解决数据膨胀：为什么需要清除

Vitalki 表示，以太坊如今面临的最大挑战之一是其庞大的数据存储需求。随着时间的推移，随着交易的积累和智能合约的增加

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has outlined a new development in a series of posts that could redefine Ethereum's efficiency, accessibility, and storage requirements. This latest development addresses a pressing need to streamline Ethereum by reducing the storage load on individual nodes, improving network speed, and maintaining the blockchain’s integrity.

以太坊联合创始人 Vitalik Buterin 在一系列帖子中概述了一项新进展，该进展可能会重新定义以太坊的效率、可访问性和存储要求。这一最新进展解决了通过减少单个节点上的存储负载、提高网络速度和维护区块链完整性来简化以太坊的迫切需求。

One of the biggest challenges facing Ethereum today is its vast data storage needs, says Buterin. Over time, as transactions accumulate and smart contracts proliferate, the blockchain has grown immensely, making it harder for new nodes to join and for the network to operate seamlessly. Presently, a fully synced Ethereum node requires over 1.17 terabytes of storage, and this requirement is expected to keep rising. This storage strain acts as a barrier to decentralization, as fewer individuals have the capacity to run nodes, leaving the network more vulnerable to centralization and increasing costs for users and operators alike.

Buterin 表示，以太坊如今面临的最大挑战之一是其巨大的数据存储需求。随着时间的推移，随着交易的积累和智能合约的激增，区块链已经大幅增长，使得新节点的加入和网络无缝运行变得更加困难。目前，完全同步的以太坊节点需要超过 1.17 TB 的存储空间，并且这一需求预计将继续上升。这种存储压力成为去中心化的障碍，因为有能力运行节点的人越来越少，使得网络更容易受到中心化的影响，并增加了用户和运营商的成本。

The development, dubbed "The Purge," aims to alleviate this data burden by introducing a mechanism to periodically “expire” less critical data while keeping vital information intact. This evolution would allow Ethereum to remain decentralized and accessible, with a lighter protocol that still provides the same level of security and functionality.

这项被称为“清除”的开发旨在通过引入一种机制来减轻这种数据负担，该机制可以定期“过期”不太重要的数据，同时保持重要信息的完整性。这种演变将使以太坊保持去中心化和可访问性，并通过更轻的协议仍然提供相同级别的安全性和功能。

At the heart of The Purge are two core ideas: state expiry and history expiry. State expiry refers to the ability of nodes to discard certain pieces of blockchain data that are no longer necessary for maintaining the current state of the network. For instance, data related to old transactions or smart contract calls that have already been finalized and included in the canonical chain can be safely removed. This approach helps reduce the overall storage footprint of Ethereum without compromising its integrity.

The Purge 的核心有两个核心思想：状态过期和历史过期。状态过期是指节点丢弃某些不再需要维持网络当前状态的区块链数据的能力。例如，与已完成并包含在规范链中的旧交易或智能合约调用相关的数据可以被安全地删除。这种方法有助于减少以太坊的整体存储占用空间，而不会影响其完整性。

History expiry, on the other hand, involves discarding historical data that is no longer relevant to the network's operation or security. Buterin explains that while the entire history of Ethereum transactions is valuable for archival purposes and analytics, keeping all of this data on every node is redundant. Instead, The Purge would allow nodes to choose how far back in Ethereum's history they want to store data, striking a balance between accessibility and storage efficiency. Nodes could periodically download historical data from other nodes or specialized services as needed.

另一方面，历史过期涉及丢弃不再与网络操作或安全相关的历史数据。 Buterin 解释说，虽然以太坊交易的整个历史对于存档和分析都很有价值，但将所有这些数据保留在每个节点上是多余的。相反，清除将允许节点选择他们想要存储数据的以太坊历史的早前程度，从而在可访问性和存储效率之间取得平衡。节点可以根据需要定期从其他节点或专门服务下载历史数据。

One of The Purge’s ultimate goals is to enable “stateless clients,” a concept that removes the need for nodes to store all the blockchain’s data in real-time. Stateless clients would rely on a reduced dataset, allowing them to verify blocks without needing massive storage capacity. This transformation could pave the way for Ethereum nodes to run on lightweight devices like smartphones, tablets, or even wearables. Buterin envisions this as a major step forward for Ethereum’s decentralization and accessibility, as it lowers the hardware requirements for node operators, making it easier for more people to participate.

The Purge 的最终目标之一是实现“无状态客户端”，这一概念消除了节点实时存储所有区块链数据的需要。无状态客户端将依赖于减少的数据集，允许他们在不需要大量存储容量的情况下验证块。这种转变可以为以太坊节点在智能手机、平板电脑甚至可穿戴设备等轻量级设备上运行铺平道路。 Buterin 认为这是以太坊去中心化和可访问性向前迈出的重要一步，因为它降低了节点运营商的硬件要求，使更多人更容易参与。

Stateless clients would lean heavily on cryptographic techniques such as witnesses—compact proofs containing only the data relevant to a specific transaction. By processing transactions in this way, nodes can validate activity on the blockchain without downloading the full history or state data, creating a more scalable and versatile network.

无状态客户端将严重依赖加密技术，例如见证人——仅包含与特定交易相关的数据的紧凑证明。通过以这种方式处理交易，节点可以验证区块链上的活动，而无需下载完整的历史记录或状态数据，从而创建更具可扩展性和通用性的网络。

Beyond data management, The Purge also aims to simplify Ethereum’s protocol by eliminating outdated or redundant features. Over the years, Ethereum’s codebase has grown increasingly complex due to the constant addition of new features and updates. This has led to “technical debt”—legacy code that is difficult to maintain, test, or improve without significant effort. Removing or rewriting these older components will make Ethereum more efficient and reliable, and reduce the chances of future bugs and vulnerabilities.

除了数据管理之外，The Purge 还旨在通过消除过时或冗余的功能来简化以太坊协议。多年来，由于不断添加新功能和更新，以太坊的代码库变得越来越复杂。这导致了“技术债务”——如果不付出巨大努力就很难维护、测试或改进遗留代码。删除或重写这些旧组件将使以太坊更加高效和可靠，并减少未来出现错误和漏洞的机会。

Streamlining the protocol will also lower the cognitive barrier for developers new to Ethereum, potentially accelerating innovation within the ecosystem. A simpler codebase means faster development, easier troubleshooting, and a more attractive environment for new talent.

简化协议还将降低以太坊新开发人员的认知障碍，有可能加速生态系统内的创新。更简单的代码库意味着更快的开发、更容易的故障排除以及对新人才更有吸引力的环境。

While The Purge will not directly reduce gas fees, it could have an indirect impact on network costs. By improving Ethereum’s efficiency and reducing storage burdens, node operators may see lower operational expenses, potentially allowing for lower fees in the long run. Moreover, a faster and more scalable Ethereum network could ultimately accommodate more users and transactions without the congestion that typically drives up gas prices. However, gas fees depend on multiple factors, including network demand, so the direct impact of The Purge on transaction costs remains uncertain.

虽然清除不会直接降低 Gas 费，但可能会对网络成本产生间接影响。通过提高以太坊的效率和减少存储负担，节点运营商可能会看到更低的运营费用，从长远来看可能会降低费用。此外，更快、更具可扩展性的以太坊网络最终可以容纳更多的用户和交易，而不会出现通常会推高天然气价格的拥塞情况。然而，gas 费取决于包括网络需求在内的多种因素，因此 The Purge 对交易成本的直接影响仍不确定。

Decentralization and Security: Ensuring Robustness Through Efficient Design

去中心化和安全性：通过高效设计确保稳健性

Vitalik’s vision for Ethereum involves maintaining the network’s decentralization while enhancing its security. By offloading historical data and streamlining storage requirements, The Purge will allow more individuals and organizations to run nodes, even on less powerful devices. This inclusivity strengthens the network’s resistance to centralization, ensuring that power remains distributed across many participants.

Vitalik 对以太坊的愿景包括维持网络的去中心化，同时增强其安全性。通过卸载历史数据并简化存储需求，The Purge 将允许更多个人和组织运行节点，即使在功能较弱的设备上也是如此。这种包容性增强了网络对中心化的抵抗力，确保权力仍然分布在许多参与者之间。

Security, too, will benefit from these changes. The move towards stateless clients and the reduction of technical debt will simplify the verification process, potentially reducing the risk of bugs or vulnerabilities in Ethereum’s code. Additionally, by allowing data to be “expired” rather than held indefinitely, The Purge minimizes the attack surface for potential security threats targeting the stored state or historical data.

安全也将从这些变化中受益。向无状态客户端的转变和技术债务的减少将简化验证过程，从而可能降低以太坊代码中出现错误或漏洞的风险。此外，通过允许数据“过期”而不是无限期保留，The Purge 最大限度地减少了针对存储状态或历史数据的潜在安全威胁的攻击面。

The Bigger Picture: Ethereum’s Future in Prediction Markets and Beyond

大局观：以太坊在预测市场及其他领域的未来