Ethereum's Fusaka Aftermath: How Layer 2 Fees Are Dropping 90% in 2026

What Fusaka Changed

The Fusaka upgrade, Ethereum's second major network fork of 2025, introduced PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling). This technology allows validators to verify data through statistical sampling rather than downloading complete datasets.

The result? Layer 2 networks can now post data to Ethereum at a fraction of the previous cost.

Real-World Impact

Before Fusaka, a typical Arbitrum or Base transaction cost around $0.50 during peak congestion. Today, that same transaction costs $0.20-0.30. For regular users, this makes everyday DeFi activity noticeably cheaper.

The January 7 Catalyst: BPO2

The real transformation arrives on January 7, 2026, with the BPO2 (Blob Parameter Optimization 2) upgrade. This network adjustment will increase the maximum blob count from 6 to 21 per block.

What This Means for Users

When BPO2 activates, Layer 2 transaction fees could fall to $0.05-0.10 for standard transfers. By mid-2026, when blob targets reach 48 per block, fees could drop below $0.01.

For context, that makes Ethereum Layer 2s cheaper than most traditional payment networks, including credit card transaction fees.

The Technical Foundation

PeerDAS: How It Works

Traditional data availability required every Ethereum validator to download and verify all blob data. PeerDAS changes this model fundamentally.

Instead of downloading 100% of data, validators now:

1. Sample random portions of blob data from peers
2. Use erasure coding mathematics to verify data integrity
3. Confirm availability through probabilistic sampling

This approach maintains security while dramatically reducing bandwidth requirements. A validator now needs only a fraction of the data to confirm its availability with high mathematical certainty.

The Blob Economy

Blobs are temporary data packets that Layer 2s use to post transaction batches to Ethereum. Unlike permanent calldata, blobs are pruned after approximately 18 days, keeping storage requirements manageable.

The economics work like this:

• Layer 2s pay Ethereum for blob space
• More blob space means lower competition for inclusion
• Lower competition means cheaper fees
• Cheaper fees attract more users and applications

Layer 2 Winners and Losers

The fee revolution is reshaping competitive dynamics across the Layer 2 ecosystem.

Current Leaders

Base processed more transactions than Ethereum mainnet in 2025 (3.8 billion vs 1.2 billion), demonstrating the scale of L2 adoption.

ZK Rollups Rising

Zero-knowledge rollups stand to benefit disproportionately from lower data costs. With cheaper data availability, ZK rollups can amortize their proof generation costs across more transactions, making them increasingly competitive with optimistic rollups.

By mid-2026, leading ZK rollups are projected to achieve:

• 15,000+ TPS per rollup
• Sub-second finality
• Fees approaching $0.0001 per transfer

The Fragmentation Challenge

Despite the fee improvements, Layer 2 adoption has created new problems. With 55+ active rollups and over $40 billion in TVL, liquidity fragmentation has become Ethereum's most pressing user experience issue.

The Problem

Moving assets between Layer 2s remains slow and expensive compared to operating within a single network. Users wanting to access Arbitrum DeFi protocols while holding assets on Base face either:

• Bridging delays (7+ days for native Optimistic bridges)
• Third-party bridge fees ($5-20 depending on asset and amount)
• Reduced capital efficiency from splitting positions

The Solution: Ethereum Interoperability Layer

The Ethereum Foundation announced plans for an Interoperability Layer launching in Q1 2026. This protocol layer will enable:

• Standardized cross-L2 messaging
• Shared sequencing among participating rollups
• Unified liquidity pools accessible from any connected L2

The goal is to "make Ethereum feel like one chain again" while preserving the decentralization benefits of independent rollups.

2026 Roadmap

Ethereum's scaling roadmap continues with several additional upgrades planned:

Glamsterdam Preview

The next major network fork, tentatively called Glamsterdam, introduces:

• ePBS (Enshrined Proposer-Builder Separation): Formalizes the block production market, improving MEV distribution
• Block-level access lists: Enables parallel transaction processing
• Verkle Trees: Reduces validator sync time from days to hours

These improvements target Ethereum's remaining bottlenecks: validator centralization risks and node synchronization requirements.

Investment Implications

The Layer 2 fee revolution has direct implications for token valuations and ecosystem positioning.

ETH Accrual

Lower L2 fees increase transaction volume, which increases total fees paid to Ethereum for data availability. While individual transactions cost less, the volume increase could drive higher total revenue for ETH stakers.

Current projections suggest:

• 3-5x increase in L2 transaction volume by end of 2026
• Net increase in blob fee revenue despite lower per-transaction costs
• Stronger ETH burn mechanics from increased network activity

L2 Token Considerations

For Layer 2 tokens like ARB and OP, the fee reduction creates both opportunities and challenges:

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk. Always conduct your own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions.

The Bottom Line

Ethereum's Fusaka upgrade and the upcoming BPO2 parameter change represent the most significant L2 cost reductions since proto-danksharding launched in 2024. Transaction fees are on track to fall 90% by mid-2026, potentially reaching fractions of a cent.

This fee revolution matters beyond cost savings. It enables new application categories, from high-frequency DeFi strategies to micropayment systems, that were previously uneconomical on blockchain networks.

For investors and users, the key dates to watch are:

• January 7, 2026: BPO2 activation with expanded blob capacity
• Q1 2026: Interoperability Layer initial launch
• Mid-2026: Target blob count reaches 48

The Layer 2 era is maturing from infrastructure buildout to genuine utility delivery. Cheaper transactions are the foundation, but the applications they enable will define 2026's crypto narrative.