The Protocol: Ethereum Preps For Upcoming Fusaka Upgrade

Network News - Ethereum developers are set to launch the Fusaka upgrade, which includes two simultaneous upgrades on Ethereum's consensus and execution layers aimed at improving transaction throughput from layer-2 chains [1] - Fusaka comprises 12 Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) designed to enhance the layer-2 experience by making it faster and cheaper [1] - The key feature of Fusaka is PeerDAS, which allows validators to verify only segments of data instead of entire "blobs," reducing bandwidth demands and costs for validators and layer-2 networks [1] - This upgrade addresses current bottlenecks where validators must download all transaction data from blobs, thus speeding up the verification process and lowering transaction fees [1] AI in DeFi - A study by the Anthropic Fellows program indicates that AI agents are becoming proficient at identifying vulnerabilities in smart contracts, potentially enabling malicious exploitation [2] - Research involving models like GPT-5 and Claude Opus 4.5 simulated $4.6 million in exploits on previously hacked contracts, demonstrating the capability of AI to synthesize full exploit scripts and drain liquidity [2] - The study also revealed that these AI models could identify zero-day vulnerabilities in recently deployed contracts, with two flaws discovered that could yield a simulated profit of $3,694 [2] - The findings highlight the technical feasibility of profitable autonomous exploitation, raising concerns about security in the DeFi space [2]