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Deneb -- The Beacon Chain

Table of contents

Introduction

Deneb is a consensus-layer upgrade containing a number of features. Including: * EIP-4788: Beacon block root in the EVM * EIP-4844: Shard Blob Transactions scale data-availability of Ethereum in a simple, forwards-compatible manner * EIP-7044: Perpetually Valid Signed Voluntary Exits * EIP-7045: Increase Max Attestation Inclusion Slot * EIP-7514: Add Max Epoch Churn Limit

Custom types

Name SSZ equivalent Description
VersionedHash Bytes32 [New in Deneb:EIP4844]
BlobIndex uint64 [New in Deneb:EIP4844]

Constants

Blob

Name Value
VERSIONED_HASH_VERSION_KZG Bytes1('0x01')

Preset

Execution

Name Value Description
MAX_BLOB_COMMITMENTS_PER_BLOCK uint64(2**12) (= 4096) [New in Deneb:EIP4844] hardfork independent fixed theoretical limit same as LIMIT_BLOBS_PER_TX (see EIP 4844)

Configuration

Execution

Name Value Description
MAX_BLOBS_PER_BLOCK uint64(6) [New in Deneb:EIP4844] maximum number of blobs in a single block limited by MAX_BLOB_COMMITMENTS_PER_BLOCK

Note: The blob transactions are packed into the execution payload by the EL/builder with their corresponding blobs being independently transmitted and are limited by MAX_BLOB_GAS_PER_BLOCK // GAS_PER_BLOB. However the CL limit is independently defined by MAX_BLOBS_PER_BLOCK.

Validator cycle

Name Value
MAX_PER_EPOCH_ACTIVATION_CHURN_LIMIT uint64(2**3) (= 8)

Containers

Extended containers

BeaconBlockBody

Note: BeaconBlock and SignedBeaconBlock types are updated indirectly.

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class BeaconBlockBody(Container):
    randao_reveal: BLSSignature
    eth1_data: Eth1Data  # Eth1 data vote
    graffiti: Bytes32  # Arbitrary data
    # Operations
    proposer_slashings: List[ProposerSlashing, MAX_PROPOSER_SLASHINGS]
    attester_slashings: List[AttesterSlashing, MAX_ATTESTER_SLASHINGS]
    attestations: List[Attestation, MAX_ATTESTATIONS]
    deposits: List[Deposit, MAX_DEPOSITS]
    voluntary_exits: List[SignedVoluntaryExit, MAX_VOLUNTARY_EXITS]
    sync_aggregate: SyncAggregate
    # Execution
    execution_payload: ExecutionPayload  # [Modified in Deneb:EIP4844]
    bls_to_execution_changes: List[SignedBLSToExecutionChange, MAX_BLS_TO_EXECUTION_CHANGES]
    blob_kzg_commitments: List[KZGCommitment, MAX_BLOB_COMMITMENTS_PER_BLOCK]  # [New in Deneb:EIP4844]

ExecutionPayload

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class ExecutionPayload(Container):
    # Execution block header fields
    parent_hash: Hash32
    fee_recipient: ExecutionAddress  # 'beneficiary' in the yellow paper
    state_root: Bytes32
    receipts_root: Bytes32
    logs_bloom: ByteVector[BYTES_PER_LOGS_BLOOM]
    prev_randao: Bytes32  # 'difficulty' in the yellow paper
    block_number: uint64  # 'number' in the yellow paper
    gas_limit: uint64
    gas_used: uint64
    timestamp: uint64
    extra_data: ByteList[MAX_EXTRA_DATA_BYTES]
    base_fee_per_gas: uint256
    # Extra payload fields
    block_hash: Hash32  # Hash of execution block
    transactions: List[Transaction, MAX_TRANSACTIONS_PER_PAYLOAD]
    withdrawals: List[Withdrawal, MAX_WITHDRAWALS_PER_PAYLOAD]
    blob_gas_used: uint64  # [New in Deneb:EIP4844]
    excess_blob_gas: uint64  # [New in Deneb:EIP4844]

ExecutionPayloadHeader

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class ExecutionPayloadHeader(Container):
    # Execution block header fields
    parent_hash: Hash32
    fee_recipient: ExecutionAddress
    state_root: Bytes32
    receipts_root: Bytes32
    logs_bloom: ByteVector[BYTES_PER_LOGS_BLOOM]
    prev_randao: Bytes32
    block_number: uint64
    gas_limit: uint64
    gas_used: uint64
    timestamp: uint64
    extra_data: ByteList[MAX_EXTRA_DATA_BYTES]
    base_fee_per_gas: uint256
    # Extra payload fields
    block_hash: Hash32  # Hash of execution block
    transactions_root: Root
    withdrawals_root: Root
    blob_gas_used: uint64  # [New in Deneb:EIP4844]
    excess_blob_gas: uint64  # [New in Deneb:EIP4844]

Helper functions

Misc

kzg_commitment_to_versioned_hash

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def kzg_commitment_to_versioned_hash(kzg_commitment: KZGCommitment) -> VersionedHash:
    return VERSIONED_HASH_VERSION_KZG + hash(kzg_commitment)[1:]

Beacon state accessors

Modified get_attestation_participation_flag_indices

Note: The function get_attestation_participation_flag_indices is modified to set the TIMELY_TARGET_FLAG for any correct target attestation, regardless of inclusion_delay as a baseline reward for any speed of inclusion of an attestation that contributes to justification of the contained chain for EIP-7045.

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def get_attestation_participation_flag_indices(state: BeaconState,
                                               data: AttestationData,
                                               inclusion_delay: uint64) -> Sequence[int]:
    """
    Return the flag indices that are satisfied by an attestation.
    """
    if data.target.epoch == get_current_epoch(state):
        justified_checkpoint = state.current_justified_checkpoint
    else:
        justified_checkpoint = state.previous_justified_checkpoint

    # Matching roots
    is_matching_source = data.source == justified_checkpoint
    is_matching_target = is_matching_source and data.target.root == get_block_root(state, data.target.epoch)
    is_matching_head = is_matching_target and data.beacon_block_root == get_block_root_at_slot(state, data.slot)
    assert is_matching_source

    participation_flag_indices = []
    if is_matching_source and inclusion_delay <= integer_squareroot(SLOTS_PER_EPOCH):
        participation_flag_indices.append(TIMELY_SOURCE_FLAG_INDEX)
    if is_matching_target:  # [Modified in Deneb:EIP7045]
        participation_flag_indices.append(TIMELY_TARGET_FLAG_INDEX)
    if is_matching_head and inclusion_delay == MIN_ATTESTATION_INCLUSION_DELAY:
        participation_flag_indices.append(TIMELY_HEAD_FLAG_INDEX)

    return participation_flag_indices

New get_validator_activation_churn_limit

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def get_validator_activation_churn_limit(state: BeaconState) -> uint64:
    """
    Return the validator activation churn limit for the current epoch.
    """
    return min(MAX_PER_EPOCH_ACTIVATION_CHURN_LIMIT, get_validator_churn_limit(state))

Beacon chain state transition function

Execution engine

Request data

Modified NewPayloadRequest
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@dataclass
class NewPayloadRequest(object):
    execution_payload: ExecutionPayload
    versioned_hashes: Sequence[VersionedHash]
    parent_beacon_block_root: Root

Engine APIs

is_valid_block_hash

Note: The function is_valid_block_hash is modified to include the additional parent_beacon_block_root parameter for EIP-4788.

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def is_valid_block_hash(self: ExecutionEngine,
                        execution_payload: ExecutionPayload,
                        parent_beacon_block_root: Root) -> bool:
    """
    Return ``True`` if and only if ``execution_payload.block_hash`` is computed correctly.
    """
    ...
is_valid_versioned_hashes
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def is_valid_versioned_hashes(self: ExecutionEngine, new_payload_request: NewPayloadRequest) -> bool:
    """
    Return ``True`` if and only if the version hashes computed by the blob transactions of
    ``new_payload_request.execution_payload`` matches ``new_payload_request.versioned_hashes``.
    """
    ...
Modified notify_new_payload

Note: The function notify_new_payload is modified to include the additional parent_beacon_block_root parameter for EIP-4788.

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def notify_new_payload(self: ExecutionEngine,
                       execution_payload: ExecutionPayload,
                       parent_beacon_block_root: Root) -> bool:
    """
    Return ``True`` if and only if ``execution_payload`` is valid with respect to ``self.execution_state``.
    """
    ...
Modified verify_and_notify_new_payload
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def verify_and_notify_new_payload(self: ExecutionEngine,
                                  new_payload_request: NewPayloadRequest) -> bool:
    """
    Return ``True`` if and only if ``new_payload_request`` is valid with respect to ``self.execution_state``.
    """
    execution_payload = new_payload_request.execution_payload
    parent_beacon_block_root = new_payload_request.parent_beacon_block_root

    # [Modified in Deneb:EIP4788]
    if not self.is_valid_block_hash(execution_payload, parent_beacon_block_root):
        return False

    # [New in Deneb:EIP4844]
    if not self.is_valid_versioned_hashes(new_payload_request):
        return False

    # [Modified in Deneb:EIP4788]
    if not self.notify_new_payload(execution_payload, parent_beacon_block_root):
        return False

    return True

Block processing

Modified process_attestation

Note: The function process_attestation is modified to expand valid slots for inclusion to those in both target.epoch epoch and target.epoch + 1 epoch for EIP-7045. Additionally, it utilizes an updated version of get_attestation_participation_flag_indices to ensure rewards are available for the extended attestation inclusion range for EIP-7045.

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def process_attestation(state: BeaconState, attestation: Attestation) -> None:
    data = attestation.data
    assert data.target.epoch in (get_previous_epoch(state), get_current_epoch(state))
    assert data.target.epoch == compute_epoch_at_slot(data.slot)
    assert data.slot + MIN_ATTESTATION_INCLUSION_DELAY <= state.slot  # [Modified in Deneb:EIP7045]
    assert data.index < get_committee_count_per_slot(state, data.target.epoch)

    committee = get_beacon_committee(state, data.slot, data.index)
    assert len(attestation.aggregation_bits) == len(committee)

    # Participation flag indices
    participation_flag_indices = get_attestation_participation_flag_indices(state, data, state.slot - data.slot)

    # Verify signature
    assert is_valid_indexed_attestation(state, get_indexed_attestation(state, attestation))

    # Update epoch participation flags
    if data.target.epoch == get_current_epoch(state):
        epoch_participation = state.current_epoch_participation
    else:
        epoch_participation = state.previous_epoch_participation

    proposer_reward_numerator = 0
    for index in get_attesting_indices(state, attestation):
        for flag_index, weight in enumerate(PARTICIPATION_FLAG_WEIGHTS):
            if flag_index in participation_flag_indices and not has_flag(epoch_participation[index], flag_index):
                epoch_participation[index] = add_flag(epoch_participation[index], flag_index)
                proposer_reward_numerator += get_base_reward(state, index) * weight

    # Reward proposer
    proposer_reward_denominator = (WEIGHT_DENOMINATOR - PROPOSER_WEIGHT) * WEIGHT_DENOMINATOR // PROPOSER_WEIGHT
    proposer_reward = Gwei(proposer_reward_numerator // proposer_reward_denominator)
    increase_balance(state, get_beacon_proposer_index(state), proposer_reward)

Execution payload

Modified process_execution_payload

Note: The function process_execution_payload is modified to pass versioned_hashes into execution_engine.verify_and_notify_new_payload and to assign the new fields in ExecutionPayloadHeader for EIP-4844. It is also modified to pass in the parent beacon block root to support EIP-4788.

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def process_execution_payload(state: BeaconState, body: BeaconBlockBody, execution_engine: ExecutionEngine) -> None:
    payload = body.execution_payload

    # Verify consistency of the parent hash with respect to the previous execution payload header
    assert payload.parent_hash == state.latest_execution_payload_header.block_hash
    # Verify prev_randao
    assert payload.prev_randao == get_randao_mix(state, get_current_epoch(state))
    # Verify timestamp
    assert payload.timestamp == compute_timestamp_at_slot(state, state.slot)

    # [New in Deneb:EIP4844] Verify commitments are under limit
    assert len(body.blob_kzg_commitments) <= MAX_BLOBS_PER_BLOCK

    # Verify the execution payload is valid
    # [Modified in Deneb:EIP4844] Pass `versioned_hashes` to Execution Engine
    # [Modified in Deneb:EIP4788] Pass `parent_beacon_block_root` to Execution Engine
    versioned_hashes = [kzg_commitment_to_versioned_hash(commitment) for commitment in body.blob_kzg_commitments]
    assert execution_engine.verify_and_notify_new_payload(
        NewPayloadRequest(
            execution_payload=payload,
            versioned_hashes=versioned_hashes,
            parent_beacon_block_root=state.latest_block_header.parent_root,
        )
    )

    # Cache execution payload header
    state.latest_execution_payload_header = ExecutionPayloadHeader(
        parent_hash=payload.parent_hash,
        fee_recipient=payload.fee_recipient,
        state_root=payload.state_root,
        receipts_root=payload.receipts_root,
        logs_bloom=payload.logs_bloom,
        prev_randao=payload.prev_randao,
        block_number=payload.block_number,
        gas_limit=payload.gas_limit,
        gas_used=payload.gas_used,
        timestamp=payload.timestamp,
        extra_data=payload.extra_data,
        base_fee_per_gas=payload.base_fee_per_gas,
        block_hash=payload.block_hash,
        transactions_root=hash_tree_root(payload.transactions),
        withdrawals_root=hash_tree_root(payload.withdrawals),
        blob_gas_used=payload.blob_gas_used,  # [New in Deneb:EIP4844]
        excess_blob_gas=payload.excess_blob_gas,  # [New in Deneb:EIP4844]
    )

Modified process_voluntary_exit

Note: The function process_voluntary_exit is modified to use the a fixed fork version -- CAPELLA_FORK_VERSION -- for EIP-7044.

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def process_voluntary_exit(state: BeaconState, signed_voluntary_exit: SignedVoluntaryExit) -> None:
    voluntary_exit = signed_voluntary_exit.message
    validator = state.validators[voluntary_exit.validator_index]
    # Verify the validator is active
    assert is_active_validator(validator, get_current_epoch(state))
    # Verify exit has not been initiated
    assert validator.exit_epoch == FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH
    # Exits must specify an epoch when they become valid; they are not valid before then
    assert get_current_epoch(state) >= voluntary_exit.epoch
    # Verify the validator has been active long enough
    assert get_current_epoch(state) >= validator.activation_epoch + SHARD_COMMITTEE_PERIOD
    # Verify signature
    # [Modified in Deneb:EIP7044]
    domain = compute_domain(DOMAIN_VOLUNTARY_EXIT, CAPELLA_FORK_VERSION, state.genesis_validators_root)
    signing_root = compute_signing_root(voluntary_exit, domain)
    assert bls.Verify(validator.pubkey, signing_root, signed_voluntary_exit.signature)
    # Initiate exit
    initiate_validator_exit(state, voluntary_exit.validator_index)

Epoch processing

Registry updates

Note: The function process_registry_updates is modified to utilize get_validator_activation_churn_limit() to rate limit the activation queue for EIP-7514.

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def process_registry_updates(state: BeaconState) -> None:
    # Process activation eligibility and ejections
    for index, validator in enumerate(state.validators):
        if is_eligible_for_activation_queue(validator):
            validator.activation_eligibility_epoch = get_current_epoch(state) + 1

        if (
            is_active_validator(validator, get_current_epoch(state))
            and validator.effective_balance <= EJECTION_BALANCE
        ):
            initiate_validator_exit(state, ValidatorIndex(index))

    # Queue validators eligible for activation and not yet dequeued for activation
    activation_queue = sorted([
        index for index, validator in enumerate(state.validators)
        if is_eligible_for_activation(state, validator)
        # Order by the sequence of activation_eligibility_epoch setting and then index
    ], key=lambda index: (state.validators[index].activation_eligibility_epoch, index))
    # Dequeued validators for activation up to activation churn limit
    # [Modified in Deneb:EIP7514]
    for index in activation_queue[:get_validator_activation_churn_limit(state)]:
        validator = state.validators[index]
        validator.activation_epoch = compute_activation_exit_epoch(get_current_epoch(state))

Testing

Note: The function initialize_beacon_state_from_eth1 is modified for pure Deneb testing only.

The BeaconState initialization is unchanged, except for the use of the updated deneb.BeaconBlockBody type when initializing the first body-root.

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def initialize_beacon_state_from_eth1(eth1_block_hash: Hash32,
                                      eth1_timestamp: uint64,
                                      deposits: Sequence[Deposit],
                                      execution_payload_header: ExecutionPayloadHeader=ExecutionPayloadHeader()
                                      ) -> BeaconState:
    fork = Fork(
        previous_version=DENEB_FORK_VERSION,  # [Modified in Deneb] for testing only
        current_version=DENEB_FORK_VERSION,  # [Modified in Deneb]
        epoch=GENESIS_EPOCH,
    )
    state = BeaconState(
        genesis_time=eth1_timestamp + GENESIS_DELAY,
        fork=fork,
        eth1_data=Eth1Data(block_hash=eth1_block_hash, deposit_count=uint64(len(deposits))),
        latest_block_header=BeaconBlockHeader(body_root=hash_tree_root(BeaconBlockBody())),
        randao_mixes=[eth1_block_hash] * EPOCHS_PER_HISTORICAL_VECTOR,  # Seed RANDAO with Eth1 entropy
    )

    # Process deposits
    leaves = list(map(lambda deposit: deposit.data, deposits))
    for index, deposit in enumerate(deposits):
        deposit_data_list = List[DepositData, 2**DEPOSIT_CONTRACT_TREE_DEPTH](*leaves[:index + 1])
        state.eth1_data.deposit_root = hash_tree_root(deposit_data_list)
        process_deposit(state, deposit)

    # Process activations
    for index, validator in enumerate(state.validators):
        balance = state.balances[index]
        validator.effective_balance = min(balance - balance % EFFECTIVE_BALANCE_INCREMENT, MAX_EFFECTIVE_BALANCE)
        if validator.effective_balance == MAX_EFFECTIVE_BALANCE:
            validator.activation_eligibility_epoch = GENESIS_EPOCH
            validator.activation_epoch = GENESIS_EPOCH

    # Set genesis validators root for domain separation and chain versioning
    state.genesis_validators_root = hash_tree_root(state.validators)

    # Fill in sync committees
    # Note: A duplicate committee is assigned for the current and next committee at genesis
    state.current_sync_committee = get_next_sync_committee(state)
    state.next_sync_committee = get_next_sync_committee(state)

    # Initialize the execution payload header
    # If empty, will initialize a chain that has not yet gone through the Merge transition
    state.latest_execution_payload_header = execution_payload_header

    return state