The Merge has come and gone — a historic milestone that transitioned Ethereum from energy-intensive proof-of-work (PoW) to sustainable proof-of-stake (PoS). But this isn’t the finish line. It’s the starting gun for a new era of upgrades designed to make Ethereum faster, cheaper, and more decentralized than ever before.
With the foundation now set, Ethereum developers are turning their focus to the next phases: the Surge, the Verge, the Purge, and the Splurge. These ambitious updates aim to transform Ethereum into a truly scalable, accessible global computing platform — capable of supporting mass adoption across Web3.
Let’s break down what each phase means, why it matters, and how it brings us closer to a future where Ethereum can power everyday digital experiences.
The Merge: A Recap of What Changed
Before diving into what's next, let’s briefly revisit what the Merge accomplished.
In 2022, Ethereum completed one of the most complex software upgrades in blockchain history. By switching to PoS, the network slashed its energy consumption by over 99%, making it one of the most environmentally sustainable blockchains in existence.
Beyond sustainability, the Merge also reshaped Ethereum’s economic model:
- Reduced ETH issuance: Validators now receive significantly lower rewards than miners did under PoW. Annual new ETH issuance dropped from around 5 million to a dynamic rate based on staked supply — potentially cutting issuance by up to 90%.
- EIP-1559 fee burning: Since August 2021, a portion of transaction fees (known as “gas”) has been permanently removed from circulation. This deflationary pressure, combined with lower issuance, could eventually make ETH a net-negative supply asset — meaning more ETH is burned than created.
👉 Discover how Ethereum’s evolving economy is reshaping digital value.
Together, these changes set the stage for Ethereum not just to survive, but to scale.
The Surge: Scaling Through Sharding
Ethereum’s biggest pain point today? High gas fees and network congestion. During peak usage — like NFT mints or DeFi launches — simple transactions can cost tens or even hundreds of dollars.
The solution isn’t to overload the main chain. Instead, Ethereum is embracing Layer 2 scaling.
How Layer 2 Works
Layer 2 solutions — such as rollups (Optimism, Arbitrum), sidechains (Polygon), and validiums — process transactions off the mainnet and submit batched results back to Ethereum for final settlement. This keeps security anchored on Ethereum while drastically reducing costs.
Currently, Layer 2 networks already handle billions in total value locked (TVL). But they’re built externally. The Surge changes that.
Enter Sharding
With the Surge, Ethereum will introduce 64 native shard chains — essentially parallel blockchains that distribute data load across the network. These shards won’t process transactions directly at first but will serve as data availability layers for Layer 2 rollups.
More shards = more data capacity = lower rollup fees.
Once fully implemented, Ethereum could support up to 100,000 transactions per second (TPS) — up from just 15 TPS today.
Imagine paying less than a penny per transaction. That kind of affordability opens the door for mainstream use cases: social media, gaming, micropayments, and real-time financial services — all running on a decentralized infrastructure.
The Verge: Stateless Clients and Lighter Nodes
As Ethereum scales, maintaining a validator node should become easier — not harder. That’s where the Verge comes in.
From Merkle Trees to Verkle Trees
Currently, Ethereum uses Merkle trees to verify the state of the network. To validate transactions, nodes must store and reference vast amounts of data about account balances, smart contracts, and historical states.
Enter Verkle trees — an advanced cryptographic structure that allows nodes to verify transactions using minimal data. With Verkle trees, validators no longer need full knowledge of the current network state.
This enables stateless clients: lightweight nodes that can participate in consensus without storing gigabytes of data.
Why does this matter?
- Lower hardware requirements
- Cheaper, faster node setup
- Greater decentralization (more people can run validators)
Eventually, running an Ethereum validator could be possible on a smartphone — a vision Vitalik Buterin has openly championed.
The Purge: Cleaning Up the Blockchain Bloat
Even with stateless clients, there’s still a problem: blockchain bloat.
Right now, syncing a full Ethereum node requires downloading over 1 terabyte of historical data — and that number grows every day. This creates barriers to entry and threatens long-term decentralization.
The Purge aims to fix this.
EIP-4444: Pruning Historical Data
One key proposal, EIP-4444, suggests removing the requirement for nodes to store old block data beyond a certain age (e.g., one year). Instead, historical data would be archived externally and accessed only when needed.
Benefits include:
- Smaller storage needs
- Faster sync times
- Reduced operational costs for validators
This cleanup doesn’t compromise security — finality and consensus remain intact — but it makes participation far more accessible.
👉 See how next-gen blockchain efficiency is being built today.
The Splurge: Polishing the Vision
“The Splurge” sounds informal — and it is. It’s a catch-all term for smaller but critical improvements that support the broader roadmap.
These include:
- Enhancing consensus mechanisms
- Improving validator performance
- Streamlining cross-shard communication
- Boosting privacy and security features
While not as headline-grabbing as sharding or fee reductions, these tweaks ensure Ethereum remains robust, user-friendly, and developer-friendly as it evolves.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What comes after the Merge?
After the Merge, Ethereum’s roadmap includes four major phases: the Surge (scaling), the Verge (stateless clients), the Purge (data pruning), and the Splurge (miscellaneous improvements).
Q: Will Ethereum ever reach 100k TPS?
While ambitious, reaching 100,000 transactions per second is technically feasible through sharding and Layer 2 rollups. However, full implementation may take several years.
Q: Can I run an Ethereum node on my phone?
Not yet — but that’s the goal. With Verkle trees and data pruning via the Verge and Purge, smartphone-based validation could become reality in the coming years.
Q: Is ETH becoming deflationary?
Yes — under current conditions. With EIP-1559 burning fees and lower post-Merge issuance, periods of high network activity often result in net-negative ETH supply growth, making ETH deflationary during those times.
Q: How do Layer 2 solutions benefit from sharding?
Sharding increases data availability, allowing rollups to post transaction data more cheaply and frequently. This reduces latency and gas costs on Layer 2 networks.
Q: Are all Ethereum upgrades happening at once?
Many components are being developed in parallel, but deployment will be gradual. Core features like sharding will roll out in stages to ensure stability and security.
Final Thoughts: Ethereum’s Road to Mass Adoption
The Merge was monumental — but it was only step one.
The real promise of Ethereum lies ahead: a network that is energy-efficient, highly scalable, economically sound, and accessible to anyone with a smartphone.
As the Surge unblocks throughput, the Verge lightens client loads, the Purge clears old data, and the Splurge refines performance, Ethereum inches closer to its original vision — a decentralized world computer.
We’re not there yet. But we’re building it — one upgrade at a time.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Cryptocurrencies involve risk; conduct your own research before making any decisions.