Ethereum's P2P Networking Improves Amid Institutional ETH Accumulation
Vitalik Buterin has acknowledged that the Ethereum Foundation has historically lacked deep expertise in peer-to-peer networking. However, progress on PeerDAS, a Data Availability Sampling prototype, suggests the foundation is now able to deliver complex networking improvements at scale. The project, credited to Raúl Jordan and his team, is crucial for Ethereum scaling via sharding as it enables light clients to verify shard data by sampling small portions, thereby improving scalability while preserving decentralization and security.
Buterin also emphasized the need for a functioning on-chain gas futures market. Prediction markets on BASEFEE could allow users to anticipate future gas costs and hedge against congestion risk far in advance.
Meanwhile, institutional interest in Ethereum is rising. BitMine Immersion Technologies recently expanded its ETH holdings by purchasing 138,452 ETH, worth approximately $435 million, increasing its treasury to 3.86 million ETH, making it the largest corporate holder. These purchases followed the Fusaka upgrade and are seen as a strategic bet on Ethereum’s execution layer and scaling roadmap. There is an expectation that easing macroeconomic conditions could support risk assets into early 2026.
Institutional accumulation around ETH continues to gain momentum, and market sentiment regarding Ethereum’s next scaling phase appears linked to alignment between demand for blockspace and advancements in the network’s P2P tooling.
