Ethereum Fast Confirmation Rule Aims to Slash Deposit Times by 90%

Ethereum is testing a new rule called the Fast Confirmation Rule (FCR) that could significantly reduce the time it takes for layer-2 networks and exchanges to recognize mainnet deposits.

The current process involves waiting for multiple block confirmations or full finality, which can take around 13 minutes. However, the FCR evaluates validator attestations rather than counting blocks, allowing nodes to determine if more security is warranted before confirming a block.

According to Ethereum researcher Julian Ma, the rule operates on two assumptions: that the network is fast enough for validator messages to arrive within seconds, and that no single entity controls more than 25% of staked Ethereum. If these conditions are met, nodes can confirm blocks in as little as 13 seconds.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has voiced support for the rule, stating that it provides a 'hard guarantee' that a transaction will not be reversed after a single slot, roughly 12 seconds. However, some community members have expressed concerns about the model's reliance on trust assumptions and whether those assumptions would hold under network stress.