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Ethereum Scaling Options Explained: Mainnet Upgrades, Rollups, and Sidechains

By Freedom251 Team · · 10 min read

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Ethereum scales through a combination of changes to Mainnet and execution on connected networks. Mainnet upgrades improve the base layer and the data capacity available to other systems; rollups execute transactions away from Ethereum while relying on it for settlement, data, or validity checks; sidechains are independent blockchains connected by bridges and therefore use their own consensus and security assumptions. The practical choice depends on where transactions execute, where data is published, how invalid activity is detected, who can operate or censor the system, and what the bridge and withdrawal process requires.

What Ethereum scaling is trying to solve

Ethereum Mainnet provides a widely shared execution environment, but every validator processing every transaction creates a capacity limit. When demand rises, users compete for block space and fees can increase. Scaling does not have one universal design: some approaches make the base layer more capable, while others move execution elsewhere and use Ethereum as an anchor.

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The current Ethereum roadmap is rollup-centric. Earlier plans for a set of execution shard chains were dropped as rollups and blob data developed. Work now combines higher-capacity Ethereum infrastructure with networks that batch activity away from Layer 1 (L1). The roadmap is explicitly an evolving plan, so a proposed milestone should not be described as shipped until the relevant upgrade has actually activated.

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Mainnet upgrades: making Ethereum itself a better settlement and data layer

What an L1 scaling change does

A Mainnet upgrade changes Ethereum’s own protocol. It can improve execution capacity, reduce the cost of publishing data, or make it easier for rollups to post the information needed for independent verification. Users remain on Ethereum’s native chain rather than moving execution to a separate network.

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Proto-danksharding and blobs

Proto-danksharding, specified in EIP-4844, shipped in the Dencun upgrade in March 2024. It introduced blobs: temporary data containers intended mainly for rollup data. Blobs are not permanent records that contracts can read through the EVM, and they are not a second execution environment. Their purpose is to give rollups a cheaper way to publish the data required to reconstruct batches.

Lower data-posting costs can reduce a rollup’s cost base, but the saving is not a guaranteed price for every user. A rollup still has execution, sequencing, proof, withdrawal, and application costs, and the final fee depends on demand and the implementation.

What full Danksharding means

Full Danksharding is a later, multi-phase objective rather than the feature delivered by Dencun. Ethereum.org’s Danksharding material presents more than 100,000 transactions per second as a future scaling goal associated with those later phases; it is not current delivered throughput. The Ethereum Foundation’s February 18, 2026 protocol-priorities update also describes further increases to blob parameters and related L1 work as ongoing.

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That distinction matters when reading roadmap language. Proto-danksharding is a completed milestone; larger blob capacity and the full Danksharding design remain future work whose timing and final parameters can change.

How rollups work

A rollup executes transactions in an environment outside Ethereum’s normal L1 execution, orders them into batches, and submits information back to Ethereum. Depending on the design, the submission includes transaction data, state commitments, and a proof or a mechanism for challenging an invalid result. Ethereum contracts and validators then provide the settlement and data-availability functions that let others check what happened.

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  1. Users submit transactions. A wallet sends the transaction to the rollup’s endpoint rather than directly to an L1 block builder.
  2. An operator or sequencer orders activity. The sequencer creates a coherent sequence of transactions and executes them in the rollup’s virtual machine or execution environment.
  3. The rollup forms a batch. It calculates a new state and prepares data that allows the state transition to be reconstructed or checked.
  4. Data and commitments reach Ethereum. The rollup posts the required data to Ethereum, often using calldata or blobs, along with a state commitment and the relevant correctness mechanism.
  5. Ethereum settles the result. A validity proof is verified immediately when the design uses one, or a fraud-proof window allows challenges when the design is optimistic.

Rollups are not identical simply because they share a category label. Their operator sets, fallback paths, proof systems, upgrade keys, data-publication choices, and withdrawal procedures can differ substantially.

Optimistic rollups

An optimistic rollup treats a submitted state update as valid by default. It publishes the batch data to Ethereum and opens a fraud-challenge period during which an independent party can submit evidence that the computation was wrong. If a valid challenge succeeds, the invalid update is rejected or corrected under the protocol’s rules.

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The challenge period is a security feature and a user-experience constraint. Moving funds from an optimistic rollup back to Ethereum through the canonical withdrawal route can require waiting for that dispute window, although applications may offer separate liquidity-based routes with their own trust and fee assumptions. The exact duration and mechanics vary by implementation.

Zero-knowledge rollups

A zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup submits a cryptographic validity proof covering the batch’s state transition. An Ethereum contract verifies that proof before accepting the new state commitment. The rollup also publishes state data to Ethereum so independent parties can reconstruct the state rather than trusting an unavailable private database.

ZK does not mean every system has the same decentralization or operational profile. Proving hardware, prover access, upgrade authority, sequencing, emergency controls, and the maturity of the proof system all affect the practical trust model.

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Optimistic and ZK designs compared

Question Optimistic rollup ZK rollup
How is an invalid state detected? A fraud-proof challenge can dispute an otherwise accepted batch during a defined window. A validity proof is checked by an Ethereum contract before the state update is accepted.
What must be available? Batch data must be published so independent parties can reconstruct the computation and challenge it. State data must be published for reconstruction, in addition to the validity proof.
Withdrawal consideration The canonical route may require the challenge period to finish; timing differs by implementation. Proof verification can avoid an optimistic dispute delay, but proving and finalization arrangements differ by implementation.
What the label does not tell you It does not establish sequencer decentralization, upgrade safety, or a particular fee. It does not establish prover decentralization, censorship resistance, or a particular fee.

Neither category is automatically faster, cheaper, or safer in every situation. Compare the specific network’s data publication, proof or challenge process, operator controls, and bridge design.

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What a sidechain is

A sidechain is an independent blockchain connected to Ethereum, commonly through a two-way bridge. It may support the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), so contracts and developer tools can look familiar, and it may offer different throughput or fee characteristics. However, its own validators or consensus mechanism determine which transactions are accepted.

When assets are bridged, the original asset is generally locked, held, or otherwise accounted for on one chain while a representation is issued on the other. The asset does not physically travel between ledgers. The bridge’s contracts, signers, message-verification system, and recovery procedures determine how that representation can be created, redeemed, or frozen.

Connection to Ethereum does not make a sidechain inherit Ethereum Mainnet’s security. A failure in the sidechain’s validator set, bridge, administrator keys, or message verification can affect users even if Ethereum itself continues to operate normally.

Rollup versus sidechain versus Mainnet

Dimension Ethereum Mainnet upgrade Rollup Sidechain
Where execution occurs Directly on Ethereum L1. In an offchain execution environment that batches results for Ethereum. On an independent blockchain.
Where data is made available Ethereum’s own blocks and protocol data structures. Usually Ethereum calldata or blobs, according to the implementation. The sidechain’s own data-availability and storage system, unless a particular design adds another arrangement.
Correctness mechanism Ethereum’s consensus and execution rules. Fraud challenges or validity proofs, depending on the rollup. The sidechain’s consensus; an Ethereum bridge does not replace it.
Security inherited from Ethereum Ethereum’s native security model. Important settlement and data functions can be anchored to Ethereum, but operator and upgrade assumptions remain. Not inherited merely by being connected; trust is placed in the sidechain and bridge design.
Typical bridge issue No cross-chain bridge is required for native L1 activity. Deposits and withdrawals depend on rollup contracts and the chosen exit route. Bridge custody, validator attestations, message verification, and recovery controls are central risks.

Use the term “Layer 2” carefully. A network can be marketed as connected to Ethereum without meeting the same data-availability and correctness assumptions as a rollup. “EVM-compatible” describes execution compatibility, not an inheritance of Ethereum’s security.

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The comparison checklist that actually matters

When evaluating two specific networks, inspect these dimensions rather than relying on labels:

  • Execution location: identify whether transactions run on Ethereum, in a rollup VM, or on an independent chain.
  • Data availability: verify whether full transaction or state data is posted to Ethereum, stored elsewhere, or subject to a special retrieval assumption.
  • Correctness enforcement: find the exact fraud-proof game, validity-proof system, or consensus rule that determines whether a state update is accepted.
  • Sequencer and operator control: check who orders transactions, whether that party can censor or delay activity, and what permissionless fallback or escape mechanism exists.
  • Upgrade authority: review administrator keys, timelocks, emergency powers, and the process for changing proof or bridge contracts.
  • Bridge and withdrawal assumptions: record the canonical route, challenge or finalization delay, liquidity dependencies, message-verification method, and any trusted signers.
  • Practical performance: measure the fee and confirmation experience for the transaction you actually intend to make at the time you use it. Ecosystem averages do not predict a particular transfer, swap, or application call.
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Costs, speed, and what the published figures mean

Ethereum.org’s Scaling Ethereum page, last updated June 24, 2026, gives a rough estimate that current rollups can be about 5–20 times cheaper than Ethereum L1. This is an ecosystem-level roadmap estimate, not a quote for a named network or a guarantee for an individual transaction. Congestion, blob demand, application complexity, exchange fees, and withdrawal routes can all change the amount a user pays.

The same caution applies to throughput and confirmation claims. The more-than-100,000-transactions-per-second figure belongs to a future Danksharding goal, not to present-day Ethereum or every rollup. No category label supplies a universal latency or capacity number.

How to use a rollup or sidechain without overlooking the bridge

  1. Confirm the network identity. Match the chain name and network identifier shown in your wallet with the application’s official documentation. Similar names and copied token contracts are common sources of mistakes.
  2. Check the canonical bridge. Determine which contract or interface the network designates for deposits and withdrawals. Read whether it is upgradeable, who controls upgrades, and whether a separate liquidity bridge is being offered.
  3. Fund the destination for fees. A bridged asset may arrive successfully while you lack the destination chain’s native fee token needed for the next transaction.
  4. Test with a small amount. Verify the destination balance, token contract, and ability to transact before moving a larger balance.
  5. Record the exit path. For an optimistic rollup, note the canonical challenge delay. For any network, note finalization conditions, proof status, liquidity requirements, and the support process if a message is delayed.
  6. Recheck conditions before large transfers. Bridge contracts, sequencer status, withdrawal queues, and upgrade policies can change; a previous successful transfer is not a permanent guarantee.

Common failure modes

  • Wrong network selected: the wallet may show a successful transaction on a chain different from the one the application is watching. Use the chain identifier and the destination explorer to diagnose it.
  • Token not recognized: verify the contract address on the destination rather than trusting a symbol or logo.
  • Withdrawal appears stuck: distinguish a normal challenge or finalization period from a failed transaction, then check the rollup’s official status and the bridge transaction’s state.
  • No fee token: obtain a small amount of the destination chain’s required native token through a documented route before attempting another action.
  • Bridge dependency misunderstood: a fast liquidity route can avoid waiting but may add a third-party solvency or custody assumption. Treat it as a different trust model, not merely a faster version of the canonical bridge.

Do you need special hardware?

Ordinary users do not need to run an Ethereum node, buy dedicated hardware, or operate a server to use a rollup or sidechain. Node hardware is relevant to people who want to validate, observe, or build infrastructure. Ethereum.org’s guidance says clients can run on consumer-grade computers, but operating a node still requires software maintenance, storage, bandwidth, and reliable uptime. A hardware wallet can protect signing keys, but it does not implement a scaling method or change the security assumptions of the network being used.

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Which approach fits which goal?

If you want Ethereum-native settlement

Use Mainnet when direct interaction with Ethereum’s native state and security model matters more than minimizing execution cost. Mainnet upgrades improve the environment all users and rollups share, but they do not remove the need to consider congestion and fees.

If you need lower-cost application activity

A rollup can reduce the per-transaction burden by batching execution and sharing data costs. Choose between optimistic and ZK designs by examining the specific proof or challenge system, operator controls, data availability, and withdrawal path rather than assuming one category wins universally.

If an application accepts a separate trust model

A sidechain may be appropriate when an application values its own performance profile, compatibility, or ecosystem and users understand that consensus and bridge security are independent of Ethereum’s. The decision should be explicit: lower fees or different throughput may come with additional validator, bridge, or administrator assumptions.

What is already shipped and what remains a roadmap item

Dencun’s March 2024 activation of proto-danksharding is a completed change that introduced blobs for rollup data. Further blob-parameter increases and other capacity work are described as ongoing in the Ethereum Foundation’s February 18, 2026 protocol-priorities update. Full Danksharding and its associated throughput ambitions remain future phases. Ethereum.org’s roadmap was updated October 8, 2026 and can evolve as engineering priorities and implementation details change.

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The durable way to compare scaling options is therefore architectural, not promotional: locate execution, locate data, identify the correctness proof, map the parties able to censor or upgrade the system, and trace every bridge and withdrawal dependency. Those answers tell you what security and user experience you are actually accepting.

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