Development roadmap
As a leading Ethereum client implementation already in production, the Nimbus consensus client team's development priorities are largely dependent on Ethereum's core roadmap. Client implementations must support network updates, such as the merge to proof-of-stake, to ensure users face minimal disruption during such events.
Known future upgrades and ecosystem developments guiding our research and development efforts include:
Dencun hard fork
After "The Merge" in 2022, the next major Ethereum upgrade was "The Surge," which aims to significantly increase the network's maximum transaction throughput via the implementation of an early form of sharding. The Dencun hard fork went live on mainnet in Q2 2024.
Distributed validator technology
DVT is an open-source protocol already in use. It enables a group of validators to combine ETH to reach the minimum stake required to operate a validator.
Additionally, Nimbus maintains relationships with various user types, including solo stakers and liquid staking protocol operators, to ensure their feedback informs our work on the client implementations.
Consequently, Nimbus development follows a monthly update schedule that incorporates the above variables while remaining flexible and adaptive to unforeseen ecosystem advances (and potential crises). Over the last year, for example, Nimbus has shipped more than 20 updates to its consensus client implementation.
Nimbus focus areas: 2023/24
Despite this responsive approach, the team is working on several focus areas during 2023 and 2024, including:
Supporting EIP-4844 and distributed validator protocols.
Releasing the Nimbus execution client—expected in mid-2024
Enhancing the light Nimbus portal client.