Ethereum's ecosystem is buzzing with ideas on how to make the network faster and cheaper, especially for high-volume activities like trading meme tokens. Recently, Ethereum core developer Ben Adams shared an intriguing proposal on X (formerly Twitter) that could dramatically increase the network's throughput. By implementing [EIP-2780

- Now, EIP-2780 reduces intrinsic transaction gas from 21,000 to 6,000, with a draft status.
](https://eips.ethereum.org/EIPS/eip-2780) alongside shorter slot times and higher gas limits, Ethereum could handle up to 50,000 transactions per second (TPS) for simple ETH transfers—all while keeping block sizes manageable.

This isn't just technical jargon; it could mean a smoother, more affordable experience for meme token enthusiasts who often deal with rapid trades and volatile markets. Let's break it down step by step.

Understanding EIP-2780: Lowering the Barriers

EIP-2780, currently in draft status, proposes reducing the intrinsic gas cost for transactions from the longstanding 21,000 to just 6,000. Gas, in Ethereum terms, is the unit that measures computational effort required to execute operations on the network. The intrinsic cost is the base fee every transaction pays, regardless of its complexity.

Why the change? The original 21,000 gas figure is a holdover from Ethereum's early days and doesn't align with modern accounting for operations like signature verification and account updates. By slashing this base cost, simple transactions—like sending ETH—become cheaper. However, to prevent underpricing state growth (which happens when new accounts are created), the EIP adds a 25,000 gas surcharge for value transfers that create new accounts, aligning it with similar costs in other parts of the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM).

In practice, this means:

• A basic ETH transfer to an existing account drops from around 21,000 gas to 6,000 gas—a 71% reduction.
• Transfers creating a new account would cost 31,000 gas, which is still competitive but accounts for the extra network load.

These adjustments make Ethereum more efficient without altering calldata pricing or other mechanics introduced in upgrades like EIP-1559.

Ben Adams' Scaling Vision

Building on EIP-2780, Adams suggests pairing it with aggressive scaling parameters: 1.5-second slot times (the interval between blocks) and a 450 million gas block limit. This combo could yield 300 million gas per second (MGAS/s), enabling massive throughput.

To illustrate, Adams shared a detailed chart:

The chart compares old and new transactions per block (tx/bk) and TPS across different gas limits and slot durations. For instance:

• At a 450M gas limit and 1.5-second slots, TPS jumps to 50,000— a huge leap from Ethereum's current ~15-30 TPS.
• It also highlights efficiency gains for common operations, like Uniswap swaps dropping 7% in gas costs on average.

Importantly, this stays within Ethereum's 8-10 MiB block size cap, using about 54 Mbit/s bandwidth for blocks alone (excluding other data like blobs). Adams' idea responds to a quote from Vitalik Buterin about preconfs (pre-confirmations) and mini-blocks, suggesting a return to faster epochs for better latency.

You can check out the original tweet for the full context.

Why This Matters for Meme Tokens

Meme tokens thrive on hype, quick trades, and community-driven momentum, but high fees and slow confirmations on Ethereum have pushed many projects to layer-2 solutions or alternative chains. A scaled-up Ethereum with 50K TPS could change that.

• Cheaper Trades: Lower intrinsic gas means reduced fees for swapping meme tokens on DEXs like Uniswap. The chart shows a 24% drop for ERC-20 transfers, making micro-transactions viable and encouraging more retail participation.
• Faster Confirmations: 1.5-second slots could slash wait times, ideal for meme token launches where sniping (quick buys) is key. This aligns with Vitalik's mention of 1-second latencies, potentially curbing front-running and improving user experience.
• Higher Volume Handling: With meme seasons bringing massive on-chain activity, 50K TPS would prevent network congestion, keeping fees stable even during peaks like the 2021 bull run or recent Solana meme frenzies.
• Developer Appeal: For builders creating meme-related dApps, easier account creation and efficient gas use could spur innovation, from gamified tokens to NFT-meme hybrids.

Of course, this is still a proposal—implementing it would require community consensus, testing, and possibly hard forks. But it highlights Ethereum's ongoing evolution, potentially reclaiming ground from faster rivals like Solana or Base in the meme space.

Looking Ahead

As Ethereum pushes toward "The Surge" phase in its roadmap, ideas like Adams' show how incremental changes can yield exponential gains. For meme token insiders, staying updated on these developments is crucial—cheaper, faster Ethereum could supercharge the next wave of viral tokens. Keep an eye on Ethereum Improvement Proposals and core dev discussions to see if this gains traction.

If you're diving into meme tokens, remember: always do your own research and consider the risks in this volatile market.