Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin has revealed that the network is preparing to slash deposit times to about 13 seconds, down from a couple of minutes. The update, known as the Fast Confirmation Rule (FCR), is now being implemented by consensus layer client teams and does not require a hard fork.
Currently, when transferring assets from Ethereum to Layer 2 networks or centralized exchanges, users have to wait for several minutes for confirmations. During that time, funds are locked, which leads to trading and bridge friction. According to a blog post by an Ethereum developer, “FCR is set to be the new industry standard for L2s and exchanges.” Once deployed, deposit times are expected to reduce from a range of 2 to 13 minutes to about 1 slot, or about 13 seconds.
Ethereum update to provide networks with faster transaction flow
According to records, the new development means an estimated reduction of 80% to 98%, depending on the destination and use case. The update is also expected to transform the way multiple participants interact with Ethereum. Centralized exchanges stand to benefit immediately, as they can credit user deposits after a single slot instead of waiting for multiple confirmations.
At the same time, Layer 2 networks such as Arbitrum and Base will experience faster deposit processing. Reduced delays mean less capital is tied up in bridging contracts, which, in turn, supports liquidity flows across scaling solutions. In addition, tighter risk controls and lower operational costs are available to cross-chain solvers and bridge operators. Buterin further noted, “So one step below economic finality, but very strong for many use cases.”
FCR is expected to replace traditional methods of verifying depth of knowledge with an attestation-driven system. Previously, transactions were deemed safe once they reached a certain number of blocks, which was often called the “k-deep” method. Additionally, the update is incorporated into the existing infrastructure of Ethereum.
The system reuses the “safe” block tag in the context of the JSON-RPC, making it possible for RPC providers and exchanges to implement the improvement without making any significant technical changes. FCR is expected to be rolled out in the next few months. The developers are also liaising with exchanges, Layer 2 platforms, and infrastructure providers to facilitate an easy transition.
Notably, Buterin recently laid out a multi-year roadmap with several protocol upgrades to enhance speed, scalability, and security. Among the proposed changes is a step-by-step reduction in slot times from 12 seconds to a long-term goal of 2 seconds. That roadmap also includes improvements like native privacy features and post-quantum cryptographic protections. In addition, Buterin emphasized that Ethereum’s design aims to have the best of both worlds.
