Ethereum’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin, has presented “The Purge,” the fifth installment in a series of proposed upgrades designed to streamline the Ethereum network’s data storage and protocol complexity.

This update is crucial as Ethereum’s long-term scalability, security, and sustainability hinge on a stable, manageable data architecture.

Tackling Ethereum Data Storage

Buterin’s Purge upgrade introduces a framework that targets Ethereum’s growing storage demands. By eliminating outdated network history, it aims to alleviate bottlenecks and cut the hard drive space required to run a node.

Currently, running an Ethereum node requires around 1.1 terabytes of disk space for the execution client alone, along with several hundred more gigabytes for the consensus client. Indeed, storage requirements grow by hundreds of gigabytes each year, even without raising Ethereum’s gas limit.

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The Purge suggests a decentralized approach to data storage across network nodes. Instead of each node holding the full network history, they could store smaller, randomized segments. This would allow the network to maintain data redundancy without every node needing to store the same information.

“If, by making node running more affordable, we can get to a network with 100,000 nodes, where each node stores a random 10% of the history, then each piece of data would get replicated 10,000 times – exactly the same replication factor as a 10,000-node network where each node stores everything,” Buterin explained.

Another key proposal is to introduce a “stateless” approach to manage Ethereum’s state data. This could help keep total data under 8 terabytes for decades.

To further streamline storage, Buterin also suggests exploring either partial or full state expiry, where certain old data might phase out, combined with adjustments in address space. He noted that state expiry could simplify transitions between data formats, as new state trees could be phased in without complex conversions.

Simplifying the Protocol

Beyond storage, Buterin highlights the need to keep Ethereum’s protocol efficient and user-friendly. Simplifying the protocol could reduce bugs and make the network easier for developers and users to navigate.

One option is “ossification,” a process that freezes the protocol, halting new changes to enhance stability. Alternatively, Ethereum could selectively phase out outdated features, maintaining backward compatibility while minimizing unnecessary complexity.

“An intermediate route, of making fewer changes to the protocol, and also removing at least a little complexity over time, is also possible,” Buterin added.

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Meanwhile, Buterin reiterated the need for simplicity and backward compatibility. According to him, this would provide stability for applications needing reliable, long-term support.

“Ethereum’s value as a chain comes from it being a platform where you can deploy an application and be confident that it will still work many years from now,” he concluded.