From: thepipeline_xyz
Asynchronous execution in blockchains fundamentally redesigns how transaction execution and consensus are handled, moving away from traditional sequential processing [00:04:32]. This approach aims to maximize the utilization of underlying hardware and improve overall blockchain performance [00:04:02].
How it Works
The core idea behind asynchronous execution is the realization that execution can be “pulled out” of the consensus process [00:06:28]. In a deterministic state machine, such as the EVM, if the ordering of transactions and their data are known, the execution results will always be the same [00:06:37]. This deterministic nature allows for the separation of execution from the immediate consensus process [00:07:01].
In an asynchronously executing system, the blockchain can order the current block while simultaneously executing the previous block [00:07:22]. This means consensus and execution operate on different timelines [00:07:32]. Nodes first come to consensus on the transaction ordering and data of a block [00:07:40], and then execute it [00:07:45]. This contrasts with traditional interleaved execution, where execution and consensus happen in tandem within a single block time [00:05:29].
Comparison to Interleaved Execution
Historically, many blockchains, like Ethereum, use interleaved execution [00:05:22]. In this model, execution and consensus are tightly coupled within each block time [00:05:29]. For example, in Ethereum’s 12-second block time, execution might only take about 1% of that duration, while consensus takes significantly more time due to network latency among globally distributed nodes [00:05:35]. Blocks are processed sequentially, one after another [00:06:15].
Asynchronous execution, however, enables two blocks to be worked on in parallel [00:08:57]. The system can be coming to consensus on the data and ordering of the current block, while concurrently executing the previously ordered block [00:08:21].
Benefits
This approach offers several significant advantages:
- Expanded Execution Budget Asynchronous execution greatly expands the execution budget, which in turn allows for a larger gas budget per block [00:08:29].
- Higher Throughput and Lower Fees A larger gas budget directly translates to higher throughput and lower transaction fees [00:08:36].
- Single-Slot Finality Even though execution occurs later, finality is achieved at the point of consensus [00:09:48]. Because the ordering and data are known and deterministic, a full node can immediately execute transactions locally as soon as consensus is reached, providing an immediate state update [00:10:02].
Considerations
While beneficial, asynchronous execution requires careful design:
- State Synchronization Systems utilizing asynchronous execution must implement checks to ensure all nodes remain synchronized [00:09:00]. Nodes may have a delayed view of the state, meaning after consensus, they execute locally to obtain the updated state, which is then re-verified through consensus at a later point to confirm agreement across all nodes [00:09:08].
Industry Adoption
The concept of asynchronous execution is gaining traction in the blockchain space [00:09:26]. Other prominent blockchains, like Solana, are exploring similar models, as it is recognized as an effective engineering solution with significant benefits, such as a larger gas budget, with few downsides [00:09:30].