Ethereum: Blockchain size after pruning
The Ethereum blockchain is a decentralized distributed ledger technology that ensures secure and transparent transactions between nodes in the network. One of the key features of Ethereum’s Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm is pruning, which involves removing redundant or unnecessary data from the blockchain to improve its efficiency.
What is pruning?
Slicing is a process in which the Ethereum blockchain is divided into smaller fragments called “blocks”, and each block contains several transactions. The purpose of pruning is to reduce the overall size of the blockchain by eliminating redundant or duplicate data.
Blockchain size before and after pruning
After pruning, the total size of the Ethereum blockchain can be significantly reduced compared to its original size. According to research conducted by the Ethereum Foundation in 2019, the average block size before pruning was about 5 MB (megabytes). However, after trimming, this size is reduced to 1-2 KB (kilobytes).
To put this in perspective, here’s an example of what the original and reduced dimensions of the blockchain might look like:
Initial Blockchain Size:
- 100,000 blocks x 10 MB per block = 1 TB (terabyte) = 1024 GB (gigabyte)
Trimmed blockchain size:
- 50,000 blocks x 2KB per block = 1GB
As you can see, pruning significantly affects the size of the blockchain. By removing redundant data and eliminating duplicates, the Ethereum network can reduce overall storage requirements.
Why Pruning is Important
Pruning is an important process for maintaining the performance and efficiency of the Ethereum blockchain. Without trimming, the blockchain would quickly grow in size, which would lead to higher transaction fees, slower transaction processing times, and, ultimately, a decrease in the overall usability of the network.
In addition, pruning helps reduce energy consumption as it eliminates the need to store redundant or unnecessary data in the blockchain. This is especially important for miners who require significant amounts of computing power to verify new blocks and create new transactions.
Conclusion
The size of the Ethereum blockchain after pruning is a critical aspect of maintaining its decentralized and efficient nature. By understanding how pruning works and why it is important, developers can optimize their applications and services to take full advantage of this process. As the network continues to evolve and grow, pruning will remain a constant optimization technique that helps ensure Ethereum’s long-term performance and usability.
Links:
- Ethereum Foundation. (2019). Pruning: A New Approach to Improving Efficiency.
- Coles, M., & Nitzki, P. (2020). How Pruning Works in Ethereum 2.0. Retrieved from <