Starknet, the Ethereum Layer 2 network, is gearing up for an important update. On Wednesday, November 27, the mainnet will upgrade to version v0.13.3. This upgrade will introduce something called Blob gas, which will be five times cheaper to use on Starknet.
Now, if you’re a node operator, you’ll need to take some action before the update. If you’re running a Juno instance, make sure to upgrade to version v0.12.4. This step is crucial for compatibility with the new v0.13.3 blocks. However, if you’re using Pathfinder versions greater than v0.14.2, you’re in the clear—no action is needed. For regular users, there’s nothing you need to do. You’ll automatically benefit from the improved gas fee optimizations.
So, what’s new with the v0.13.3 upgrade? It’s all about handling the increased blob traffic. Starknet aims to reduce the Layer 1 blob footprint. They’ll do this by compressing state differences before sending them to Layer 1. Plus, they’ll combine multiple Layer 2 blocks to cut down on the amount of data sent. These changes will lead to a significant reduction in data gas costs, also known as blob gas.
With this update, users will pay based on how much their transaction contributes to the blobs sent to Layer 1. There’s also a discount factor that reflects shared updates within a block range, making it fairer for everyone.
Starting with v0.13.3, Starknet will submit compressed state diffs to Layer 1. To ensure users are charged fairly for their contributions, an additional 25% discount will apply on top of the existing squashing discount. This means you’ll see a total reduction in blob gas costs of five times. The discount factor is based on how compressible recent state diffs are on the mainnet.
Additionally, the way state diffs are encoded will change slightly in v0.13.3. This change optimizes encoding to support the new compression scheme. It reduces the bit-length of header felts after state updates. Plus, it allows the encoding to be constructed based solely on the state diff, without needing access to the global chain state.
Starknet is a Layer 2 network built on Ethereum. It uses a ZK-rollup scaling solution, which helps decentralized applications (dApps) scale efficiently while keeping security intact. Recently, Starknet updated its roadmap to focus on reducing transaction fees.