In the name of decentralization and openness

Proto-danksharding is the first step towards implementing the complete sharding roadmap by introducing a new transaction format that adds space for the data ‘blob’ next to the ordinary transactions. The upgrade adds 0.5 MB data 'blob' space per block, significantly reducing rollup transaction costs. Nethermind has one of the most stable implementations of this specification, boosting Ethereum scalability efforts. Our team supports the development of the KZG library, a key component under the hood of the sharding infrastructure. We actively participate in discussions surrounding the spec to ensure a successful rollout.

Our core development team was recently awarded a grant from the Ethereum Foundation to implement and embed an efficient storage engine for Ethereum in the Nethermind client. The Merkle construct should be implemented to allow for the use of the same or similar engine as the Verkle tree in the future. The project will also provide guidance for a reorganization-aware, checksum-based storage system for Ethereum, and we hope it becomes a blueprint for other clients.

Originally developed as a part of the InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) project, Libp2p is a modular, extensible, and future-proof networking stack designed to overcome the limitations of current peer-to-peer (P2P) protocols such as centralized architecture, inefficient multiplexing, limited transport support and location-based addressing. Its goal is to offer a more adaptable, resilient, and efficient networking stack for building decentralized applications and systems. Nethermind recently received a grant from the Ethereum Foundation to implement the library in .NET and we are collaborating with multiple parties to make the library a performant extensible solution available as a public good.

It’s a set of six Ethereum Improvment Proposals (EIPs) for the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), aimed at improving its underlying code (EVM bytecode) by adding structure and introducing subroutines. The result? Better analysis, more efficient code execution, and a simpler way to extend the EVM instruction set, giving developers more flexibility when creating new features. EOF is a significant step towards optimizing Ethereum's performance and offering a more developer-friendly environment. Nethermind is one of the first clients to have implemented EOF.

Verkle Trees tackle Ethereum's growing blockchain size, enabling faster, cost-effective data access for users and nodes. By achieving weak statelessness and using a more efficient vector commitment scheme, Verkle Trees reduce data storage and produce smaller proofs for quicker block validation. Nethermind actively develops and tests this solution, collaborating with other Ethereum client teams to ensure a seamless transition from Merkle to Verkle Trees.

The shift from EOAs to smart contract wallets with arbitrary verification logic paves the way for improvements to wallet designs and reduces complexity for end users. Previous solutions relied on centralized relay services or a steep gas overhead, which inevitably fell on the users' EOA. Nethermind played a pivotal role in the early stages of account abstraction and EIP-4337 was a collaborative effort between the Ethereum Foundation, OpenGSN, and Nethermind to achieve account abstraction in a user-friendly, decentralized way. Currently, Nethermind is focusing on delivering a .NET implementation for Libp2p, which is a prerequisite for supporting future advancements in account abstraction in the Nethermind client.