Ethereum 3.0: Innovations and Performance Breakthroughs of Beam Chain

The 2024 Devcon conference concluded successfully in Bangkok, attracting widespread participation from the Ethereum ecosystem. Numerous projects' latest developments were announced at the conference, among which the "Ethereum 3.0" plan proposed by Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake was particularly noteworthy.

The consensus layer upgrade proposal known as Beam Chain aims to reduce the computational and communication burdens on validating nodes through zero-knowledge proof technology, thereby lowering the threshold for becoming a validator. This not only helps attract more validators to join the network to enhance security but also reduces computational redundancy and improves overall network efficiency. In addition, Justin hopes to use this opportunity to address historical legacy issues within the Beacon chain and prepare for potential future quantum-resistant security needs.

The proposal from Beam Chain can be seen as a specific response to the Snark work in the Verge roadmap previously proposed by Vitalik. Vitalik has admitted that transforming the consensus layer is a challenge that requires continuous consideration and optimization.

Beam Chain focuses on the transformation of the consensus layer, mainly involving three state transition functions: per time slot transition function, per block transition function, and per epoch transition function. These functions include consensus algorithms, Staking logic execution, block proposal, execution layer result validation, Merkle tree root validation, consensus signature validation/aggregation, hash computation, and staking and redemption operations involving account storage state access, etc. It is worth noting that during the Snarkification of the consensus layer in Ethereum, decentralization and diversity remain the primary goals, so there is no mandatory requirement to use specific ZK algorithms and protocols, but rather left to the proposers to choose.

The core challenge of realizing the Beam Chain concept lies in how to compress the current proof time, which takes dozens or even hundreds of seconds, down to the level of seconds. Justin proposed a method using ASIC acceleration at a seminar, aiming to complete the entire process from evidence generation to proof on a chip through a zero-knowledge proof virtual machine, with the goal of increasing proof generation speed by more than ten times in the coming years to achieve real-time proofs.

With the advancement of the Beam Chain proposal, virtual machines based on zero-knowledge proof technology will play a core role in the Ethereum ecosystem. By introducing SNARK proofs and post-quantum cryptography, combined with a lower staking threshold and faster block confirmation times, Beam Chain is expected to bring stronger decentralization and higher performance to Ethereum.

It is foreseeable that the Snarkification of the consensus layer and the execution layer will jointly complete the final puzzle of Ethereum's Snarkification, making significant contributions to Ethereum's scalability and decentralization. With the advancement of the Beam Chain proposal, it is believed that it will guide and inspire the community to focus more on the transformation of the consensus layer, bringing more exciting innovative ideas.