In the All Core Devs Testing (ACDT) call held on May 12, 2025, Ethereum developers reached a consensus to launch Devnet 0 as the initial testnet for the upcoming Fusaka upgrade. Scheduled for release within approximately two weeks, this testnet will focus on validating three critical components:
- Blob Parameter Override (BPO)
- Peer-to-Peer Data Availability Sampling (PeerDAS)
- Modular Exponentiation (ModExp) precompiles, including EIP-7823 and EIP-7883.
BPO (Blob Parameter Override) is a mechanism that allows developers to dynamically adjust parameters related to blobs, such as the target and maximum blob counts per block. This flexibility is crucial for testing how the Ethereum protocol handles varying data loads and execution scenarios. During Devnet 0, developers plan to perform multiple forks to simulate changes in blob configurations—raising and lowering thresholds in real time—to identify any client-side or consensus issues under stress.
PeerDAS, the second major feature in Devnet 0, serves as a foundational implementation of data availability sampling (DAS). Though not a complete DAS solution, PeerDAS provides a lightweight peer-to-peer mechanism to test how nodes verify the availability of data without downloading it entirely. This is essential for Ethereum’s rollup-centric roadmap, where modularity and scalable data layers play a key role.
The third and newly confirmed inclusion is the testing of Modular Exponentiation (ModExp) precompile contracts, specifically EIP-7823 and EIP-7883. These proposals introduce cryptographic precompiles that improve efficiency for operations like RSA and zk-SNARK verification.
ModExp support has been a longstanding request across multiple clients, and its inclusion in Devnet 0 reflects widespread agreement about its low complexity and high utility. Initially, there was debate over how many proposals Devnet 0 should include.
Some developers preferred to isolate BPO and PeerDAS to reduce testing complexity, while others argued that ModExp proposals were stable and simple enough to include without delaying the schedule. A consensus was ultimately reached to include all three elements, with the understanding that any additional or riskier EIPs would be deferred to Devnet 1.
While client readiness varies, the core development teams agreed that Devnet 0 can proceed even if some clients are not fully integrated at launch. For example, teams like Geth and Nethermind indicated readiness, while BESU may join later.
This flexible approach reflects Ethereum’s evolving development philosophy, which favors incremental rollout and early feedback over waiting for complete cross-client synchronization. Devnet 0 is viewed as a critical checkpoint ahead of the in-person developer meeting in June.
By executing a minimal yet meaningful testnet cycle in advance, Ethereum developers aim to identify bugs, validate performance, and fine-tune specifications before broader feature integration begins. The success of Devet 0 will influence timelines and priorities for Devnet 1 and, ultimately, the full deployment of the Fusaka upgrade.
References
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