The non-profit organization Ethereum Institutional has officially backed a proposal from Ethlabs to decrease block times on the Ethereum network. The initiative aims to enhance network performance to better compete with other blockchain platforms as institutional activity on the chain continues to grow.
The proposal, known as EIP-8198 or Quick Slots, suggests an initial reduction of block times from 12 seconds to 10 seconds. Ethlabs reported that 20 founders of decentralized finance projects have expressed support for this change. The proposal was authored in March and introduced during an Ethereum core developers meeting on August 6.
Ethlabs is currently integrating the specifications of EIP-8198 into the main codebase to prepare for its potential inclusion in the upcoming Hegotá upgrade. Developers may start implementing Hegotá in late 2026, following the completion of the Glamsterdam upgrade, which focuses on scalability and network security.
Other blockchain networks are pursuing similar speed improvements. Zcash token holders recently voted to reduce their block time from 75 seconds to 25 seconds. Meanwhile, Solana reduced its slot time from 400 milliseconds to 350 milliseconds in August, with further plans to reach 200 milliseconds.
