World Chain, the Optimism-based Layer 2 blockchain powering the World digital identity ecosystem co-founded by Sam Altman, is set to become the first production Layer 2 network to deploy streaming Block Access Lists (BALs)through Flashblocks. The upgrade, scheduled to go live on August 17, introduces Ethereum Improvement Proposal (EIP) 7928 ahead of Ethereum’s upcoming Glamsterdam hard fork, allowing validators to verify transactions in parallel while blocks are still being assembled. The innovation is designed to dramatically improve scalability without requiring more powerful validator hardware.
The implementation marks an important milestone for Ethereum’s scaling roadmap. Rather than waiting for Ethereum’s base layer to activate the feature later this year, World Chain will test the technology in a live production environment, demonstrating how Layer 2 networks continue serving as innovation hubs for new Ethereum infrastructure.
What Are Block Access Lists?
Block Access Lists (BALs), introduced under EIP-7928, create a complete record of every account and storage location accessed during block execution.
Traditionally, validators must fully execute every transaction in sequence before confirming a block. With BALs, validators receive detailed information about which parts of the blockchain state each transaction will read or modify, allowing multiple independent transactions to be verified simultaneously across multiple CPU cores instead of one at a time.
Flashblocks Stream Data Every 200 Milliseconds
World Chain is taking the technology a step further by integrating BALs into Flashblocks, a system originally developed by Flashbots for OP Stack rollups.
Instead of waiting for an entire two-second block to be completed, Flashblocks divide block construction into smaller updates approximately every 200 milliseconds.
This allows:
- Validators to begin verification immediately.
- Parallel transaction validation.
- Faster confirmation times.
- Reduced validation latency.
- Improved scalability without increasing hardware requirements.
According to World Chain, the system targets throughput of up to one gigagas per second, representing a significant increase in transaction processing capacity.
Mainnet Activation Begins August 17
World Chain plans to activate the feature on August 17 using a runtime configuration flag rather than requiring a network-wide hard fork.
Because the change can be enabled through configuration, validators can begin using the new verification process without the coordination typically required for major blockchain protocol upgrades. The deployment is expected to serve as a real-world proving ground before similar functionality reaches Ethereum’s base layer later this year.
Ethereum Layer 2 Networks Continue Leading Innovation
The rollout highlights the growing role Layer 2 networks play in Ethereum development.
Major protocol improvements are increasingly being tested on production Layer 2 environments before appearing on Ethereum itself. According to Joseph Lubin, Ethereum’s ecosystem of Layer 2 networks provides valuable production-level testing that helps developers refine upgrades before deploying them to the main blockchain.
Scalability Without Sacrificing Decentralization
One of the most significant aspects of the upgrade is that it increases performance without requiring validators to purchase increasingly expensive hardware.
World Chain’s internal benchmarks suggest validation latency remains relatively stable even as throughput rises substantially, helping preserve decentralization while expanding network capacity. This approach addresses one of blockchain’s biggest long-term challenges: scaling transaction volume without making network participation prohibitively expensive.
What This Means for Crypto
World Chain’s deployment of EIP-7928 demonstrates how Ethereum’s Layer 2 ecosystem continues driving innovation for the broader blockchain industry. By allowing validators to verify transactions while blocks are still under construction, the network is tackling one of the most important bottlenecks affecting blockchain scalability. If successful, the technology could significantly improve transaction throughput while preserving decentralization, security, and validator accessibility.
For the broader Web3 ecosystem, the upgrade reinforces the growing importance of Layer 2 networks as testing grounds for Ethereum’s future. As innovations like Flashblocks, Block Access Lists, and parallel validation mature in production environments, they are likely to influence the next generation of blockchain infrastructure powering decentralized finance, gaming, digital identity, and tokenized real-world assets. World Chain’s implementation may provide an early glimpse into how Ethereum itself will scale in the years ahead.
