Ethereum developer proposes cutting block time in half to boost performance

From Cointelegraph

June 23, 2025 11:50 PM:

An Ethereum developer proposes cutting network block time in half, from 12 to 6 seconds, for the Glamsterdam update in 2026. Shorter slot times aim to improve transaction confirmation time and user experience, potentially raising service prices. The proposal seeks inclusion in the late 2026 update, anticipating significant scaling improvements.

Shorter Ethereum slot times could provide faster transaction inclusion, fresher data display in wallets, and more frequent onchain updates. Benefits include smoother experiences across wallets, DApps, and layer-2 networks, as well as increased difficulty for censoring transactions due to more block producers per minute.

Faster Ethereum slots could benefit decentralized finance and trading with quicker price updates on DEXs, reduced losses from arbitrage, lower trading fees, and increased liquidity in AMMs. However, tradeoffs like impacts on slower validators, higher bandwidth demands, and network congestion during peak times need consideration and testing.

EIP-7782 proposes adjustments to subslot timings to shorten block proposal, attestation, and aggregation times, shaving six seconds overall. Shortening subslots means less time for each task, potentially paving the way for a 2x reduction in slot time for Ethereum in the future. The Glamsterdam update aims to optimize gas and enhance protocol efficiency for a faster and cheaper Ethereum network.

Read more at Cointelegraph: Cutting Block Times To Boost Performance