When will the next Ethereum upgrade lead to revolutionary scalability? All about The Surge

Ethereum is about to undergo one of the most ambitious upgrades in its history. The Surge is not just a technical improvement but a revolution in how blockchain can scale. The main question for investors and users: when is the next Ethereum upgrade, and what will it truly change?

Why is The Surge more than just an update?

Today, Ethereum processes 15–30 transactions per second (TPS) at its main layer. Sounds good? In reality, this means that as activity grows, the network becomes overwhelmed, fees skyrocket to astronomical levels, and users wait in line for hours.

The Surge addresses this problem radically: the goal is 100,000+ TPS. And this is not an empty promise. Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has developed a clear roadmap, where each stage logically follows from the previous one.

How is this even possible?

Rollups — the main hero

Imagine mail that groups hundreds of letters into one package instead of sending each letter separately. These are rollups. They collect many transactions off the main chain (off-chain) and only send the final data back to the blockchain. The result: speed increases, fees decrease.

Two types of rollups operate in parallel:

• Optimistic: assume transactions are correct by default, only verifying if disputes arise
• ZK-Rollups: use cryptographic zero-knowledge proofs for instant verification

The effect is already visible: according to L2Beat, the total value locked (TVL) in Ethereum’s L2 networks has grown by 216% over the year, surpassing $38 billion.

DAS: a smart data availability verification system

If rollups are delivery, then DAS (Data Availability Sampling) is the customs of the future. Instead of each node storing all data (and consuming huge resources), the DAS system allows nodes to verify only small fragments. PeerDAS and 2D DAS distribute this work among all network participants.

The result: nodes remain lightweight, accessible to ordinary users, and the network retains decentralization.

Plasma and data compression

Plasma processes transactions entirely off-chain, passing only final results. Data compression (for example, combining BLS signatures) reduces the size of each transaction. Together, these technologies create a cascade of efficiency.

When will the next Ethereum upgrade happen? Full timeline

Q1 2024 — Dencun (Proto-Danksharding, EIP-4844)

Already launched. Data “blobs” — special storage for information from L2 solutions — have been implemented. This allowed L2 to significantly reduce fees.

2024–2025 — Scaling and stabilization

• Rollup solutions (referring to second-layer solutions) are actively being upgraded
• Cryptographic proofs are improving (SNARKs instead of heavier options)
• DAS systems are expanding to handle larger volumes

A real-world effect example: transferring ETH to L2 now costs $0.24–$0.78. After optimizations, a further decrease by an order of magnitude is expected.

End of 2025 — Base layer optimization

• EOF (Ethereum Object Format) makes smart contract execution more efficient
• Multidimensional gas pricing will split fees into categories: computations, data, storage
• Native rollups are integrated directly into the protocol

2026+ — Full Danksharding

Final stage: Ethereum will split into multiple shards, each processing transactions in parallel. Throughput will reach the targeted 100,000+ TPS.

What will change for you?

Wallets will work faster

Transferring ETH or interacting with a dApp (decentralized application) will take seconds, not hours. For traders and DeFi users, this means fewer missed opportunities.

Fees will drop critically

Microtransactions, which are currently unprofitable, will become standard. Gaming on Ethereum, micro-payments, frequent contract re-approvals — all will become economically feasible.

Developers will gain freedom

Complex applications currently impossible due to network limitations will become a reality. DeFi platforms, games, NFT marketplaces will have the performance needed for mass adoption.

L2 networks will become more transparent

Moving assets between L1 and L2 will be as simple as sending money between wallets. Ethereum will feel like a unified ecosystem, not a set of fragmented blockchains.

Main risks developers talk about

Rollup security

As scaling increases, the attack surface grows. Cryptographic proofs must remain airtight. Vitalik emphasizes: this is no place for compromises.

Quantum computing threat

Modern cryptography cannot withstand quantum computers. Ethereum is already preparing post-quantum cryptography, but it will take time.

Migration challenges

During migration, temporary disruptions and fee fluctuations are possible. This is normal for the evolution of such a large system but can be nerve-wracking for users.

After The Surge: what’s next?

The next stages of Ethereum’s roadmap are already visible on the horizon:

• The Splurge: optimizes transaction formats and reduces resource requirements
• The Verge: implements stateless clients for even greater accessibility
• The Purge: removes technical debt by deleting unnecessary chain data

The long-term goal is a blockchain that supports millions of users simultaneously, remains fully decentralized and secure. The Surge is a critical step on this path.

Final verdict

The Surge is not just an update. It’s Ethereum’s transition into a new class. The question “when is the next Ethereum upgrade?” gets an answer: step by step, starting from 2024 and continuing through 2025–2026.

Each stage builds on the previous one. Dencun has already laid the groundwork. The current phase (2024–2025) will be decisive — rollups are maturing, the roadmap is crystallizing. By 2026, Ethereum could become the network that finally fulfills its purpose: to be an accessible, fast, and secure platform for billions.

Investors, developers, and ordinary users should closely follow this evolution. It’s a story rewriting the rules of blockchain.