The Ethereum Institutional organization has officially backed the EIP-8198 proposal, known as Quick Slots, which was introduced by Ethlabs. The initiative aims to replace the current fixed 12-second slot duration with a configurable parameter, allowing for gradual reductions in future network updates.
Ethlabs suggests an initial adjustment to 10 seconds, though the final duration will depend on performance testing. The proposal requires developers to modify client software and infrastructure components that currently rely on hardcoded 12-second values, while also adjusting gas limits and blob parameters to maintain throughput.
The Ethereum Foundation’s Protocol Cluster assigned a B-level priority to Quick Slots on September 7. While research teams support the proposal, implementation engineers have highlighted the significant technical challenges and cascading changes required to support shorter slot times across the network.
Ethlabs has begun prototyping and evaluating ecosystem dependencies. The proposal is currently under consideration for the upcoming Pectra upgrade, following the inclusion of mandatory features like FOCIL and Frame Transactions. The Ethereum development roadmap currently spans approximately seven hardforks through 2029.
