TL;DR
- Ethereum’s gas limit has surpassed 37 million units for the first time since February, with nearly half of validators backing a target of 45 million.
- This upward move is boosting throughput closer to 18 transactions per second, easing pressure on users facing high fees.
- Developer optimizations and wider validator support suggest the network is gearing up for even greater scalability in the months ahead.
Ethereum’s gas limit crossed 37.3 million units on Sunday, marking a steady expansion in the network’s capacity to handle more transactions without driving fees sky-high. Etherscan data shows that this adjustment pushes the limit almost 3% higher than late last week, with several blocks already testing larger transaction loads. As more validators join in to support a 45 million target, users and developers are eyeing a smoother experience for DeFi, NFTs, and everyday transfers.
Validators can tweak the gas limit by about 0.1% per block if they signal enough support. Right now, over 47% of staked validators are aligned with pushing the limit higher, according to GasLimits.pics. Vitalik Buterin commented that nearly half of all staked Ether is now leaning toward this increase, reflecting growing trust in recent technical improvements made to Ethereum’s core software.
Validators Rally Behind Higher Capacity
Raising the gas limit means each block can process more computational work, directly translating to more transactions per second (TPS). Chainspect data shows Ethereum’s throughput climbed to nearly 18 TPS over the weekend, compared to around 15 TPS when the last gas limit boost happened in February. These numbers hint at a more robust base layer ready to support scaling solutions and layer-2 rollups more efficiently.
The idea of “pumping the gas” was first floated in early 2024 when developers and node operators started pushing for higher limits to ease mainnet congestion. The initiative gained momentum after updates from the Geth team improved archive node performance, lowering risks tied to heavier blocks.
Ether Activity Remains Strong
Network usage is also trending up. Daily transactions have jumped from about 1.1 million in April to 1.4 million today, according to Etherscan. This coincides with a notable price surge, as Ether briefly touched $3,800 on Sunday, its highest point in seven months. Analysts attribute this strength to rising interest from institutional players and broader crypto market optimism.
If validator support crosses the 50% mark, the gas limit could reach 45 million within weeks, providing more breathing room for users and reinforcing Ethereum’s role as the backbone of decentralized applications.
