Authors: Ferran, Sarah, Dmarz, World People?, Unichain People?, Base People?, OP Labs People?
| Target release | May 2nd |
|---|---|
| Document status | SECOND DRAFT |
| Document Owner | @Anonymous |
| Last Major Revision | April 20, 2025 |
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This is a first draft of the Flashblocks Spec for the OP Stack. There are still numerous open design questions and discussions to be had before finalizing this document. Feel free to comment directly. After an initial design review or two I will move this to github. The document has multiple TODOs and WIP portions outlined, as well as some general comments and questions at the very end (”General Comments and Questions”)
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Introduces a standard for partial blocks called “Flashblocks,” inspired but not entirely identical to Solana Shreds, enabling rapid preconfirmations on Ethereum Layer 2 networks such as OP Stack. Flashblocks propagate transaction batches incrementally and expose their state via a modified Ethereum JSON-RPC interface, giving users immediate feedback equivalent to drastically reduced block times without modifying underlying the underlying OP Stack protocol. Flashblocks can be combined with Trusted Execution Environment technology to enable quick verifiability over various networks of machines in addition to protection from equivocation.
This document assumes knowledge of the terminology, definitions, and other material in
As of April 2025, Layer 2 (L2) protocols built with the OP Stack have a minimum block time of one second, imposing significant constraints on user experience. The limitation on minimum block times is primarily historical and architectural, reflecting earlier assumptions of Ethereum network as well as deeply-integrated type definitions, from the L2 blockchain client all the way down to smart contracts on the L1, making modification a very large task.
Due to similar constraints on Ethereum Layer 1, preconfirmations have gained attention as a promising method to decouple blockchain user experiences from rigid block-time limitations and sidestep the longstanding debate between block time and block size. Existing preconfirmation solutions predominantly depend on economic security in the form of cryptoeconomic mechanisms such as staking. as well as focus on per-transaction preconfirmations, inadvertently pushing protocols into the “Latency Auction” region of the MEV Trilemma. Furthermore, previous approaches have often introduced entirely new Ethereum JSON-RPC methods, presenting substantial integration barriers and hindering practical adoption.
Inspired by modern blockchain networks like Solana and Celestia, Flashblocks introduce an “out-of-protocol” standard for incremental delivery of partial blocks containing batches of transactions. This approach significantly reduces perceived latency for end-users and improves network bandwidth without modifying underlying protocol rules, offering a streamlined path for incremental adoption by node operators and existing infrastructure.