aims to reduce slot time using a “sqrt(2) at a time” formula, starting with increments of 4 seconds: 12 seconds down to 8, then 6, then 4, and finally 3 seconds before reaching the goal of 2 seconds.
Fast slots will run separately from other protocol changes. However, improvements in peer-to-peer layer architecture can be implemented simultaneously. This includes erasure coding that reduces bandwidth waste by splitting blocks into smaller pieces.
The main challenge lies in finalizing blocks, which currently takes around 16 minutes. Buterin wants to use a one-round-finality BFT algorithm called Minimmit to decrease the time frame to between 6 and 16 seconds.
A new roadmap, Strawmap, outlines five goals for Ethereum’s future: fast L1, gigagas L1, teragas L2, post-quantum L1, and private L1. The plan involves implementing these changes piece by piece, with the first steps including cryptography switches to post-quantum hash-based signatures and a new maximally STARK-friendly hash function.
This incremental approach allows for quantum resistance to be achieved faster than finality. Buterin suggests using “1-epoch finality” to adjust the current consensus system as a discrete step, replacing components one at a time.
Source: https://www.livebitcoinnews.com/vitalik-maps-ethereums-fast-l1-slot-reduction-plan