From: thepipeline_xyz
One of Monad’s key optimizations involves the separation of execution and consensus within the blockchain architecture [00:17:15]. This approach involves having execution and consensus operating in two distinct “swim lanes” [00:17:18].
How it Works
In Monad, transactions are linearly ordered within a block, and the goal is to reach the final state after executing each transaction as if they were run sequentially [00:01:39]. The separation of execution and consensus means that execution is not required to complete before consensus [00:17:47]. This allows both processes to run in parallel, providing more time for each [00:17:55].
This design involves relaxing how execution and consensus synchronize with each other, which is then managed by a deterministic algorithm for communication [00:18:14].
Performance Gains and Efficiency
Running execution and consensus in parallel yields significant performance benefits [00:18:36]. If block execution is a prerequisite for responding to consensus, it slows down the chain’s responsiveness [00:18:41].
Comparison to Ethereum
In Ethereum, with 12-second block times, the execution budget is roughly only 100 milliseconds within that 12-second window [00:19:17]. This means only about 1% of the block time is allocated to execution [00:19:30]. This severely limits the gas limit and the total amount of work that can be done within a block [00:19:38].
”Massive Unlock”
Moving execution out of being a prerequisite for consensus, and instead running it parallel to the next round of consensus, is considered a “massive unlock” for execution [00:19:43]. It’s not a restriction on validators; a leader can still choose to execute all transactions before sending out their proposal, although this would require more powerful hardware [00:19:59]. The key benefit is that it provides a greater budget for everyone else to run execution in parallel [00:20:16], without compromising the user experience [00:20:23].
Exploring innovations like implementing asynchronous execution is crucial for advancing the blockchain space [00:53:56].