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“Sharding” is a proposed method of breaking up Ethereum’s infrastructure into smaller chunks with the goal of scaling the platform so that it can support far more users than it currently does.
Ethereum is the second largest blockchain and was designed to make it easier to build decentralized applications that would give users more control over their finances and data online, among other expected benefits. The idea is that these decentralized alternatives will spread, offering an alternative to apps – like Robinhood or Twitter – that have a centralized point of control. Ethereum would therefore serve as a “world computer”, open to all, which cannot be shut down.
However, in order to offer viable alternatives to existing apps, Ethereum will need to be able to store huge amounts of data. For traditional apps, services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) store petabytes of data from thousands of applications. At the moment, however, Ethereum is far from being able to store data as efficiently as a centralized web service like AWS. In fact, Ethereum has historically suffered from performance slowdowns that stalled the platform due to a single apps that tax the network.
Sharding is a possible way to allow Ethereum to store more data, a step it needs to take before its method of running decentralized apps, or “dapps,” can go mainstream.
Where is Ethereum data stored?
If you replace the brokerage services for applications, where is all the data stored?
Under the hood, Ethereum consists of a global network of nodes managed by Ethereum users and businesses. Each node stores the entire history of Ethereum. This means that it stores all the data – which person sent a transaction on what date and how much money they sent – plus smart contracts, code written to administer those funds with certain rules.
As you can imagine, this is a lot of data.
Why do multiple nodes have to store the entire history of an elephant’s size? This is what makes Ethereum decentralized, capable of building applications that “no one can remove,” as the main Ethereum website claims.
If only a few people are able to run these nodes because they are so large, for example, the network is easier for individuals or groups to manipulate. If a single bad actor could commandeer enough of the knots, they could rewrite the history of Ethereum. Theoretically, this could allow a person to give themselves more money at the expense of other Ethereum users.
That’s why the easier it is to run these nodes, the less likely the scenario is to happen because control is in the hands of more users. In turn, this makes it more likely that Ether (or any cryptocurrency) can deliver on its bold promises.
The problem is that these nodes typically require heavy-duty storage space and are complex to run and maintain.
Why does Ethereum need sharding?
Sharding could make it easier for these full nodes to run.
According to block explorer Etherscan, full Ethereum nodes already take up at least five terabytes of space, which is about 10 times what an average computer can hold.
And the nodes will get bigger and harder to execute over time and as more users join the platform.
Sharding is a common technique in computing for scaling applications so they can support more data. If sharding can be implemented correctly in Ethereum – which is still a big if – each user could only store part of the database change history, as opposed to the whole thing, which is how a blockchain normally works.
Why is sharding not a quick fix?
Sharding is more difficult than it looks.
Let’s say we split an Ethereum node – or “fragmented” – into six pieces.
The first piece must be able to know that the data from the other five nodes is correct. Otherwise, one might be led to think that a change has been made that has not really occurred. This turns out to be a difficult problem to solve and the developers are still looking for a solution.
When will the sharding on Ethereum be published?
Sharding has been an idea since Ethereum’s inception in 2013. It is not yet clear if it will work. It is also unclear when it will be added to Ethereum.
Sharding is a planned part of Ethereum 2.0, a series of updates to the Ethereum blockchain that officially began rolling out on December 1, 2020. Sharding is more likely to be incorporated in later stages of the update due to its potential. dangers and complexities.
