USDEthereum TPS Boost: Will EIP-9698 Leave Layer 2 Behind?
If you’ve been keeping an eye on Ethereum, you know scalability has been a hot topic for years. With a measly 14-20 transactions per second (TPS), Ethereum’s been lagging behind speed demons like Solana, which clocks in at 800-1,050 TPS.
Enter EIP-9698—a bold proposal to juice up the Ethereum TPS by cranking the gas limit way up. The goal? A whopping 2,000 TPS. But here’s the kicker: some folks in the community are worried this focus on Layer 1 (L1) might leave Layer 2 (L2) solutions—like those slick rollups you’ve invested in—out in the cold. Let’s unpack this proposal, dig into the details, and figure out if your L2 bets are safe.
Understanding EIP-9698
What is EIP-9698?
EIP-9698 is a fresh idea from Dankrad Feist, an Ethereum Foundation researcher, dropped on April 27, 2025. It’s all about supercharging Ethereum’s base layer by massively increasing the Ethereum gas limit—the cap on how much computational work fits in a block. More gas means more transactions, and that’s the ticket to boosting Ethereum TPS. It’s not a quick fix, though—it’s a long-term play to keep Ethereum competitive without breaking anything.
Technical Details of the Proposal
Here’s the nuts and bolts: EIP-9698 wants to bump the gas limit by 100 times over four years, starting June 2025. We’re talking a jump from today’s 36 million to a mind-blowing 3.6 billion by 2029.
That could push block capacity from 100-150 transactions to around 6,000, hitting that 2,000 TPS sweet spot. The increase isn’t a sudden jolt—it’s a slow climb, with tiny boosts per epoch. Why? To keep the network stable and give node operators (the folks keeping Ethereum decentralized) time to upgrade their gear. It’s a smart move for investors who care about long-term growth without chaos.
Community Concerns: Is Layer 2 Being Abandoned?
The Argument for Layer 2 Abandonment
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Some Ethereum fans are nervous that pumping up Layer 1 might mean ditching Ethereum scaling solutions like Layer 2. Rollups—think Optimism or Arbitrum—handle transactions off-chain, easing L1’s load while leaning on it for security. If L1 gets so scalable that simple transfers don’t need L2, why bother with rollups? It’s a fair worry—less demand could slow L2 innovation, impacting projects you might have your eye on.
Expert Insights on Layer 1 and Layer 2 Scaling
But hold up—experts aren’t buying the abandonment story. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s big brain, argues that a beefier L1 actually helps L2. In a blog post, he laid out some killer points:
- Cross-L2 Asset Movements: Moving an NFT between L2s could drop from $13.87 to $0.05.
- L2 Mass Exits: If an L2 goes belly-up, exiting en masse gets cheaper for users.
- L2 Proof Submission: Annual costs for rollups to post proofs could fall from $49 million to $1 million.
Dankrad Feist, the guy behind EIP-9698, doubles down: this isn’t about picking winners—it’s about making Ethereum as a whole more competitive. The gradual gas hike keeps decentralization intact, so smaller nodes aren’t left behind. For you investors, this means a stronger ecosystem, not a zero-sum game.
Community discussions also support scaling both L1 and L2, arguing that Ethereum's success depends on meeting growing demand across both layers.
The Interdependence of Layer 1 and Layer 2
How Layer 2 Relies on Layer 1
Let’s clear something up: L2 isn’t some standalone magic trick. It needs L1 for the heavy lifting—security, data storage, and settling disputes. Rollups, for example, stash transaction data on L1 and use it as a fallback if things go sideways. So, when the Ethereum gas limit rises, L1 gets cheaper and faster, which trickles down to L2. It’s a team effort, not a rivalry.
Benefits of EIP-9698 for Layer 2
Here’s where it gets good for your L2 investments. A higher gas limit cuts costs for L2 operations, like:
- Publishing Data: Rollups pay less to store transaction details on L1.
- Mass Exits: If users need to bail from an L2, it’s more affordable.
- Cross-L2 Transfers: Swapping assets between L2s becomes dirt cheap.
This isn’t abandonment—it’s a boost. Cheaper L1 interactions make L2 smoother and more appealing, which could drive adoption and value for those projects you’re watching.
Conclusion: A Balanced Scaling Strategy
So, where does this leave us? EIP-9698 isn’t about kicking Layer 2 to the curb—it’s about leveling up Ethereum’s entire game. By turbocharging Ethereum TPS through a higher Ethereum gas limit, this proposal strengthens L1 while making L2 more efficient. Experts like Vitalik and Dankrad see it as a win-win, blending Ethereum scaling solutions into a cohesive plan. For you crypto investors, that’s reassuring news: your L1 and L2 bets can thrive together. Ethereum’s not picking sides—it’s building a bigger playground for everyone.
