From: thepipeline_xyz
The separation of execution and consensus is a key optimization that allows execution and consensus to operate in two distinct “swim lanes” within a blockchain system [00:17:15]. This approach moves away from the traditional model where execution is a prerequisite for consensus, which can significantly slow down the responsiveness of the chain [00:18:41].
How it Works
In systems like Monad, the separation of execution and consensus means that the execution of transactions does not need to be completed before consensus is finalized [00:17:47]. Instead, these processes can run in parallel, providing more time for both [00:17:55]. This is achieved by relaxing how execution and consensus synchronize with each other, rather than imposing a restriction [00:18:14]. A deterministic algorithm manages this relaxation, ensuring proper communication and preventing any “cheating” between the two processes [00:18:22].
While a leader can still choose to execute all transactions before sending out a proposal, this model grants a greater budget to all other participants to run them in parallel [00:20:00]. The user experience (UX) is expected to remain the same [00:20:23].
Performance Gains
The primary benefit of separating execution and consensus is the massive unlock for execution performance [00:19:51]. For instance, in Ethereum, with 12-second block times, the actual budget for execution is only about 100 milliseconds, equating to merely 1% of the total block time [00:19:17]. This severe limitation impacts the gas limit and the amount of work that can be done within a block [00:19:38].
By moving execution out of being a prerequisite for consensus and running it in parallel to the next round of consensus, the system gains a much larger time budget for execution [00:19:47]. This allows for higher throughput and better responsiveness, contributing to blockchain performance optimization and overall scalability and high-performance systems [00:41:36].
Contribution to Ethereum and the EVM Ecosystem
This architectural choice, along with other optimizations such as a custom state database and parallel execution, represents an exploration in a new, orthogonal direction for blockchain development [00:54:42]. Monad aims to push the boundaries of what is possible in the space, with the potential for these innovations to be incorporated into Ethereum itself [00:54:50]. This contributes to the broader EVM ecosystem by providing a highly optimized execution stack [00:54:29]. The goal is to bring more rigor to the industry’s engineering and scientific practices, moving away from intuition-based marketing [00:48:58].