How the November 2026 Blobscriptions revival impacts L2 fee markets

The Ethereum data market

The November 2026 Blobscriptions revival changes the fee dynamics for all Layer 2 networks. This event follows the EIP-4844 blob base fee spike. On March 13, 2024, the Dencun upgrade introduced EIP-4844 to provide general-purpose data availability. This upgrade uses blobs to store data temporarily, making it cheaper than normal call data for storage. These blobs allow Layer 2 networks to reduce the cost of posting compressed transaction data to the Layer 1 mainnet. Ethereum is a decentralized blockchain with smart contract functionality. It is a peer-to-peer network that maintains a database containing the storage values of all accounts and processes state-altering transactions. Every 12 seconds, the network processes a block containing a batch of new transactions. The network is open for anyone to use without permission. It has run continuously since 2015 without a single second of downtime. The transition from proof of work to proof of stake in 2022 made the network over 99.988% more energy efficient. This transition included updates named Bellatrix, Paris, and Shapella. The Paris update occurred at block 15537393 and merged Ethereum to the Beacon chain. Validators confirm transactions by locking up ETH as collateral. Honest validators earn ETH rewards while any dishonest ones lose part of their stake. If validators make self-contradicting proposals or attestations, they lose a portion of their stake. Development of the software underlying Ethereum began in early 2014 through a Swiss company. The idea of putting executable smart contracts in the blockchain required specific details before implementation. This work was completed by Gavin Wood, the chief technology officer, in the Ethereum Yellow Paper. The project was crowdfunded through an online public sale from July to August 2014. During this time, participants bought the Ethereum value token, ether, with bitcoin. The current revival proves that the cheaper data storage provided by Dencun remains sensitive to transaction volume.

Base and Scroll congestion

Base experiences a 340% calldata inscription surge. This surge causes a significant increase in the costs for Layer 2 users. The sudden 340% surge in calldata inscriptions on Base created a massive demand for block space that directly triggered the EIP-4844 blob base fee spike across the Ethereum network. This spike forces the Scroll zkEVM sequencer into a backlog. The sequencer backlog slows down transaction processing and increases the time required for finality on the Scroll network. Users on Scroll face delays as the sequencer struggles to manage the sudden influx of data. This congestion reveals the issues with L2 fee models during large data bursts. You should monitor these sequencer delays if you rely on Scroll for high-frequency transactions. Why do existing L2 scaling solutions struggle to absorb these specific types of inscription surges? Base users must now compete for space in the same way they did before the Dencun upgrade. The 340% surge in inscriptions on Base directly correlates with the difficulty in finding affordable space in the Ethereum blob market.

Starknet response

Starknet manages these market changes through a volition mode cost pivot. This pivot allows Starknet to avoid the fee spikes that affect Base and Scroll. While Base handles a 340% inscription surge, Starknet relies on the specific economics of its volition mode. This strategy provides a different approach to transaction costs during periods of high Ethereum demand. The move to volition mode differentiates Starknet from other Layer 2 solutions. Starknet provides a method to maintain more predictable costs even when the Ethereum blob market fluctuates. This approach differs from the reactive nature of the sequencers on other networks. Starknet’s volition mode offers a way to bypass the congestion affecting the calldata market.

L2 fee comparison

The divergence in fee handling defines the current state of Ethereum scaling. The following table compares the current state of the three networks mentioned.

The volatility in fee markets provides a clear advantage to networks that implement independent cost models. Starknet’s volition mode provides more stability than the congested environments of Base and Scroll. Base remains subject to the 340% surge in inscription activity. Scroll remains subject to the sequencer backlog caused by the blob fee spike.