he Dencun upgrade has significantly reduced data fees on Ethereum, opening new opportunities for creative expression on the blockchain. With gas costs plunging after the changes went live on March 13th, 2024, developers wasted no time in posting an unlikely asset to Ethereum - the entire script of Jerry Seinfeld's 1998 animated comedy "Bee Movie".
Copying and pasting the full movie transcript is part of a long-running internet meme that took off on sites like Tumblr and Reddit in recent years. But this was the first time the script found its way to a blockchain, uploaded by Paradigm developer Dan Cline for around $14 shortly after the upgrade. Another developer one-upped this feat by sharing the bee-filled block of text for a mere $5 as gas prices became even more affordable.
Layer 2 Savings Come to Light
While humorous antics helped illustrate lower costs, the Dencun upgrade's most important function was improving scalability for layer 2 solutions. "Blobs", a new feature introduced, provide a cheap way to temporarily store data critical to rollups, plasma chains, and other scaling techniques running on Ethereum.
According to L2Fees, transactions on Optimism fell to less than $0.01 following the upgrade. Base Blockchain creators reported gas costs slashed from an average of $0.31 to just $0.0005. These savings are core to layer 2 potentials, lowering barriers for applications with enhanced throughput. The ability to store metadata off-chain at minimal fees boosts efficiency and could drive further usage of scaling frameworks.
Memes Spread as Ethereum Evolves
Six months after being the first to post the "Bee Movie" script on the Bitcoin blockchain using new text capabilities, another developer has brought digital curiosity to Ethereum. Their campy stunt highlighted how advancements like Dencun can reduce usage barriers through lower-priced interactions.
As layer 2 networks flourish on a more capable base layer, more novel creations may reach decentralized ledgers. Current internet trends are certain to make appearances somewhere on Ethereum. The blockchain's technical progress will support new opportunities for both serious and lighthearted expressions online as it continues evolving. With gas costs declining, the boundaries of what's possible on Ethereum extend in creative new directions.
